It looks like the electric Macan, but details hint that this is the Q8 e-tron.
Key Takeaways
- Spy shots reveal the Audi Q8 e-tron disguised under a Porsche Macan EV.
- Wider fender flares and “IN” license plates hint at the vehicle’s true identity.
- The upcoming Q8 e-tron is due for big improvements with the new PPE architecture.
CarBuzz spy photographers may have just spotted the Audi Q8 e-tron testing under a Porsche Macan EV disguise. The vehicle was spotted on the road behind a slightly camouflaged e-tron GT, and appeared at first glance to be a Macan EV with the same looks and lighting elements as the recently unveiled electric Porsche. Two important details point to this instead being an Audi Q8 e-tron in disguise.
The current Q8 e-tron has been around since 2018 and is showing its age despite a refresh just last year. As the company’s largest EV, it’s an important model for the brand until it’s eclipsed by something larger. The reason we think this is the Q8 e-tron instead of a Porsche comes down to recent Cayenne spy shots and the license plates.
The Plates Tell All
One reason we’re sure this model isn’t just a hot new variant of the Macan EV on the prowl is that it features the wider fender flares spotted on Cayenne EV test mules to accommodate a wider track. This, plus the fact the entire vehicle looks a bit disheveled points to this model not being a Macan.
Then there are the license plates. We saw Cayenne mules testing in the past with different license plates than the ones here. This model’s plates start with “IN”, which are the letters that designate the area code where the vehicle was registered, in this case, that’s Ingolstadt. This is Audi’s base of operations and the area code most Audi mules wear on the road. These plates hint that it’s an Audi in disguise, and since the Q8 is the Cayenne’s platform cousin, it all fits into place.
New Q8 Builds On A Solid Formula
We know all future electric Audi and Porsche products are set to use the jointly developed Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, with the Macan EV and Audi Q6 e-Tron the first models to benefit. The platform utilizes 800-volt technology to allow sharing of up to 270kW and the ability to partition the battery into two 400-volt packs for more efficient charging.
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New electric Audis will also be based on the PPE platform.
The Macan EV uses a 100 kWh battery pack, but the new Q8 will likely use a battery similar in size to the 114 kWh battery pack that was introduced to the lineup this year. This battery delivers 285 miles of EPA-estimated electric driving range. The new voltage of this architecture also improces battery charging to the tune of 270 kW and 10-80% charging speeds in the low 20-minute range.
