This is the Audi Q8 Sport Concept, a mild hybrid
sporty SUV and the second Q8 concept after the original’s debut at the Detroit Motor Show.
Audi has pulled the wraps off their new SUV concept at the
Geneva Motor Show, with the concept itself being powered by a mild hybrid
powertrain that produces 469 hp and 700 Nm of torque, allowing
it to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.7 seconds and on to a top speed
of 275 km/h.
The hybrid powertrain is new and combines a 443 hp
3.0-litre V6 TFSI with a 27 hp electric motor while a 48-volt electrical
system is responsible for keeping the electricity flowing.
A small lithium-ion battery pack, mounted under the
luggage compartment, can provide enough power to move the car in stop-start
traffic as well as allowing for maneuvering and parking under electric power
alone. The overall driving range is up to 1,200 km with a 85-litre
fuel tank.
The real party trick though is the electric
compressor Audi has added to the twin-turbo V6, a feature that debuted in the
SQ7 diesel and provides an extra kick to the powertrain’s output, allowing for
a lag-free acceleration at all times. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is
responsible for transmitting the power to all four wheels.
In fact, expect to see this mild-hybrid powertrain
featured in future Audi models, including the next A6, A7 and A8 as well as in
the Q7. The final production version of the Q8 is expected to show up in 2018.
Inside, you can find several digital
displays, including a higher-resolution version of the 12.3-inch Virtual
Cockpit and an innovative “contact-analogue” head-up display which projects the
necessary info in the driver’s direct field of view on the windscreen,
seemingly placing them in the real environment.
The concept rides on huge 23-inch alloys wrapped in
305/35 tires. The Q8 Sport also gets 20-inch ceramic disc brakes while there
are five levels of ground clearance with 90‑millimeter height
differences.
