New Audi Q8: the sportiest SUV from Audi unveiled

The Audi Q8 becomes the top-of-the-range SUV in Audi’s lineup and rivals models such as the Mercedes GLC Coupé or the BMW X6.

The new Audi Q8 has been unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show. The SUV from the Ingolstadt brand will go on sale in the European market in the third quarter of the year. This is one of the most anticipated models of the year, a coupé-style SUV that will rival models such as the Mercedes GLC Coupé or the BMW X6, and which, in terms of dimensions (4,986 mm long, 1,995 mm wide and 1,705 mm high), sits slightly below the Audi Q7, although with a more sporty approach.

Design inspired by the original Audi Quattro

The Audi Q8 debuts the new design language of the Q family, a visual language we will start to see on other models from the brand from now on. Its aggressive front end with an octagonal design has been inspired by the original Audi quattro, a legend of rallying (and of the streets) from which it also inherits its rear light clusters, connected by a digital light strip underlined by a black surface.

One of the most spacious coupé-style SUVs
The Audi Q8 combines the elegance and sportiness of a four-door luxury coupé with the versatility of a large SUV. It is 36 mm lower than the Audi Q7, 66 mm shorter and 27 mm wider, which allows it to accommodate, as an optional extra, three individual rear seats with longitudinal adjustment; it is the widest of its rivals. Audi claims that the new Q8 offers greater interior space than its rivals thanks to its almost 3-metre wheelbase, but we will have to confirm this once we have the exact figure.

A dynamic SUV
The Audi Q8 has been designed to deliver a sporty driving experience. Like the model that inspired it, the original Audi Quattro, the new coupé-style SUV features a four-wheel-drive system which in this case distributes the power between the axles in a 40:60 ratio. The car’s mechanical centre differential can send most of the power to the axle with the greater grip when necessary, which allows for greater traction.

The car comes as standard with adjustable-hardness suspension, although the adaptive air suspension with comfort or sport settings can be fitted as an option. This second option varies the body height depending on the setting by up to 90 mm.

The car also comes as standard with progressive steering (it becomes more direct the more the wheel is turned) and, optionally, a rear-wheel steering system. This technology, which the new Renault Megane popularised a year ago, allows the rear wheels to turn up to 5 degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels, which improves the car’s agility at low speeds. Conversely, when the vehicle is travelling at high speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction as the front ones to improve the car’s stability.

Mild-hybrid engines
Like the Audi A8 or the new Audi A6 and Audi A7 Sportback, the engines of the new Audi Q8 will use the well-known Mild-Hybrid technology, also known as light hybridisation or semi-hybrid. What does this technology involve? It is a type of hybrid powertrain in which the starter motor can act as a small electric motor, working as a generator to recover energy during braking or deceleration, but it can never propel the vehicle on its own, which is why it cannot be considered a conventional hybrid drive system.

The new Audi Q8’s mild-hybrid system can recover up to 12 kW of energy during braking , which is stored in the battery. In addition, this technology allows coasting between 55 and 160 km/h with the engine switched off.

In European markets, the Audi Q8 will initially be sold with a 3.0 TDI engine producing 286 CV (Q8 50 TDI) and 600 Nm of torque. This engine allows the SUV to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds and reach 232 km/h. Next year the range will be joined by a three-litre diesel engine producing 231 CV (Q8 45 TDI version) and a 3.0 TFSI petrol engine producing 340 CV

(Q8 55 TFSI variant). These engines will be paired with an eight-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox.

Cutting-edge interior
The top-of-the-range SUV from Audi offers a very comprehensive standard interior specification, as well as state-of-the-art technology. The car features two screens measuring 10.1 and 8.6 inches respectively, which control, among other things, the infotainment system, navigation, climate control and the car’s comfort functions.

On top of this comes voice control with natural language recognition, a voice assistant that allows the driver to converse intelligently with the car. The system understands phrases such as “I’m hungry” and, as a result, would suggest nearby restaurants.

The Audi Q8 comes as standard with the Audi Virtual Cockpit, a digital instrument cluster which in this car features a 12.3-inch screen with two display modes. A third, sportier view can even be added as an option via the Audi Virtual Cockpit Plus. The navigation system is included as standard.

As optional extras, the standouts include seats with massage and ventilation functions

, four-zone climate control and the air quality package, a feature that improves the air quality inside the car.

App my Audi: cutting-edge technology for the new Q8
The new Audi Q8 allows its owners to use the myAudi app on their smartphones. This app makes it possible to activate different lighting functions and enjoy them from outside the car, send navigation destinations to other people and even park the car autonomously

(we go into more detail on this in the next section).

The latest in driver assistance
The Audi Q8 uses five radar sensors, six cameras, twelve ultrasonic sensors and a laser scanner

to power a wide range of driver assistance systems. The most notable are:
• Adaptive cruise control
• Efficiency assistant

Cross-traffic assist

Unintended lane-change warning system

• Kerb assist

360-degree camera

• Remote Garage Control

: this system will be available from 2019 and will allow the SUV to enter and leave a garage autonomously. The driver will be able to activate this function from outside the vehicle via the myAudi app.

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