Audi Q8 Concept Headed To Detroit Auto Show
A seamless blend of design, performance and functionality. The 2019 Audi Q8 features a number of distinctive tweaks to the brand's familiar cues, including the signature singleframe grille. Audi made its reputation building sleek, road-worthy sedans that have earned their way into the hearts of motorists around the world. But thats becoming a smaller and smaller segment of the premium luxury market as buyers around the world continue migrating from sedans and coupes to SUVs and CUVs. The good news for Audi is that, among its impressive stable of utility vehicles it has an alternative to the flagship A8. Like the sedan, the Q8 crossover is flush with all the industrys latest and most advanced technology. And it also boasts the solid driving characteristics for which the German automaker has won over a legion of loyal fans. 70,000 certainly would stretch the budget for most buyers, we found it an attractive, lavishly equipped and fun-to-drive alternative to the classic luxury sedan.
For starters, the 2019 Audi Q8 has an elegant exterior that distinguishes it from the brands previous crossover-utility vehicles with a somewhat more coupe-like look to its profile. It doesnt have quite the aggressive roofline rake of a Range Rover Evoque, but the gentle slope flows into the more sharply angled back glass. Under design chief Marc Lichte, new models, like the Audi Q8, have gotten a more sculpted look. The nose is distinguished by one of the most dynamic applications of the familiar Audi singleframe grille, here framed by cats-eye-like LED headlamps and the brands familiar LED running lights. From the back, theres a thin LED light strip running the full width of the tailgate. Like other recent Audis, the Q8 has migrated away from the brands traditional, slab-sided profile, adopting a more sculpted look, with a series of character lines that flow from front to rear wheel wells. Lichte has a near-phobic aversion to knobs and dials, and his latest efforts take that to heart, adopting a twin-screen infotainment system that allows most vehicle controls to be operated by touchscreen.
Not everyone will be pleased with the move away from the move away from Audis familiar MMI control system, but it is quite intuitive and easy to learn, unlike some competing systems. 6,000 Luxury Package option. The slope of the roof is modest, the rake of the back glass aggresive, with taillights running corner-to-corner. The basic numbers for the 2019 crossover are impressive. The 3.0-liter V-6, which is matched to an eight-speed transmission, delivers 335 horsepower and 369- foot pounds of torque. Our less than scientific road test suggests youll be hitting 60 from a dead stop in around six seconds, in line with key German competitors. It retains that solid sense of thrust as you enter onto a freeway or need to make a quick pass on a narrow road. On the open road, the vehicle moves easily through its eight gears and never seems to miss a beat when the driving situation calls for a downshift. Under normally driving situations, about 40% of the torque is sent to the front wheels, 60% to the rear.
That can instantly jump to an 85% rear basis, where necessary. The 2019 Q8s powertrain is equipped with mild-hybrid technology, a 48-volt system with its modest-sized battery stored under the rear cargo floor. These systems offer more limited benefits than the conventional hybrid technology were all familiar with from the likes of the Toyota Prius. The battery pack can store only a limited amount of energy, but it nonetheless helps smooth out the CUVs stop/start system and offers a little torque boost at launch. Overall, the 2019 Audi Q8s driving dynamics are excellent, the CUV feeling well planted even on tight curves. The crossover is equipped with adaptive damping suspension that can be adjusted through Audi Drive Select to best adjust itself on varying driving situations and road conditions, such as snow, mud and ruts or, if you prefer, more sporty situations. Controlled electronically, the adaptive damping suspension makes for a comfortable ride regardless of road surface. The Audi Q8 I drove also featured a lift/off-road mode that increases ground clearance.
As you reach highway speeds, however, it automatically settles back down. The 2019 Audi Q8's lavish interior. While its hard to match a sedans grace on tight corners, the Audi Q8 still manages to deliver a tighter, European-style feel than many similarly-sized CUVs. The steering, braking are first rate. The steering is very responsive and offers the driver a chance to maneuver quickly around obstacles and other vehicles, whether coping with a packed freeway or an open road. Audis pre-sense system, which is standard, helps detect vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists in the vehicles forward path, at speeds of up to 52 mph and can initiate braking if a potential collision is detected. The Q8 adds a broad range of additional ADAS systems, such as blind-spot detection and lane keeping assist. 68,395 聳 plus delivery fees. But few are likely to stop there, and the options add up. 90,000 when you check all the boxes. The all-digital gauge cluster can provide a detailed navi map to help you easily find your way. Audi has built a powerful reputation with a long string of impressively designed and engineered vehicles. While some might quibble with whether the 2019 Q8 is a true counterpoint to the A8 sedan, it comes as close as weve seen and goes well beyond the original Audi Q7 crossover. For those who want a highline CUV that blends design, performance and functionality into a single package, the Audi Q8 does it all but seamlessly.