What It Is: The upcoming Audi SQ8, with the S implying sport, is the high-performance variant of the recently revealed Q8, which itself is a sportier “coupe” counterpart to the Q7 SUV. The most immediately noticeable difference is the adoption of quad exhaust tips, a pair at each side of the rear bumper. Tucking those massive wheels (the same style as seen on the Q8 debut photography) into the wells, the SQ8 also looks to have a lowered stance in comparison to the production Q8. That could simply be a sport mode of the air-spring suspension system, however. The roof rails and side mirrors have also been blacked out.

Why It Matters: Audi is no stranger to performance SUVs, as it has been producing the SQ5 for years, but the Q8 is the company’s first “coupe” SUV. It’s a weird but burgeoning segment, and the market has conjured up plenty of competition. Whether they come from mainstream luxury makers such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz or high-end brands such as Lamborghini and Bentley, sporty sport-utility vehicles are everywhere. And many of them are good to drive, too. The Q7, which we named as the top mid-size luxury SUV on our 2018 10Best Trucks and SUVs roster, has already proved that Audi knows how to tune and shape a crossover SUV for proper driving dynamics, so we expect it’ll get this one right, too.

View Photos Chris Doane Automotive Car and Driver

Platform: Speaking of Lamborghini and Bentley, the Q8 and SQ8 ride on the same platform as the Urus and Bentayga SUVs: the Volkswagen Group’s MLB Evo architecture. The Q8’s all-wheel-drive system employs a center differential that splits the torque in a 40/60 rear bias, and we expect the SQ8 will use the same setup. Four-wheel steering, too, should carry over. The suspension will assuredly be firmer.



Powertrain: The badge on the back of this test vehicle says TDI, but there’s virtually no chance that the United States will get a diesel SQ8. But, if the extremely orange Q8 Sport concept is any indication, the SQ8 sold here could feature a hybrid system. That concept used a electrically supercharged V-6 paired with an electric motor for a total of 476 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. That likely would link to an eight-speed automatic transmission. There is also potential for a twin-turbo V-8 or an uprated version of Audi’s turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6. We would not be surprised if an even more powerful RS Q8 turns up, although Audi’s past practice suggests that such a variant may not be offered in America.

Competition: BMW X6, Maserati Levante, Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe, Porsche Cayenne, Tesla Model X.

Estimated Arrival and Price: The SQ8 should slot into the Audi lineup as a 2019 model. If it falls in line with typical S model price premiums, it will likely cost around $15,000 more than the Q8, which would put the SQ8 near $75,000. The Q8 will not arrive at dealerships here until next year, so the SQ8 could see a 2019 summer launch.







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