What's the difference?
Things that have had a name change AFTER they’ve become famous…
Okay… there’s Kanye West’s switch to Ye, Twitter’s rebranding to X and now this – the Audi Q8 e-tron.
As the brand’s first production EV, it used to be known simply as Audi e-tron. But that was confusing, because – Porsche Taycan-based GT and RS sports sedans aside – every electrified vehicle that the company has made before and since wears e-tron as a suffix.
Beyond new badging, the Q8 e-tron also brings a facelift and improvements underneath, to better challenge the BMW iX, Jaguar I-Pace and Mercedes EQC and EQE large electric SUVs, among others.
How does the Ingolstadt EV fare? Let’s find out.
It’s finally here.
The Polestar 5 electric grand tourer (GT) has officially launched in Australia six years after the original Precept concept was revealed.
Thankfully many of the concept’s design cues have carried over to the production model and it continues Polestar’s history of offering GT cars - its first was the limited-production Polestar 1 which was only sold in left-hand-drive markets.
Like all current Polestars, the Polestar 5 is all-electric and competes against the likes of the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT.
We’ve already driven the Polestar 5 overseas, but this is the first time we’re experiencing it on local soil. Read on to see how it fares.
The Audi Q8 e-tron ushers in welcome improvements to an already likeable and capable large luxury SUV.
But it is also feeling dated compared to newer and fresher rivals like the BMW iX, isn’t as good to drive as the best, offers disappointing range for the size of the new battery, and prices are creeping up for what is essentially a half-decade-old EV.
The name change isn’t enough. What the Q8 e-tron really needs is a massive leap in its Vorsprung durch Technik in a rapidly evolving electrified landscape.
Very good… but far from great.
The Polestar 5 is utterly gorgeous. It's essentially a concept car come to life.
It perfectly balances sportiness and comfort, like a GT should, though the screen-heavy minimalism might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
If you’re after something faster and with more physical switchgear, there’s the Porsche Taycan, but it’s considerably more expensive.
Note: CarsGuide attended this event as a guest of the manufacturer with travel, accommodation and meals provided.