- Audi’s CEO has confirmed plans for another Q8.
- Crossover wasn’t approved until relatively recently.
- The spicier take on the Q7 is likely a few years off.
Audi recently introduced the redesigned Q7 as well as the all-new Q9. However, we haven’t heard anything about a new Q8 or seen any prototypes.
That suggested the model could be living on borrowed time and this was amplified by recent reports suggesting Audi and Porsche could kill off a number of crossover coupes to cut costs. Casualties are said to include the Q5 Sportback and Q6 e-tron Sportback as well as the gas-powered Cayenne Coupe. While the Q8 wasn’t named, things didn’t look promising.
More: VW Group Cuts Could Spell End Of Jetta, Crossover Coupes, And A Porsche
Fast forward to today and Audi CEO Gernot Döllner has confirmed plans for a second-generation Q8. Speaking to Edmunds, he suggested we haven’t heard anything about the model because its fate was still undecided when he took the job in 2023.
As the executive explained, “To my surprise, there was no decision for a successor, but we changed that.” He added the redesigned model will come in the “nearer future.”
2027 Audi Q7
Döllner said the crossover will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, so we can expect it to continue to be based on the Q7. This means we can expect a sportier shape as well as a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 developing 429 hp (320 kW / 435 PS) and 442 lb-ft (600 Nm) of torque. It enables the larger three-row crossover to accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 4.8 seconds, before topping out at 130 mph (209 km/h).
It will likely be joined by a new SQ8 with a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 pumping out 591 hp (441 kW / 599 PS) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque. The sporty SQ7 hits 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.7 seconds, while the top speed climbs to 155 mph (250 km/h).
Another RS Q8 is also a possibility, but little is known about it. However, the current model has 631 hp (471 kW / 640 PS) and 627 lb-ft (849 Nm) of torque, allowing it to hit 60 mph (96 km/h) in 3.4 seconds.
