Audi Puts Q8 Hybrid SUV Concept on the Fast Track, Expects 2018 Launch

Audi Puts Q8 Hybrid SUV Concept on the Fast Track, Expects 2018 Launch

Published: January 24, 2017 | By: American Luxury Staff

Audi is putting the finishing touches on its top-of-the-line Q8 hybrid sport utility crossover.

Boasting the cabin of a sport sedan and the muscular chassis of an SUV, the VW-group company hopes to break into the crossover and EV-hybrid markets simultaneously with the upper-echelon CUV; Audi surely hopes the Q8 will effectively compete with the Porsche Macan and the BMW X6 with a CUV that bests both in features and performance; they also, one imagines, would like to appeal to the green and/or economy-minded consumer increasingly conscious of internal combustion-based personal transportation.

The Q8’s lithium-ion battery will charge fully in three hours, and offer an electric-only range of about 37 miles; combined with a fully fueled 3.0L 440HP V6, the Q8’s range extends to an impressive 621 miles. As of now, the top speed is 155MPH, and the Q8 will launch from standstill to 62MPH in 5.4 seconds.

Standout mechanical design elements include individual wheel braking and adaptive air sport suspension. The Q8 is geared toward the sport-minded driver by offering a less family-friendly sized cabin than the Q7. Interior features include multiple, driver-configurable digital displays, head-up, augmented reality display, and touch-sensitive surfaces for cabin controls, including transmission control. Interior cosmetics include Napa leather and LED ambient lighting. The dramatic front grille offers a forceful façade to the Q8’s overall visual impact.

The Q8 will be offered in 2018. Pricing has not yet been finalized; the Q7’s base price is around $50K.

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