The new Audi Q8 will give the Range Rover Sport its sternest challenge yet as the battle for sales of style-led premium SUVs hits new levels of intensity amid unprecedented — and still growing — global demand.
Priced from an estimated £65,000 and powered by a choice of 3.0-litre petrol and diesel engines, the Q8 is also set to go head to head with German premium rivals including the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE CoupeÃ.
Last year Mercedes was the world’s largest seller of premium SUVs, closely followed by Audi and BMW. Land Rover was a distant fourth with sales volumes around two-thirds the size of those of its rivals.
Although the Range Rover Sport is regarded as the most iconic design in the segment by UK buyers, with this new Q8 Audi has followed the trend for more extravagant styling established by the BMW X6.
Sascha Heyde, exterior designer for the Q8, told Autocar that the team working on the car were commissioned with a brief to ensure the firm’s new flagship SUV is immediately recognisable on the road and acts as a ‘halo’ for the brand’s other models.
As well as the strikingly coupeÃ-like roofline and frameless doors, notable styling flourishes include the new-style upright grille design, which features six vertical chrome fins; bulging wheel arches inspired by the design of the famous Quattro (and which are now a design feature on all new Audis including the Audi A6, A7 and Audi A8) and the option of 22in wheels, the largest ever to be offered by the factory.
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I don't get it
Is the 2-ton truck that is Q7 not stable enough that Audi had to make this 27mm wider?
And what is "agile" about 2.5 ton almost 2.5 meter wide bus? What kind of bs are these Audi "engineers" peddling, seriously?
To park this bus in any typical parking one would need two spots. Will not fit anywhere in Europe, In Asia and US will mostly stand in queues. Agility, yeah sure.
Anyway, when is the Q10 coming out?
Audi Ugloupe
This is super ugly suv coupe, the grill looks like something of a one of my childs playmobile cars. When a car maker puts the lights out,to show off the dodgy led lighting graphics you have to worry. A least its not as bad as the Q2 which every time I see one it just confirms that majority of people buy these cars due to being badge snobs and not for any driving pleasure or real aesthetics. Audi now make cars for those who like to have brand badges on their cars clothing and their underpants logo on show each time they bend over!
You cant buy class ! certainly not at an Audi dealership, volume and a fits all model range has put paid to that, volume has a cost !
Coupe?
An excessively large hatchback surely, the side profile is very reminiscent of a larger, more blingy A3