We’ve been waiting for the unveiling of the Audi Q8
for some time now – the BMW X6 rival was already previewed last year through
two concepts, the Q8 concept and the Q8 sport. The sportier sibling to the Q7
looks to be nearly ready for primetime, as our European spy photographers
caught the SUV “coupé” almost completely undisguised on the road.
From the looks of things, the design of the
production version remains fairly faithful to the concepts, retaining the bold
hexagonal “singleframe” grille, slim headlights, strong haunches on all four
corners, low-slung roofline and rakish rear windscreen. And while the tail
lights are still covered, they appear to have a full-width design, much like
the new A8. Fake twin exhaust exits can also be seen.
There are a couple of changes that have
been made during the transition from show stand to showroom. The intakes below
the headlights have been closed off, and the vents at the back have been
removed. The side surfacing has also been made a little simpler, and larger
wing mirrors and door handles have been added as well.
The interior has been uncovered before, and it
follows the template set by the A8, with twin screens in the centre console –
the upper one for infotainment, the lower one for climate control and other
vehicle functions. There are also full-width air-con vents, along with a tall
transmission tunnel for a more coupé-like feel.
Expect engine options to largely mirror that of the
A8. Two powertrains have already been shown so far, the 476 hp 3.0 litre TFSI
V6 with a 48V mild hybrid system in the Q8 sport concept and the 448 hp plug-in
hybrid version in the Q8 concept. An eight-speed automatic transmission and a
quattro permanent all-wheel drive system will likely be offered as standard.
Cr : Carscoops
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