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But before you plan that expedition to Saudi Arabia (home to the Dakar Rally, because who needs geography?), don’t expect the Q8 e-tron Dakar to offer off-road ability to match a Toyota Land Cruiser or Jeep Wrangler. Instead, Audi has added a soupcon of extra go-anywhere ability without compromising on premium sheen.
The air suspension-controlled ride height is raised by 65mm compared to the regular car in most drive modes, and 30mm higher in off-road mode, and the track is marginally wider (mostly to allow for chunky wheel arches) It offers front and rear approach angles of 21 and 28 degrees, a ramp angle of 19 degrees, and a wading depth of 300mm. Then there are the knobbly tyres: M+S rated 18in 265/60 R18 General Grabber AT3, fitted to new-to-Audi 8J x18in rims. But that’s about it: there’s no added underbody protection.
The result is a car with a decent level of off-road ability, as demonstrated with an extended and dusty test loop in southern Oman that featured gravel, dust, sand, steep elevation, the odd water crossing and plenty of jagged rocks.
The off-road tyres and raised ride height give the car a floaty feel that adds a dash of character missing from the standard version, and at speed on loose gravel it slides around enough to entertain. On steeper sections it maintained composure while the instant access to 490lb ft of electric torque allows you to make short work of steep includes or small boulders, and is easily enough to compensate for the not-insubstantial weight of this big batteried 2.5-tonne behemoth.
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