Q8
The Audi Q8 is Audi’s large SUV coupé, introduced in 2018 as the flagship of the Q family. Its high-riding body combines SUV proportions with a descending roofline, while the broad octagonal Singleframe grille and pronounced wheel-arch contours reference Audi’s quattro design heritage. Positioned above the Q7 in Audi’s range, the Q8 takes a more expressive and sport-oriented approach than a conventional full-size SUV. The first series pairs quattro all-wheel drive with a five-seat cabin and a versatile rear bench. A major update for 2023 brought redesigned bumpers, revised lighting signatures, and, depending on specification, HD Matrix LED headlights and digital OLED rear lamps. ScanRacer references cover the combustion-powered Q8 from 2018 through 2023, along with two electrically powered variants identified for 2022.
Variants by year
2023
2022
2018
Model summary
Data from the ScanRacer library, organized to compare versions quickly.
Model introduction
The Audi Q8 is Audi’s large SUV coupé, introduced in 2018 as the flagship of the Q family. Its high-riding body combines SUV proportions with a descending roofline, while the broad octagonal Singleframe grille and pronounced wheel-arch contours reference Audi’s quattro design heritage. Positioned above the Q7 in Audi’s range, the Q8 takes a more expressive and sport-oriented approach than a conventional full-size SUV. The first series pairs quattro all-wheel drive with a five-seat cabin and a versatile rear bench. A major update for 2023 brought redesigned bumpers, revised lighting signatures, and, depending on specification, HD Matrix LED headlights and digital OLED rear lamps. ScanRacer references cover the combustion-powered Q8 from 2018 through 2023, along with two electrically powered variants identified for 2022.
History
Audi introduced the Q8 in 2018 as a new interpretation of its large SUV formula. The company presented it as a combination of spacious SUV functionality and the elegant profile of a four-door coupé. Compared with the Q7, the Q8 was described as wider, shorter, and lower, while retaining an almost three-metre wheelbase intended to preserve generous cabin space. Its exterior established several identifying themes: a dominant octagonal Singleframe grille, tightly drawn body surfaces, large wheels, and pronounced quattro-inspired contours above the wheel arches. European sales began in August 2018, initially with a 3.0-litre V6 diesel announced for the launch model. The range later expanded through different engines, equipment lines, and performance derivatives, including the SQ8 and RS Q8; those versions are separate from the variants identified in the supplied ScanRacer context. For September 2023, Audi introduced an updated combustion-powered Q8 with revised bumpers, new lighting technology, and expanded equipment. Separately, the Q8 e-tron name was applied to the large electric SUV formerly known simply as the e-tron, offered in conventional SUV and Sportback body styles.
Generations
The supplied data is best understood as covering one main Q8 generation, introduced for the 2018 model period and carried forward in its original form until the 2023 update. It is therefore more accurate to describe the car as one first series with a facelift than to assign unsupported generation breaks. Early Q8 models are identified by their octagonal Singleframe grille with vertical detailing, sculpted sides, and a tapering roof that ends in angled rear pillars. Inside, the car uses Audi’s digital cockpit approach from this period, with a driver-focused dashboard and multiple displays depending on trim and market. The 2023 revision retained the fundamental body structure but changed the front and rear aprons, lighting signatures, and several personalization details. Digital OLED rear lights became available depending on equipment. The Q8 e-tron should be treated separately: despite sharing the Q8 name, it is the electric successor to the earlier Audi e-tron and was sold in both conventional SUV and Sportback forms. Within the supplied ScanRacer context, “Base,” “e-tron Sportback,” and “e-tron SUV” are library categories and should not be interpreted as three directly comparable trim levels.
Key differences
The ScanRacer “Base” category represents the combustion-powered Q8 listed from 2018 through 2023, but the supplied data does not identify a specific engine, trim level, or market for each year. The two e-tron entries describe a different vehicle architecture: the Q8 e-tron is fully electric, with a high-voltage battery mounted beneath the passenger compartment and electrically driven all-wheel drive. The Sportback uses a more sharply sloped roof than the conventional SUV, changing its exterior profile and rear cargo arrangement. Audi presented the Q8 e-tron as the renamed successor to the earlier e-tron, with Q8 50, Q8 55, and SQ8 e-tron power levels in the official range. That naming does not prove that every official derivative is represented in the ScanRacer categories. The safest distinctions are therefore the powertrain and body style first, followed by year-dependent changes to exterior design, lighting, and equipment.
Photo recognition
To identify an early Q8, start with its proportions: it is long and wide, but its roofline falls more steeply than that of a conventional SUV. The tall, dominant octagonal Singleframe grille is the most useful front-end clue. Strong contours around the wheel arches, angled rear pillars, and a broad dark element across the tail contribute to its coupé-like appearance. Pre-facelift cars generally have a simpler lighting treatment than the revised 2023 model. The 2023 update is easier to recognize through its redesigned bumpers, revised headlamps, and, when fitted, selectable light signatures and digital OLED rear lamps. The Q8 e-tron can be separated from the combustion Q8 by its largely closed front treatment, distinctive inverted grille insert, and lack of visible exhaust outlets. The Sportback version has a visibly lower, more tapered roof than the conventional Q8 e-tron SUV. Badges and wheel designs can vary by market and equipment, so they should be used as supporting clues rather than definitive identifiers.
Important versions
Within the supplied scope, “Base” is the broadest category: it covers the Q8 from 2018 through 2023 and represents the main combustion-powered SUV coupé. The two electric entries are limited to 2022 in the supplied catalogue: “e-tron SUV” for the conventional body and “e-tron Sportback” for the more sharply tapered roofline. Audi officially offered the Q8 e-tron in several power levels, including the Q8 50 e-tron, Q8 55 e-tron, and SQ8 e-tron, but those official names should not automatically be mapped to the ScanRacer categories. The SQ8 and RS Q8 are significant performance derivatives in the wider Q8 story, yet neither is explicitly listed among the three supplied entries. Their absence should be treated as a cataloguing boundary, not as evidence that they were never sold.
References
- The new face of the Q family: the Audi Q8Audi MediaCenter
- Expressive design and new lighting technology – the upgraded Audi Q8Audi
- The facts: Audi Q8 e-tron / Audi Q8 Sportback e-tronAudi
- Audi Q8 e-tron press informationAudi MediaCenter
- Audi Q8 technical dataAudi
- https://www.audi.com/en/publications/dimensions/dimensions-q8-1423audi.com
- https://www.audi.com/en/audi-q8-10296audi.com
- https://www.audi.com/en/the-audi-q8-e-tron-until-2025-15069/a-fresh-face-and-our-new-ci-exterior-design-15076audi.com
Technical specifications
Structured data available for versions linked to this model.
| Version | Power | Torque | Top speed | Drivetrain | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | 340 kw (462 hp) | 516.3 lb-ft (700 Nm) | 149 mph (240 km/h) | All Wheel Drive / 8-speed automatic Triptonic | Hybrid Gasoline |
Frequently asked questions
- What years was the Audi Q8 produced?
- ScanRacer's referenced versions cover 2018 - 2023.
- How many Audi Q8 examples are documented on ScanRacer?
- 13 published scans from 5 members, with the latest photo added in August 2026.
- What is the power output of the Audi Q8?
- The sourced technical data lists 340 kw (462 hp).