Confirmed: Audi Q8 is Officially On Its Way to Production; RS Q8 Also Happening

 

It's no longer just a rumor.

It’s been a rumored thing for a few years, but only now has Audi confirmed that a Q8 SUV will reach production. Set to go up directly against the BMW X6 and the Range Rover Sport, the Q8 is still about three years away. In a conversation with Autocar at the LA Auto Show, Audi technical chief Ulrich Hackenberg confirmed that the Q8 will also feature the firm’s new design language, just previewed by the Prologue Concept in LA. "The Q8 will come," stated Hackenberg.

“It will be something new...and will be positioned as something more emotional and more sporty than the Q7. The Q7 will be a car for seven people, the Q8 will be more coupe like.” The Q8 will be aimed specifically at the US, Chinese and Middle Eastern markets. Technology wise, it’ll be on par with that of the A8 sedan. A 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 will come as standard, while the eventual RS Q8 (guaranteed to happen) will see a 4.0 twin-turbo V8 under its hood. There’s even a possibility of an all-electric version that would compete directly against Tesla’s upcoming Model X. Overall, expect the Q8 to be sportier and more expensive than the Q7, which will be the last new Audi to feature the current styling theme.

source: www.autocar.co.uk