Audi Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar Announced! (Sorry, Not for the U.S.)

The Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar has a raised chassis, special decals, and a price tag of 120,000 euros.

The Audi Q8 e-tron is the flagship EV SUV. The front and rear motors combine for 402 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque. That is enough thrust to launch the sizable SUV to 60 mph in a tad over 5 seconds. The SQ8 e-tron offers even better performance with 496 horsepower, 718 pound-feet of torque and the ability to hit 60 mph in about 4.5 seconds. But Audi has announced today that the German market is going to get a special Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar. And this one is focused more on off-road performance than acceleration times. There has not been much information from Audi about this special model yet, but we are sharing what we know so far.

The Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar gets its name from the famous rally race. It is a grueling rally race that Audi has been competing in for years. In 2022 Audi brought the new RS e-tron to the Dakar and racked up four stage wins with it. The new Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar pays homage to those racers. The special edition SUV sits on a raised suspension. And optional decals are available that are reminiscent of those on RS Q e-tron racers. There is no mention of any other changes. But there is mention of the price. The new SUV will be sold in Germany with a starting price of 120,000 euros. That is about $131,000. That is a substantial bump in price compared to the SQ8 e-tron Prestige that starts at around $95,800, and loaded with options doesn’t get above $110,000.

Limited Editon

Audi does not mention if the Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar will be built in limited numbers, and if so, how many will be offered. But it is only announced for the German market at this time, so it will be limited in that aspect. It is also not clear at the time if the individual components such as the suspension lift and decals will be available separately and in other markets. But seeing them on this special edition does show us what the platform is capable of. Audi has a long history of rally racing success and it is good to see them pay respect to that with their newest EVs.

Images: Audi

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Joe Kucinski

Joe has been obsessed with cars since he got his very first Matchbox toy in the ‘70s. In 2003, he found a new obsession in track days that led to obtaining his SCCA competition license in 2015. In 2019, he became a certified driving instructor for the National Auto Sport Association. His love for all things four wheels has never wavered, whether it's driving some of the best cars in the world on the racetrack, tackling 2,000-mile road trips in 2-seat sports cars or being winched off the side of a mountaintop in a Jeep. Writing for the suite of Internet Brands Auto Communities sites, including Rennlist.com, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, 6 Speed and more allows him to share that knowledge and passion with others.