Audi has finally revealed its latest entry into the luxury SUV category. The Audi Q8, Audi's new flagship crossover coupe is described to combine "the elegance of a four-door luxury coupé with the practical versatility of a large SUV." Positioned as the more sophisticated sibling of the Audi Q7, the Q8 will meet the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE head-on in its category when it makes its global debut in the third quarter of this year.
Compared to its sister model, the Q8 is wider, lower, and shorter, but before you conclude that it's the Q7’s less comfortable version, you should check out the wheelbase, which is just four inches short of 10 feet. According to Audi, the Q8, "offers a spacious interior that beats of its direct competitors in most relevant dimensions, including interior length and headroom."
Up front is a retooled version of Audi's trademark Singleframe grille, made larger than usual and with huge air inlets in the lower fascia to match. Standard LED lights and a matte trim around the grille complete the anterior look. The same matte trim can also be found on the lower door rub strips, window surrounds, and roof rails. According to Audi, the Q8 is the new face of its Q range of vehicles.
Though the Q8's façade is already an astounding style statement, it's at the back where Audi's SUV truly stands out from the pack, with a pointed liftgate, LED light strip connecting the taillights, and a skid plate between the large exhaust tips giving the rear its distinct look.
The cabin design draws many elements from Audi's current crop of cars, with twin touchscreens (a 10.1-inch upper and 8.6-inch lower) serving as the control for all the car's functions. A third display behind the steering wheel acts as a full-color instrument cluster. AI-enhanced voice control is available.
As for the powertrain, Audi describes the Q8 as a 'mild hybrid' that uses a 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo that's aided by a 1.2-hp lithium-ion battery that only kicks in during acceleration. This helps put less strain on the engine when faced with stop-and-go traffic. The Q8 is designed for off-road maneuverings as well, with hill descent control and a 10-inch ground clearance making those rough terrain excursions more manageable. Four-wheel steering is optional.
The Audi Q8 will be the pinnacle of the German auto manufacturer's SUV range, and will serve as the basis for future entries into the Q family. It will first be released in Europe, with the US market to follow next year.
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