Audi celebrates Dakar rally with Q8 e-tron special edition

The Dakar rally is one of the most demanding, dangerous, and fantastic motoring spectacles on the planet. For decades the Dakar rally has become a pinnacle for off-road racing. This year to commemorate its participation Audi has showcased a special edition vehicle, the Q8 e-tron special edition.

Audi Q8 e-tron Special Edition Dakar

This special edition starts life out as a Q8 55 e-tron electrified SUV that produces 402 hp in sports mode, there is a 106 kWh battery that provides power to the dual-motor powertrain.

With an unchanged powertrain, the automaker decided to focus squarely on other performance enhancements befitting a car carrying the Dakar name. First off, it has General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tires, resulting in a 1.2-inch-higher ground clearance. Audi says the SUV has an approach angle of 20 degrees and a departure angle of 26 degrees.

Furthermore, the brand states that the air suspension system fitted to the vehicle has been reworked and reprogrammed to provide better performance during off-road driving conditions, with this the special edition Q8 e-tron has a claimed wading depth of 299mm. Beefing up the vehicle has somewhat affected the vehicle’s performance with a slower 0-60 time and a drop in total range from 582 km to just 486 km.

Aesthetic-wise the special edition Q8 e-tron comes in Siam Beige metallic paint, as well as black and gray. Other exterior bits have been specialized to reflect the special edition nature of the vehicle such as a decal wrap that will be offered to only 99 units of the special edition.

The Audi Q8 e-tron edition Dakar will only be exclusively available in Europe for a price of around PHP 7.3 Million.