The top management of the German auto giant Audi has given the green light to a decision to design an entirely new flagship crossover model called 2017 Audi Q8. The outcome of this project will be an impressive SUV that will blow our minds, because the automaker is apparently preparing something really special here. It has been already placed on the list of the most anticipated cars of the next year and some reviewers consider it as a decent response to BMW X6, Land Rover Range Rover Sport, Mercedes-Benz MLC, and Porsche Cayenne.
The release of the model will be a pretty big deal because of several reasons. First and foremost, Audi and many other manufacturers are working on their SUVs because the segment is booming, with tens of thousands of vehicles sold around the world every month.
Therefore, the attention of the auto world is focused on the new SUVs that come to the market, so the release of the new SUV from Audi will be watched from every possible angle. Second, people love SUVs and want to include more “sport” and less “utility” in their vehicles and Audi has been pretty good at that in the recent years.
Given that people love Audi, they will be anticipating the new model because of the innovative designs and impressive features and Audi officials already gave them something to think about by saying that q8 will be more emotional and more sporty than the Q7 and other models.Third, the release will be a big deal for the manufacturer because it aims at China, where the SUV market continues to rise and some huge profits can be made very quickly.
Exterior Styling
The Q8 was initially developed as more sporty and emotional version of Q7 and the customers loved it for this. It is safe to assume that the exterior styling language will be continued, with such elements as sharp cues, thin headlamps, large front grille, massive body, and aggressive appearance.
However, many sources claimed that Audi will get its inspiration from the Prologue concept, which means that Q8 might feature some new design language or combined the existing with the new one.
Given that Q7 sits on the VW’s second-generation MLB platform, it is fair to assume that Q8 will use the same one. This platform is currently included in the design of a number of great upcoming models as well, including VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, and Bentley Bentayga. It is also expected that the model will be longer and have a larger wheelbase.
To conclude, the exterior of the new Q8 will be sporty and attractive, with many elements from Q7. The body is going to be massive and aggressively looking, so the wheels must be large alloy units to add to the appearance.
Interior Styling
As of this writing, we do not have many details about the interior design of Q8 but it is safe to assume that the automaker will provide plenty of room for the driver and passengers.
Also, it will be interesting to see what high-tech stuff is there but we can make certain prediction based on Q7; specifically, the cabin should have premium sound system, leather seats and steering wheel, Bluetooth, USB ports, premium air conditioning, the latest infotainment system with a large touch screen display, Wi-Fi hotspot, compatibility with Apple and Android smartphones, and wood inserts all around.
The automaker is most likely to include the latest navigation system and a lot of advanced security features as well, such as rearview camera, parking sensors, cruise control, stability control, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, traction control, pedestrian detection and many more others.
Powertrain
There is not a lot we know about the engine and transmission of Q8 at this point but some German automobile publishers have provided some information. According to them, the model will get a range of gas and diesel V6 and V8 engines and there is a decent possibility of an all-electric model as well.
If we look at the current engines used by Audi, it is sufficient to claim that the model might feature a 4.0-liter twin turbo engine that produces at least 550 hp while the second possible one is a 3.0-liter unit with at least 270 hp. Many reviewers assume that these engines will be paired with an 8-speed automatic unit with an optional manual one and reach 60 miles per hour in less than 6 seconds.
2017 Audi Q8 Pricing
When the Q8 hits the market at the end of 2016, the reviewers expect the starting price to be between $60,000 and $80,000 without the optional features and destination charges. Simply said, we expect the price to be high.
Conclusion
Based on the details that we have today, we love that the model will have a decent selection of powertrains, luxurious interior and possibly a new exterior design language. Therefore, at this point, it is way too early to draw some meaningful conclusions but we are very excited to expect the Q8 to be unveiled.
We do not know much about the model but the previous and current similar vehicles from Audi convince us that the next one will be even better. Moreover, it is good to see that the German automaker attempts to expand its presence in the SUV segment and hit the new Chinese market.
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Even though there have been a lot of pessimistic rumors about the possible cancellation of the model in case if the Chinese economy pulls down the consumer demand for the SUV segment, the development process is well under way.
In our humble opinion, Q8 will be released to join the battle of the titans because it is a decent answer to BMW X6, Porsche Cayenne Coupe, and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe.
Even though some of the competitors of Q8 are already in the showrooms winning over the hearts of fans, its release will be an important event in the auto world and we cannot wait to cover this exciting event.
