65 mm raised
The Dakar Rally is currently underway, and Audi is enhancing its participation with a special version for the home, garden and kitchen rally driver: the Audi Q8 e-tron edition Dakar. A special with fat tires and extra ground clearance.
Apparently there is someone on the board of the VW group with a passion for off-road. Because last year Porsche already introduced the 911 Dakar and Lamborghini the Sterrato. Both sports cars that, in addition to asphalt and curbstones, suddenly like gravel and sand. An almost unlikely combination. This Q8 edition Dakar is based on the same principle. Although the car itself has an SUV-like line and Quattro all-wheel drive, it is not a real off-road vehicle due to its weight alone. Moreover, the battery pack is closer to the ground than you would think based on its appearance. So not a rugged off-road vehicle.
Imperial standard
But Carlos Sainz senior is at work in an Audi specially built for this rally, the RS Q e-tron. It was precisely this rally and this car that provided the inspiration for this rugged Q8 e-tron. The basis is a Q8 55 e-tron. The exterior received a similar treatment to the Porsche 911 Dakar and the Lamborghini Sterrato. Roof racks and a roof rack are therefore standard.
No changes have been made to the drivetrain with two electric motors, nor to the 106 kWh battery pack, but the air suspension has changed even more. For example, the Dakar version is 65 mm higher, giving it a ground clearance of 22 cm and a wading depth of 30 cm. The air suspension was specially tuned for off-road driving.
The extra height is always there when you drive off-road, but when driving straight on a normal road the car is gradually lowered. At 85 km/h the first 15 mm of that extra 65 are removed. At 100 km/h another 17 mm and at 120 km/h another 13 mm. After all, it is intended to be usable in a ‘normal’ existence.
Rough tires
The most important thing off-road are of course the tires. They make direct contact with the surface, so the Editon Dakar comes on rugged General Grabber AT3 tires, which are suitable for all kinds of surfaces such as sand, mud, gravel and snow. The special profile ensures that no junk remains in the grooves and you have plenty of grip. And although the tires are suitable for use on normal roads, Audi supplies an extra set of summer tires on 20-inch wheels for the Dakar series.
More Dakar at Audi?
Does Audi think that the Netherlands is rough enough to bring that Dakar-e-tron to us? That is still a question, to which we will hopefully have an answer soon. Audi is building 99 copies in a special wrap, which is inspired by the real Dakar car. In the press release, Audi hints that if such a Dakar sauce is popular, there may be ‘edition Dakars’ of other models.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl