Previously known as the Audi e-tron until 2023, the Q8 e-tron was previewed by a concept car back in 2015, which debuted at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The production version was presented three years later, so it is currently six years old. As a result, it's an aging model in today's market, which is why the company has started working on its successor.
But why are we talking about the upcoming Audi Q8 e-tron when these spy shots show a Porsche Macan EV with some camouflage on its body? Well, the devil is always in the details, and our spy photographers say it is actually a mule of the next Q8 e-tron rather than a zero-emission Macan prototype.
One of the clearest indicators is the license plate. IN stands for Ingolstadt, where the four-ring brand is based. Porsche's testers usually bear either BB or LD on the license plates, meaning Boblingen District or Ludwigsburg District. Moreover, it may look like a Macan EV at first glance, but it features fender attachments with visible bolts, a different bumper with an added chin spoiler, and more modifications at the rear.
Audi also tried to make it look less like a crossover coupe and more like a traditional high-rider by applying stickers to the profile that may trick bystanders into thinking the side windows look different and that the roofline is less arched behind the B-pillars than it really is. The faux tailpipes and the mandatory electric vehicle stickers tell us that it is a zero-emission model.
Photo: SH Proshots
If you zoom in, you will see that this mule also had Porsche-branded brake calipers at both ends with a black finish. Given that it's not a prototype, the cockpit may or may not have been sourced from the Macan EV. Thus, it could be similar or completely different, and our guess is that it may share some parts inside with the Q6 e-tron.
After all, both the zero-emission Macan and the Q6 e-tron utilize the same Premium Platform Electric, and by the looks of it, this will also be the foundation stone of the upcoming Q8 e-tron. We couldn't tell you yet what will power this model, but it is possible that it could share certain powertrains with the Q6 e-tron, albeit with a few modifications.
Word on the street is that the next-generation Audi Q8 e-tron is a couple of years away, so it should launch in 2026. In our market, it will probably launch as a 2026 or a 2027 model, and there's enough time by then to find out more juicy details about it. It is safe to assume that the upcoming Q8 e-tron will be a bit pricier than its successor, which starts at $74,400 in our market or $77,800 when it comes to the less practical Sportback.
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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