Expect a late 2022 reveal.
Last October, we first noticed the revamped Audi E-Tron Sportback. The fascias of the crossover were camouflaged, masking the new style. It won’t be a major shift. That will happen in a couple of years. Instead, a mid-cycle redesign and a suspected name change will keep the all-electric crossover feeling fresh as the competition ramps up. The restyled model’s cold-weather testing has been captured in a new round of spy photographs.
The E-Tron, which is rumoured to be called the Q8 E-Tron to better fit into Audi’s growing array of electric vehicles, is dressed in the same camouflage as the last test vehicle. This one, though, is a little different. The chrome trim around the greenhouse and the chrome roof rails stand out against the black trim on the second test vehicle. Similar trim discrepancies exist in the present E-Tron, and they appear to be carried over to the new model.
The overall design of the crossover is unlikely to change significantly. Instead, we anticipate Audi slimming down the grille, reshaping the bumpers, and tidying up the front and rear lights. Customers should not expect any changes to the interior. Under the hood, more upgrades are reported to be taking place, with Audi purportedly equipping the model with more efficient electric motors and better batteries. Both should aid in the expansion of its range and improvement of its performance.
The name of the crossover has yet to be revealed in the spy images. Audi revealed last year that the Q8 E-Tron would be released in 2026, and that it would replace the E-Tron crossover. That sounds logical, but Audi is also planning to unveil the Q6 E-Tron in 2022, so changing the E-Tron to the Q8 now makes sense for consistency. Audi is expected to reveal the redesigned E-Tron and E-Tron Sportback for 2023 later this year.
