Photo: Stefan Baldauf / Guido ten Brink
The next best thing after the RS Q8, the SQ8 is the flagship Audi utility vehicle for the time being. The imposing grille up front hides a 4.0-liter turbo diesel engine with mild-hybrid technology and earth-shattering performance thanks to 900 Nm (664 pound-feet) of torque from 1,000 rpm.
435 PS (429 horsepower) are adequate for a vehicle of this size and weight, more so if you remember the electronic speed limiter halts the SQ8 at 250 km/h (155 mph). Acceleration is more impressive at 4.8 seconds from naught to 100 km/h (62 mph), which is very close to the Ford Focus RS.
The flagship SUV from the four-ringed automaker can coast with the engine turned off for up to 40 seconds at speeds between 34 and 100 miles per hour, all thanks to the 48-volt electrical system. The 4.0 TDI also knows how to turn off one of the turbochargers at low speeds to boost efficiency, and the belt-driven starter/alternator is directly connected to the crankshaft.
In other words, the engine is quite complex by turbo diesel standards. An eight-speed automatic transmission comes standard, but customers will have to pay extra for the advanced suspension package that further sweetens the deal with a sport differential and all-wheel steering. The adaptive air suspension adjusts the ride height by up to 90 millimeters, and in the corners, electromechanical active roll stabilization promises to greater stability.
21- or 22-inch wheels are featured, and even though this gentle giant is fueled with diesel, carbon-ceramic brakes are standard. The S-specific grille with a matte-silver frame complements the sharp LED headlamps, bigger air inlets are incorporated into the front bumper, and the side mirrors are spruced up with an aluminum-effect finish for the caps. Customers can up the ante with a black styling package that matches the black and Alcantara upholstery.
Stainless-steel pedals, aluminum inlays, embossed S logos, and no fewer than three displays are some of the highlights of the interior. The SQ8 with the 4.0 TDI is exclusive to the United Kingdom and Europe, and the starting price is set at 102,900 euros before optional extras.
The flagship SUV from the four-ringed automaker can coast with the engine turned off for up to 40 seconds at speeds between 34 and 100 miles per hour, all thanks to the 48-volt electrical system. The 4.0 TDI also knows how to turn off one of the turbochargers at low speeds to boost efficiency, and the belt-driven starter/alternator is directly connected to the crankshaft.
In other words, the engine is quite complex by turbo diesel standards. An eight-speed automatic transmission comes standard, but customers will have to pay extra for the advanced suspension package that further sweetens the deal with a sport differential and all-wheel steering. The adaptive air suspension adjusts the ride height by up to 90 millimeters, and in the corners, electromechanical active roll stabilization promises to greater stability.
21- or 22-inch wheels are featured, and even though this gentle giant is fueled with diesel, carbon-ceramic brakes are standard. The S-specific grille with a matte-silver frame complements the sharp LED headlamps, bigger air inlets are incorporated into the front bumper, and the side mirrors are spruced up with an aluminum-effect finish for the caps. Customers can up the ante with a black styling package that matches the black and Alcantara upholstery.
Stainless-steel pedals, aluminum inlays, embossed S logos, and no fewer than three displays are some of the highlights of the interior. The SQ8 with the 4.0 TDI is exclusive to the United Kingdom and Europe, and the starting price is set at 102,900 euros before optional extras.
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