Audi recently pulled the wraps off the 2019 Q8 and
now the company has released a promotional video which features designers
Sascha Hyde and Mauricio Monteiro Dos Santos.
Hyde worked on the exterior of the Q8 and notes it
was his first time working on an all-new model so it was a “big challenge” to
create an iconic look for the crossover. While a number of our readers have
criticized the Q8’s grille, Hyde says it’s an “eye-catching” element and its
octagon shape will eventually spread to the rest of the Q lineup.
The designer goes on to note the Q8 has been
equipped with large and sporty air intakes as well as the biggest wheels ever
fitted to an Audi model. Another feature Hyde “really loves” is the “black
panel beam” which is located between the taillights and helps to emphasize the
width of the crossover.
The Q8 “perfectly combines the
attitude and the aesthetics of a four-door coupe with the full functions of a
sporty SUV.”
Mauricio Monteiro Dos Santos highlight’s the
interior design which drew inspiration from the new A8. The company didn’t want
to simply put the A8’s interior in the Q8 so they developed a philosophy that
involves multiple levels.
Dos Santos doesn’t go into specifics but the Q8
features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch infotainment
system and an 8.6-inch lower display for climate control and convenience
features. While it could be easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of
screens, designers decided to distance them from one another while still
keeping them within easy reach.
The Q8 will go on sale later this year and the model
will be launched with a 3.0-liter TFSI V6 engine that develops 335 hp. It will be joined by a 3.0-liter TDI engine with 282 hp and 600 Nm of torque.
