Audi Q9 debuts in 2026, positioned above the Q7 as brand’s largest SUV.
Both Q9 and Q7 use PPC platform supporting gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in options.
Audi, Porsche revise EV goals, keeping combustion engines in lineup into 2030s.
Audi will introduce its largest SUV to date in 2026 with the launch of the Q9. The new three-row model will debut alongside a redesigned Q7, marking a renewed focus on larger combustion-powered vehicles.
Refreshed 2025 Audi Q7 PHEV and Q8 PHEV Get More Range, Remain Europe Only
Both models will share the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, which supports gasoline, diesel, mild-hybrid, and plug-in hybrid powertrains. The same platform underpins the latest Audi A5, Q5, and A6. It is also expected to serve as the foundation for Porsche’s upcoming ICE Macan successor, scheduled for release in 2028.
Audi’s head of development, Geoffrey Bouquot, did not confirm whether the new Q7 or Q9 would incorporate range extender systems. However, PPC is designed to support such configurations, leaving the option open for future deployment.
The Q9 will compete directly with the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS, as well as the Infiniti QX80 and Lexus TX, in the large luxury SUV segment. Audi’s entry follows years of speculation surrounding its plans to expand its SUV portfolio. The updated Q7, meanwhile, will replace a model that has remained on sale for over a decade, having undergone multiple updates during its lifecycle.
Elsewhere in the Volkswagen Group, Porsche is also developing a new three-row SUV. Originally intended as an all-electric vehicle, the project will now launch first with combustion engines and plug-in hybrid options, and it will be positioned above the Cayenne.
Audi and Porsche have both revised their long-term powertrain strategies. Audi has abandoned its previous target to sell only electric vehicles by 2032. Porsche has stated it will continue offering V8 engines into the 2030s. Future product plans now include a mix of electric and combustion drivetrains, depending on model and market demand. For example, Porsche’s next-generation 718 will be offered as an EV, but higher trims will continue to use gasoline engines.
Several auto industry leaders have publicly opposed the EU’s current policy, prompting a review of the European Union’s planned 2035 ban on new internal combustion engine vehicles. Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius warned that the sector is heading “at full speed against a wall,” while BMW CEO Oliver Zipse said the ban “can kill an industry.”
Source: Automobilwoche
