Next Audi Q8 still a few years away.
Future SQ8 is expected to retain twin-turbo V8 power.
Q8 will continue bridging the Q7 and Q9.
Audi has confirmed plans to develop a next-generation Q8, ensuring the coupe-style luxury SUV will remain part of the brand’s recently expanded utility vehicle portfolio.
Audi CEO Gernot Döllner confirmed the upcoming model, saying the company has committed to a successor after the vehicle’s long-term future was previously uncertain. The redesigned Q8 is not expected to reach the market for at least several years.
The Q8 currently occupies a unique position in Audi’s lineup. It combines a more aggressive roofline and two-row configuration with a higher level of standard performance than the Q7. Since its introduction for the 2019 model year, the model has received equipment updates and a significant refresh for 2024 but has remained largely unchanged mechanically and not quite as successful as once expected.
Recent changes elsewhere in Audi’s SUV range have increased pressure on the current Q8. The redesigned 2027 Q7 now features a standard 429-hp turbocharged 2.9L V6, narrowing the performance gap with the Q8. At the upper end of the lineup, the introduction of the all-new Q9 gives Audi a new flagship SUV, leaving the older Q8 wedged between two substantially updated products.
The next-generation Q8 is expected to continue offering a six-cylinder engine as its core powertrain, minimally equal to that of the Q7. Higher-performance SQ8 models are anticipated to receive a twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8, likely producing over 590 hp, consistent with the latest SQ7 and SQ9 performance models.
Audi has not confirmed plans for a future RS Q8, which is the Q8’s defining version. The current high-performance version produces 631 hp from a twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8 and remains one of the most powerful SUVs in the brand’s global portfolio. While no official announcement has been made, an RS variant could follow after the standard Q8 enters production, in line with Audi’s typical performance model rollout.
2024 Audi Q8 | Photo: AudiThe upcoming Q8 will continue taking on the handful of premium SUV coupes, including the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe. It provides buyers seeking a sportier alternative to the Q7 and a premium model than the Q5.
Notably, its confirmation also signals Audi’s ongoing commitment to internal-combustion performance SUVs.
Source: Car and Driver
