Detroit 2017: 18 things you need to know about the Audi Q8

Here are 18 things you need to know about the Audi Q8, unveiled at the Detroit Motor Show in “near production” form prior to sales beginning in 2018. With Audi claiming full-size SUV spaciousness and coupe styling appeal, should Range Rover Sport, BMW X6 and Mercedes GLE be worried?

1. The Q8 has the biggest Audi grille ever. The octagonal single-frame monster gets a honeycomb insert and is heavily sculpted for a more 3D look. An aluminium blade forms the bottom edge of the bumper.

2. You will recognise it coming at night: the digital Matrix laser technology provides an x-shaped, blue laser light signature for low and high beams.

3. It’s just over 5 metres long and 2 metres wide – similar to a Range Rover but at 1.7m tall the Audi is 200mm (8 inches) lower.

4. The wheelbase is 3m – enough says Audi for opulent space for two adults in the rear compartment; in concept form it’s a four-seater, for production it will likely be available with seats for five. The boot is 630 litres.

5. The doors are frameless, allowing that flat and slender roofline.

6. It’s a 1980s Quattro! Well a little perhaps, with Audi pointing to inspiration from the Ur (original) Quattro in the flat and wide C-pillar, flared shoulders and position of rear number plate.

7. Who needs door handles? You get into the Q8 via touch sensors behind Audi logos on the doors, which then open to pre-defined angles.

8. The Q8 uses an extant plug-in hybrid e-tron drivetrain of 3.0-litre petrol engine, electric motor and eight-speed Tiptronic transmission. Total system output is 442bbhp and 516 lb-ft of torque. 

9. The Q8 can do 0-62mph in 5.4seconds with a top speed limited to 155mph.

10. With a full tank, it can travel up to 620 miles, 37 of them on electric power alone.

11. On the European drive cycle for plug-in hybrids, it returns up to 122mpg, corresponding to 53 g/km of CO₂.

12. Hook up to a domestic socket and the lithium-ion battery can be charged up in two and a half hours.

13. The Q8 previews Audi’s next-generation display and driver control systems, with a largely button-free interior. All is controlled on large touchscreens; there’s even one for the front-seat passenger that remains off if the driver is alone.

14. Head-up displays use “intelligent augmented reality technology that merges the real and the virtual worlds”. What does that mean? That a painted road arrow, for example, would appear in the same position in the windscreen as an actual arrow on the road.

15. If you like the Audi “virtual cockpit”in the TT and R8 you will love this: the Q8’s new improved virtual cockpit uses a 12.3 inch TFT display with a resolution of 1920 x 720 pixels for more detail than before as well as space for more maps, lists and additional information.

16. Thanks to adaptive air suspension the Q8 can vary its ground clearance by up to 90mm.

17. The concept is fitted with 23-inch wheels and 305/35-series tyres, along with huge brakes: 20-inch ceramic discs.

18. There’s a new Audi A8 saloon coming this year. But we suspect that, for many, the Q8 will prove the real flagship in Audi’s range…