Audi Q8 to sit on top of German carmaker’s SUV tree
A DECADE after BMW got the whole SUV coupe party started with the X6, and more than three years after the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe joined in, Audi has decided to crash in with the Q8.
Due early next year, it adds yet another model to the company’s ever-burgeoning portfolio, this time as a flagship proposition designed to reel in well-heeled buyers who might otherwise consider a Porsche Cayenne or Maserati Levante.
Hang on a minute. Coupe we say? Are we sure we’re actually talking about the right vehicle? Yes, initial reactions question the Ingolstadt firm’s grasp of the concept, since there isn’t anything especially sleek or slammed about its latest line of luxury SUVs.
However, on closer inspection, especially lined up against the closely related Q7 which shares most of its internal hardware, the newcomer is indeed a ‘cut down’ version. The roof is 27mm lower at 1710mm and overall length has been reigned in 62mm, so it slips under the five-metre mark, while the body has been pumped a bit, to come in at a stance-enhancing two metres flat.
Being German, the designers could not resist taking a stroll through the back catalogue, finding inspiration from the iconic Audi Quattro of the 1980s for the semi-blistered wheelarches that help contain all that freshly acquired girth. How successful these actually are, we’ll wait to see it in the flesh. We do doubt this will go on to dominate the world rally scene like that original Quattro did, but there is more than a strong chance that the luxury SUV market might feel its presence.
Aiding the above are a number of incoming styling cues designed to help the Audi stand out from the ever-growing number of competitors, beginning with a new-look signature “singleframe” grille featuring protruding octagonal surrounds and egg-crate slats. Expect these to migrate to future members of the ‘Q’ SUV family.
LED headlights have long been this firm’s speciality, and as per other higher-end models, buyers can order a sophisticated matrix arrangement that automatically controls glare for on-coming traffic while throwing out an astounding level of illumination – and all ensconced within a beautiful signature cluster.
Likewise, the A8 limousine-esque full-width LED tail-light treatment gives the Q8 a unique look; perhaps, as with the Quattro, the artists were inspired by another ‘80s classic in this instance – namely the 1981 Ford Laser Ghia? Perhaps not…
Like the latter, there’s a six-light window profile, hinting at a level of interior space and practicality that might just give the Audi an edge against the X6 and GLE Coupe.
Dimensionally, with the wide track and 4990mm length, there should be no issue accommodating five adults, backed up by a reasonable 650-litre luggage capacity (extending to 1755L with the rear seatbacks folded); while that’s 120L and 200L shy of the Q7 respectively, it’s still makes for a spacious and roomy family hauler. Note, though, that the latter’s three-row/seven-seater configuration is not available in this model (for now), highlighting its luxury focus.
At the other end of the Q8, it’s still all speculation. We do know that some (if not all) powertrains will include mild-hybrid tech featuring a 48-volt lithium-ion battery and alternator-starter combo, to boost both performance and efficiency. We hear that a pair of 3.0-litre V6s – a 210kW 50 TDI diesel and a 250kW 55 TFSI petrol – might be in the mix, both with an eight-speed automatic transmission, as well as possibly a high-performance four-cylinder engine somewhere down the track.
Being an Audi, a mechanical centre differential is part of the works, dealing torque to each wheel via the brand’s famous quattro AWD system; we also understand that up to 60 per cent of drive will be ushered to the rear axle, to give the Q8 a sportier and more dynamic character. As per the Q7, there’s an optional air-suspension set-up that alters ride height by up to 90mm, for both increased comfort (vital if buyers choose the 22-inch wheel accessory) as well as low-speed off-road capabilities. The normal steel-sprung version sits at 254mm off the ground.
Cocooned in the opulent interior, it is clear the A8 was this SUV’s inspiration, with an all-digital instrumentation boasting a high-resolution 12.3-inch display of multi-configurable operation that includes prioritising sat-nav mapping, multimedia connectivity or car functionality, according to the taste and mood of the driver.
For the first time, the owner can also fire up different interior lighting functions by using a phone app while outside the car.
Finally, the Q8 pushes the autonomous driving agenda with a number of assistance systems that include high-speed-to-zero-and-up-again adaptive cruise control and, from next year, an available “remote garage pilot”, which parks or backs out the SUV from the garage without anybody inside via the so-called MyAudi app on a connected smartphone. Whether this innovation clears Australian regulations on autonomous functions is not yet known.
The answer to that, along with pricing, final powertrains, specification levels and other details for the Australian market will be revealed closer to 2019 launch.
So, basically as the badge implies, the Q8 is the A8 of SUVs, distilled in a five-seater package offering a level of individuality and exclusivity, but without departing too far from the elegance of other Audis. That’s the premise, anyway, and with the ongoing success of the X6, the only question is why it has taken the company this long to come up with a worthy competitor.
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