Audi Q8 e-tron Edition Dakar Brings Off-Road Looks

With off-roading continuing to grow in popularity year over year, it was only a matter of time before the Germans started to embrace factory-built wheelers. Inspired by the RS Q e-tron Dakar racer, Audi unveiled a new off-road-themed special edition of its all-electric SUV on Wednesday. Meet the Audi Q8 e-tron edition Dakar.

Unlike the proper Dakar racer, this off-road variant of the Q8 is not a wild hybrid, but rather an all-electric, dual-motor Q8 55 e-tron Quattro in disguise. This means the truck is supported by a 114-kWh battery pack, providing 402 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque in Boost mode. With its new General Grabber AT3 all-terrain tires installed, Audi says the SUV will be capable of sprinting to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. That time drops by a tenth if you swap over to the second set of wheels with summer tires, which are included in the sale of every edition Dakar. The General Grabber tires also help give the SUV 8.1 inches of ground clearance and 12 inches of water-fording capability. Other off-road metrics include improved approach, departure, and breakover angles of 20 degrees, 26 degrees, and 19 degrees, respectively.