With its expressive design, the revised Audi Q8 is a sporty, elegant SUV coupé from the German carmaker. With its clean shape, generous surfaces, and clear volumes, Audi says the Q8 paints a dynamic picture. The short overhangs and long wheelbase make for sporty, elegant proportions that can be accentuated with distinctive exterior colors and wheels.
The unmistakably powerful and upright Audi Singleframe grille makes it clear at first glance that the Q8 belongs to Audi’s top models and clearly differentiates it from the A models. The self-assured appearance of the Q8 is underscored by the new prominent air intakes, which are clearly integrated into the car’s basic architecture. Audi has systematically reduced the decorative elements for an even more purist design.
In order to distinguish the base version, the S line exterior package, and S model at first glance, the front bumper area, door attachment trim, and diffuser in the base model come in contrasting colours that underline the robust off-road look. Aligned even more closely with the SQ8 TFSI, the S line exterior package now stands out with its clearly accentuated side air intakes in the front bumper.
The Q8's innovative new headlights feature HD Matrix LED technology and an additional laser light as well as the digital daytime running lights positioned on the upper horizontal edge, giving the Q8 a self-assured expression. In conjunction with the digital OLED rear lights, which are available for the first time in the Q8, the premium-class character of the model becomes even clearer. At the rear, an LED light strip together with black high-gloss trim and integrated Audi rings links the digital OLED rear lights across the entire width of the car.
High-intensity LED headlights light up the road in the Q8 as standard; Matrix LED headlights are available as an option. HD Matrix LED headlights with the Audi laser light are also available, which work with 24 LEDs and a high-power laser diode each and are immediately recognisable via a blue ambient light incorporated into the headlights. The laser light becomes active starting at 70 km/h and significantly increases the high beam range. New for the top-of-the-range headlights are digital daytime running light signatures. They give the Q8 its characteristic and unmistakable appearance by allowing the user to select one of four individual light signatures via the MMI.
As part of the model update, Audi is also expanding the range of apps. For the first time, passengers can use popular apps from third-party providers (for example Spotify or Amazon music). Regular software updates and a constantly expanding range of apps make for even greater individualisation of the infotainment system.
A store with a market-specific app portfolio expands the third-generation modular infotainment toolkit (MIB 3). In terms of driver assistance systems, the surroundings display in particular has received a significant upgrade. The Audi virtual cockpit displays a lane change warning, other road users (trucks, cars, and motorcycles) distance warning, intersection assist, and traffic light information online in stunning full HD quality.
In addition to the store for apps and the new surroundings display, the product upgrade also expands the standard equipment for the Q8; 20-inch alloy wheels, a rearview camera, park and high beam assist, and the convenience key, among other features, now come as standard.
Boasting even more performance, the updated SQ8 TFSI advances sportiness even further, impressing with a redesigned spoiler at the front and an expressive diffuser at the rear. The Singleframe grille stands out with vertical L-shaped inlays in a sporty color scheme, while a larger air intakes features honeycomb grilles across their surface. Characteristically, Audi opts for a sporty aluminum look for the exterior mirror housings, the inlays in the Singleframe grille and the edging of the side air intakes. The same colour scheme is also used for the inlay in the side skirt.
As part of the product upgrade, the SQ8 TFSI now runs on the established 4.0 TFSI with 373kW and 770Nm of torque with an eight-speed tiptronic transmission and quattro permanent all-wheel drive. With this engine, the SQ8 TFSI accelerates from zero to 100km/h in just 4.1 seconds, with an electronically governed top speed of 250km/h.
At low to medium loads and acceleration speeds – from 160 to 250Nm and between 950 and 2,500 rpm with a maximum torque requirement of 145Nm – the cylinder on demand system deactivates cylinders 2, 3, 5, and 8 in the upper gears by shutting off injection and ignition and closing the intake and exhaust valves. The switching process takes just milliseconds and goes virtually unnoticed by the driver. In four-cylinder mode, the operating points in the active cylinders shift to higher load, which boosts thermal efficiency, while the deactivated cylinders follow, essentially with no losses, like gas springs. When the driver presses the accelerator pedal, the deactivated cylinders reactivate immediately. To achieve the sporty sound, there is an exhaust flap on each tailpipe that modulates the sound depending on load and rev speed.
Further specification information on the newly refreshed Audi Q8 and SQ8 will be available closer to their New Zealand market launch.
