Say Hello To The New Audi Q8, Ingolstadt’s SUV Coupé

The Audi Q8 becomes a reality a decade after SUVs with sporty body styles began to proliferate . This trend was introduced by Ssangyong with the Actyon in 2006, but fame would be taken by BMW with the launch of the X6 in 2008. Since then, two generations of it have gone, and another pair of the X4, its little brother.

The Bavarians were joined years ago by the guys from Mercedes with the coupe variants of the GLE and GLC, highlighting the absence of Audi, until now. The new Q8 arrives with a groundbreaking design and a tremendous technological load, necessary if it wants to position itself as the flagship of the firm with the four rings.

A look at the design of the Audi Q8

Aesthetically, the new Audi SUV drinks directly from the design already seen in the prototype a year ago, and evolves the concept released by the Audi Q7 in 2015. It evolves to such an extent that we are facing the brand’s most groundbreaking product in years.

The imposing front end shows what the next SUV in the house will look like, with a bigger and more dynamic grille, as well as bigger and more aggressive air intakes. For their part, the optical groups have LED technology as standard, relegating the HD Matrix LED to the optional equipment.

For an overall more aggressive and punchy overall package, numerous contrasting colored surfaces have been added throughout the entire body, such as the spoiler , the grille surround and the rear of the hatchback.

The side view is highlighted by the drop of the roof that gives the Q8 this coupe look. In order to emphasize the strength of the all-wheel drive, the wheel arches are bulky and sculpted. Finally, the rear lighting signature follows the latest trend of communicating both pilots through the entire gate. 

Space for the whole family

Even if the Audi Q8 is presented with sports car credentials, there is no doubt that whoever buys it will have a family to take with them, which requires minimal space to travel in comfort. The space in the front seats is similar to that of the Audi Q7, without drawbacks in this regard.

The thing changes if we advance to the rear seats. The fall from the ceiling takes a few essential centimeters for the head, but, unlike its direct rivals, the fall is not steep, so it is better than all the others. The same goes for cargo space, with 605 liters expandable to 1,755 with the bench folded down.

Technology everywhere

Part of the technological load of the new Audi can be perceived from the cabin itself, as with the latest brand launches. The absence of physical buttons stands out, and everything happens to be controlled from touch screens. 

There are a total of three screens: the Virtual Cockpit of the dashboard with a 12.3-inch screen, a 10.1-inch upper center screen that includes the entire navigation and connectivity system, and a lower 8.6-inch screen from the one that controls the air conditioning.

With the absence of buttons, the proliferation of displays, and the plethora of piano black surfaces, the cabin looks very clean and uncluttered, as well as futuristic.

Perhaps the most innovative technology is the Remote Grage Pilot , available from 2019. With this automatic parking system, the driver can allow the car to enter and exit a garage space autonomously, all from a phone application.

Thanks to this system, the Q8 can enjoy semi-autonomous driving on the road ; it is guided through five sensory radars, six cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors and a laser scanner. Also part of this system is the adaptive cruise control, capable of keeping the car within the lane, maintaining the speed of the preceding car, etc.

The engines of the Audi Q8

It seems that the ‘Dieselgate’ has not affected the brands of the VAG group in the least, and it is that with the new Audi Q8 the confidence they have in diesel engines is confirmed, with two engines of this type for one gasoline. At first this will be the case, but the arrival of engines with even 600 hp is expected.

Until the arrival of more modest gasoline versions, diesels will be the least powerful in the range. The Q8 45 TDI and 50 TDI start from the same 3.0-liter V6 block, which delivers 241 and 286 hp respectively. The differences between the two come down to electronics.

Situated at the top of the time range is the Q8 55 TFSI. This gasoline repeats with a three-liter V6 block that, thanks to the use of two turbochargers, raises the power output to a more than respectable 340 hp.

In any case, all the engines are combined with an eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox, which is associated with the Quattro all-wheel drive. It is worth noting the possibility of varying the height of the vehicle by up to nine centimeters thanks to the pneumatic suspension.

The entire mechanical range stands out for its efficiency, as it has micro-hybrid technology. This system, already seen in others such as the Audi A6, has a 48-volt main electrical system that stores the energy from braking in a battery and can keep the vehicle running on the highway with the engine disabled.