Currently reading: 2017 Audi Q8 concept previews future Q range-topper - new pic

A new Audi SUV concept will be revealed at the Detroit motor show; it will share underpinnings with the Q7 and influence a BMW X6 rival

A new image of the Audi Q8 concept, a near production-ready version of the upcoming Q8 SUV coupé, has been released ahead of the car's Detroit motor show debut.

The 2017 Audi Q8 concept has now been revealed. Click here for more

The image follows two sketches and reveals the car's prominent grille and the edge of a sharply angled headlight. There's also a large silver front lip that curls upwards. Lifting the cover is Audi design boss Marc Lichte.

Set to top Audi’s line-up of Q-badged SUVs when it arrives in 2018, the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE rival will share its engineering with the Audi Q7, which is built on Audi’s MLB platform, and have a range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engine in V6 and V8 forms.

It will also be offered as a hybrid, as confirmed by these sketches, which show an e-tron badge, used by Audi to denote its hybrid and electric models. The powertrain will also be offered in the next Porsche Cayenne.

The four-seat Q8 is expected to share many of the advanced systems being developed for next year’s Audi A8, including a 48V electrical system, OLED high-definition digital displays and the latest in autonomous driving functions.

Audi design 2 0

As with the Q4 and Q6, the Q8 will adopt a five-door layout with a liftback-style tailgate for the boot. The car will measure roughly the same size as the Q7, which is 5050mm long and 1970mm wide.

The Q8 coupé’s slanting rear roofline will trim height and therefore headroom at the back, with around 50mm shaved from the Q7’s 1741mm top. Despite this, an Audi spokesman said that the model’s roof drops later than its rivals, so boot space shouldn’t be hindered too much.

In the UK, the sleek SUV will have a starting price of around £55,000 for an entry-level Q8 3.0 TDI model.

Talking about the concept, Lichte said: “With the Audi Q8 concept, we have created a new spearhead within our Q model line. Its design strongly evokes sportiness and prestige. What’s more, we believe an important aspect of this show car is that it offers a spacious interior with four equally comfortable seats, even with the flat roofline.”

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The Q8 concept’s design echoes elements of the Audi Ur-Quattro model from the 1980s, including the wide, flat C-pillars and prominent shoulders above the wheels.

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Spanner 23 December 2016

Looks quite useful really

Hats off to the Germans for providing the world with an upmarket and usable bicycle rack. Simply park at home, sling the keys, as no one with any self esteem could actually drive the thing, and simply slot the front wheels of the old Raleigh in the front grille, Et voila! An Audi themed bike rack. You could even invite your friends around to try it out and then put some pots on it with a few nice bedding plants. It will soon blend in.
I would image the cover would come in handy too.
Can't see the point of it otherwise,
Spanner 23 December 2016

Oops, I said n one would want to buy one

Spanner wrote:

Hats off to the Germans for providing the world with an upmarket and usable bicycle rack. Simply park at home, sling the keys, as no one with any self esteem could actually drive the thing, and simply slot the front wheels of the old Raleigh in the front grille, Et voila! An Audi themed bike rack. You could even invite your friends around to try it out and then put some pots on it with a few nice bedding plants. It will soon blend in.
I would image the cover would come in handy too.
Can't see the point of it otherwise,

I was wrong. Apparently there is a chap who likes this sort of thing. Check out the Merc GLC amg43 coupe review, apparently the only person in the world who will buy one out of choice has turned up. Maybe he could afford one of these too?

bowsersheepdog 23 December 2016

Audi design language

Stop fannying about with jeep rubbish and make some cars.
bubbabubba23 23 December 2016

this front ...

Looks like it's about to swallow my house.
not even close to looking good, just big and agressive. how vulgar