Audi q8 is here at last
WILLEM VAN DE PUTTE
IT’S BEEN a while since Audi released something new and now the company has come out of hibernation to reveal the Q8, which adds to the steady increase in the popularity of SUVS.
It’s a tough market currently, especially in the premium category as consumers look carefully at what they spend their money on and research shows buyers are actually buying “down”.
A brave move then, coming in at an entry price of R1.4 million, but the guys at Audi are confident the fiveseater Q8 will be a popular choice in the segment.
It’s based on the familiar Q7 and underpinned by the same MLB platform but is shorter, lower and slightly wider, giving it a more impressive presence.
Officially it’s called the Audi Q8 55 TFSI and under the bonnet you’ll find a 3.0 litre V6 turbocharged petrol unit that pushes out a solid 250kw of power and 500Nm of torque, which we got to test at the launch in Cape Town recently.
Audi claims a 0-100km/h time of 5.9 seconds and, if you keep the accelerator floored, a limited top speed of 250km/h. Fuel consumption, they say, should be in the region of 8.9 and 9.1l/100km (depending on spec) but probably closer to 11l/100km in real-world conditions.
South Africans, though, like their diesel engines, so there’s only a short wait before the Q8 3.0 TDI (45 TDI) will be available from the middle of the year.
For the first time, too, we were able to see what Audis will look like going forward, with a redesigned and more defined grille and a spoiler drawn towards the front with large contoured air inlets. Quattro blisters above the wheel arches give it a beefier, more aggressive look that will allow you to fit 22-inch wheels, while the sloping roofline of the SUV coupé gives it a more aesthetically pleasing look and we received lots of admiring glances in the Cape Town traffic. The package is rounded off with Audi’s new HD Matrix lighting system, including locking and unlocking animations.
Technology keeps on reinventing itself and in the car industry it’s no different. The Q8 is fitted with a new mild hybrid technology with a 48 volt main electrical system that incorporates a lithium-ion battery and a belt alternator starter. During breaking up to 12kw can be recovered and fed back in to the battery. The system allows the start/stop to cut in at 22km/h, which shuts off the engine every time you slow down for a traffic circle or yield sign. It’s an interesting concept that Audi says can save up to 0.7l/100km. I’m not entirely convinced yet and it’s pretty nerve-racking, particularly with our sometimes cavalier road users.
Inside it’s the lap of luxury as the newly designed interior hits our shores.
More than just a few subtle changes, it’s dominated by dual touch screens in the centre, so no more rotary knob which we have become so used to, and can be operated by touch voice and handwriting. The top 25.6cm display is used for the infotainment and navigation system while the 21.8cm below that is for temperature control, text input and pinned shortcuts for destinations.
Voice recognition and connectivity is starting to play an ever-increasing role in how we operate driving systems in our cars, so for example you can tell it you’re hungry and the system will suggest restaurants in the area.
Once you get behind the wheel, the Q8 wraps comfortably around you with the virtual cockpit giving you crystal clear feedback.
With its wider track, the Q8 sits well around bends and corners, aided considerably by air suspension that easily handles any road imperfections.
Acceleration isn’t blistering but a throaty roar from the tailpipes sees it pick up speed quickly. And while the windows are frameless, wind noise is minimal, as is road noise even on a short stretch of dirt road. With 254mm of ground clearance, permanent all-wheel drive and hill descent control, the Q8 will be almost as capable on dirt as it is on the blacktop.
As you would expect from a premium model, safety hasn’t been skimped on at all if you manage to get things out of their natural order, while Audi has now also bundled options and extras in to make it easier to choose upgrade kits, which should have been done a long time ago.
It’s been a while coming but as Audi’s halo model, the time in R&D has been well spent… it’s a top-notch offering with every possible tech gadget you can think of.
It may be a tough market to play in, but the Q8 will certainly make people sit up and take notice – and that’s half the battle won. But I reckon that once the diesel lands, it will probably be the vehicle of choice.
All Audi Q8 models come with a 5-year/100 000km Audi Freeway plan.