2019 Audi Q8 Revealed its new flagship SUV

Last Updated: June 7, 2018By Mary J.

Audi says its new flagship crossover coupe, called Q8, combines the “elegance of a four-door luxury coupe with the practical versatility of a large SUV.” And it will do well off-road too, according to Ingolstadt. The Q8 launches in Europe this fall, aimed at BMW’s X6 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE, and arrives here in the fourth quarter this year.

The two-row Q8 is slightly wider, shorter and lower than Audi’s Q7 and promises a roomier interior than “most” of its competition — with the seatbacks folded there’s 62 cubic feet of cargo space. Like it or hate it, Audi calls the new grille “the new face of the Q family.” It’s more imposing, for sure, and the car’s overall look is nearly identical to the concept Audi showed a year ago in Geneva.Audi didn’t give production powertrain specifics except to say the Q8 is a mild hybrid. The concept was a mild hybrid as well, using a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V6 and a 0.9 kWh lithium-ion battery for crawling through stop-and-go traffic without using the V6. Total system output was 469 hp on the concept.

The iterior is similar to the new A6, A7 and A8 sedans

The interior is similar to the new A6, A7 and A8 sedans, with two-screen infotainment using haptic feedback and AI-enhanced voice control. The upper screen is for entertainment and nav systems, the lower controls heating and A/C and the like. Audi’s Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster is there too, of course.

The Q8’s mechanical center diff transfers 40 percent of the torque to the front wheels in normal driving. There’s 10 inches of ground clearance and hill descent control in case you really do want to go off-road. Air suspension is optional with comfort and sport modes, adjusting ride height about 3.5 inches. Four-wheel steering is optional.

We’ll have more information on the new Q8 along with a first drive as soon as we get behind the wheel, so stay tuned.