Photo: Audi
As you know by now, SUVs drive Audi sales in the United States of America, with the Q5 and Q7 leading by example in the ranking. As a matter of fact, sales in August 2018 show that these two utility vehicles along with the A4 are the only Audi models to have posted an improvement.
Given this trend, does it come as a surprise Audi came up with another SUV instead of making its passenger cars more interesting? Enter the Q8, which arrives in the U.S. at $67,400 for the Premium trim level. The Premium Plus and Prestige are $71,400 and $76,550, excluding the $995 destination charge.
Bearing in mind the Audi Q7 with the 3.0 TFSI V6 retails at $56,400, the Ingolstadt-based automaker is milking the cash cow like there’s no tomorrow. And in truth, the Q8 isn’t anything more than a shortened Q7 with fewer seats and less cargo capacity. On the other hand, it’s sexier in all areas.
The 3.0-liter six-cylinder comes with a twin-scroll turbocharger located inside the V of the engine, translating to 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The Mild-Hybrid Electric Vehicle system comes standard, along with a 10-Ah battery that works in conjunction with the belt alternator/starter.
For cold starts, the Q8 uses a pinion starter, leaving the BAS to do its job after the engine gets up to temperature and the battery has enough electricity to work as intended. All-wheel drive is standard too, splitting the torque to the front and rear wheels at a ratio of 40:60. Wheel-selective torque control and adaptive dampers are on the menu as well, making the Q8 feel light on its feet compared to other SUVs of this size and weight.
Celebrating the arrival of the Q8 in North America, the company announced that it’s offering the Year One package as an option. Tick it off the options list, and you get 22-inch Audi Sport anthracite wheels with all-season tires, black exterior trim, and red-painted brake calipers.
Bearing in mind the Audi Q7 with the 3.0 TFSI V6 retails at $56,400, the Ingolstadt-based automaker is milking the cash cow like there’s no tomorrow. And in truth, the Q8 isn’t anything more than a shortened Q7 with fewer seats and less cargo capacity. On the other hand, it’s sexier in all areas.
The 3.0-liter six-cylinder comes with a twin-scroll turbocharger located inside the V of the engine, translating to 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The Mild-Hybrid Electric Vehicle system comes standard, along with a 10-Ah battery that works in conjunction with the belt alternator/starter.
For cold starts, the Q8 uses a pinion starter, leaving the BAS to do its job after the engine gets up to temperature and the battery has enough electricity to work as intended. All-wheel drive is standard too, splitting the torque to the front and rear wheels at a ratio of 40:60. Wheel-selective torque control and adaptive dampers are on the menu as well, making the Q8 feel light on its feet compared to other SUVs of this size and weight.
Celebrating the arrival of the Q8 in North America, the company announced that it’s offering the Year One package as an option. Tick it off the options list, and you get 22-inch Audi Sport anthracite wheels with all-season tires, black exterior trim, and red-painted brake calipers.
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