It was 2019 when we first saw the Audi e-tron Sportback. At the time, it was the only electric SUV from Ingolstadt, but since then, a plethora of new EVs have come out of Audi's factories, all bearing the e-tron name. That makes things very confusing for those who aren't hardcore Audi fans, but this may soon be addressed. According to our sources, the flagship Q8 e-tron will not necessarily be an all-new vehicle arriving in 2026 as originally reported. Rather, it looks like the facelifted Audi e-tron Sportback (and its conventional, non-coupe sibling) will be rebranded as the Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback, and with these new images we have of a development car undergoing cold-weather testing, it seems that this could happen sooner rather than later.

We saw an e-tron Sportback prototype testing in October last year, and this black test mule appears to have the same sort of camouflage on it, hiding front and rear quarter panels, rocker panels, and bumpers. Even the headlights and taillights are mostly concealed, indicating that the styling will be substantially altered. The front grille looks to be smaller, but it's difficult to tell how much this or the headlights will be changing. At the rear, the taillights appear to be narrower and the connecting full-width light strip will still feature. Unfortunately, the test car also draws attention to a stylish feature that American buyers can't access, namely side-view cameras in place of bulky mirrors.

As for the interior, no major changes are expected, but if the SUV is indeed renamed the Q8 e-tron with this new update, it's possible that Audi will try to make a bigger splash by lightly refreshing the cabin too. Remember, this rebrand is intended to signify that this model is the range-topper, and with a new Q6 e-tron also on the way, the refreshed e-tron Sportback will need more than just a more premium name to set itself apart. Whatever Audi decides for the interior, the batteries are almost guaranteed to be updated for more competitive range and charging estimates. A debut is expected later this year as a 2023 model.