Audi bagged the latest Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the year with its Q8 e-tron lineup.
The two electric vehicle (EV) models (unveiled in the Philippines last August) — took the aforementioned honors based on the numerous criteria pertaining to crashworthiness, crash avoidance and lighting technology, among others, which the non-profit organization established.
Aside from the two, the Ingolstadt-headquartered marque also had the Top Safety Pick+ this year with the Q4 e-tron and Q4 e-tron Sportback.
Per Audi Philippines, the criteria for safety evaluations for electric vehicles and combustion engine-powered models are basically the same.
“But with its e-tron range, Audi goes further by ensuring the battery is safeguarded in the event of a crash. The e-tron models’ battery system consists of a rigid housing that not only protects its modules even during a major collision, but also acts as an additional reinforcement for the vehicle’s structure,” the company noted in a statement.
To note, the IIHS recently updated the side crash evaluation to involve 82 percent more energy compared to the original test, along with a new nighttime vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention test.
The standard crash avoidance systems on the Q8 e-tron SUV and Q8 e-tron Sportback, Audi added, garnered a “Superior” rating for daytime use and an “Advanced” rating for nighttime use.
To meet the requirements for the two top IIHS awards for the year, a vehicle must have “Good” ratings in the driver- and passenger-side small front overlap and original moderate overlap front collision tests as well as come with “Acceptable” or “Good” headlights across all its variants.
In the Philippines, Audi is retailing the Q8 e-tron SUV in two trims: the 55 and 50.
The Q8 e-tron SUV 55’s electric mill can provide as much as 408 horsepower (hp) and 664 Newton-meters (Nm) of torque. Its battery lets it run up to 582 kilometers (km).
On the other hand, the Q8 e-tron SUV 50’s powertrain can output 335 hp and 664 Nm. A fully-charged Audi Q8 e-tron SUV 50 can cover up to 491 km.
Meanwhile, the Audi Q8 e-tron Sportback boasts the same output as its SUV 55 counterpart while offering a 600-km range that can be attributed to its aerodynamic coupe silhouette at the rear.
Photos from Audi Philippines, Ruben Manahan IV
Also read:
Audi unveils upgraded Q8 crossover with up to 500hp
PGA Cars to launch all-electric Audi Q8 e-tron
US-spec Audi Q8 e-tron gets increased range, improved battery
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