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  • William Maley
    William Maley

    By William Maley •

    Spying: Audi Q8 Is Almost Undisguised

      Looks almost like the concept

    It has been almost a year since Audi unveiled the Q8 concept at the Detroit Auto Show. The concept was Audi's take on the SUV-coupe that the BMW X6 kicked off. We've known for some time that Audi was planning to bring the Q8 into production and recently, a spy photographer caught one almost uncovered.

    The production model keeps the coupe-like stance and narrow glass area of the concept. Up front is massive octagonal grille, long and slim headlights, and faux openings in the bumper. The rear hatch is quite rakish and features a unique design for the tailgate. 

    The Q8 is expected to use Audi's MLB platform that underpins the Q7 crossover. We're guessing the base powertrain will be the turbocharged 3.0L V6 offering 354 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. This will be paired with an eight-speed automatic and quattro AWD. Expect a plug-in hybrid and high-performance RS model to follow.

    We won't have to wait too long for the Q8 to be revealed. Reports say the Q8 will go into production sometime later this year, meaning we could see the Q8 debut at Geneva or New York.

    Source: Autoblog, Autocar, Motor Authority

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    G. David Felt
    38 minutes ago, frogger said:

    I get a bit of a large XT5 profile from the A-pillar back..

    Frogger I did not think about it till I compared side by side and your right very similar profiles for these two CUVs.

    audiq8-undisguised03-kgp-ed-1.jpg

    See the source image

    Thinking on what Frogger has said, I take the Cadillac over the Audi as I like the stronger brick look over the coupe look, but very similar.

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    G. David Felt
    9 minutes ago, Frisky Dingo said:

    The Audi looks way better than the XT5. Proportions are better, overall design is more cohesive, and less busy.

    Fixed it for you as I assume you meant the XT5.

    I will have to disagree with you. XT5 has the more SUV brick look over the overused Coupe look. Also not sure why as my eyes could be playing tricks on me but I think the XT5 has the longer hood which is a nod to the cadillac of old days with a long front hood.

    Audio looks more like a car that they pumped up on Steroids compared to a more traditional SUV look on the XT5

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    Frisky Dingo
    1 hour ago, dfelt said:

    Fixed it for you as I assume you meant the XT5.

    I will have to disagree with you. XT5 has the more SUV brick look over the overused Coupe look. Also not sure why as my eyes could be playing tricks on me but I think the XT5 has the longer hood which is a nod to the cadillac of old days with a long front hood.

    Audio looks more like a car that they pumped up on Steroids compared to a more traditional SUV look on the XT5

     

    I think the Audi looks very un-coupe like compared to other players in this class. It has a quite traditional sport SUV/CUV profile and silhouette. The XT5 looks too cab-forward and FWD-based for my tastes.

    Though I'm not a huge SUV fan, proportions and stance are the 2 biggest things for me, and I think the Q8 has it in spades. Others that are great in this regard are the Macan, Touareg, Grand Cherokee, and Infiniti FX.

    Edited by Frisky Dingo
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    G. David Felt
    28 minutes ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

    I would assume since the Q8 is above the Q7 it is larger than the XT5? 

    XT5 comes in at: 189.5 inch length, 112.5 inch wheelbase, 75 inch width.

    Q8 comes in at: 197.64 inch length, 118.11 inch wheelbase, 80.32 inch width.

    Q7 comes in at: 199.6 inch length, 117.9 inch wheelbase, 77.5 inch width.

    So yes, you could say this is the next size up category but almost identical to the Q7 in size. 

    Interesting :scratchchin:

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    smk4565

    I was wondering how big this thing was, thanks dfelt for posting the size.  What I don't quite get is why it is nearly as big as a Q7 when it is a 2 row vehicle.  But maybe they just want it to feel like a jacked up A8.

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    G. David Felt
    8 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

    I was wondering how big this thing was, thanks dfelt for posting the size.  What I don't quite get is why it is nearly as big as a Q7 when it is a 2 row vehicle.  But maybe they just want it to feel like a jacked up A8.

    Agree, I am also scratching my head as to why have the Q8 so close in size to the Q7 and only 2 rows at that. :scratchchin:

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    Robert Hall
    6 minutes ago, dfelt said:

    Agree, I am also scratching my head as to why have the Q8 so close in size to the Q7 and only 2 rows at that. :scratchchin:

    Because the Q7 is 3 row, isn't it?  2 row may be perceived as more premium, since 3 row implies family hauler. 

    Edited by Cubical-aka-Moltar
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    Robert Hall
    6 minutes ago, balthazar said:

    Why not just offer 1 vehicle here, with an optional 3rd row?
    Instead of 2 vehicles fractions of an inch apart in dimensions?

    Because that would be too predictable... 

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    balthazar

    The platforms are 2/10th of an inch different in wheelbase. If VW can't engineer a 3rd row to fit the existing Q7, MAN are they finding new ways to blow money.

    Used to be model lines were separated by 6 inches (which BTW I always found ridiculous)- but here we have the same segment/type vehicle from the same brand with a 2 inch difference and a different name. Yikes.

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    Frisky Dingo

    The Q7 is wider, will undoubtedly be more upscale inside, and will most likely offer powertrain options the Q7 doesn't get. There will be plenty of separation between the two. More than are with the X5 vs X6, and GLE vs GLE Coupe.

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    Robert Hall

    I couldn't find any information on the Audi USA site or Wikipedia..is the Q7 a 3 row or a 2 row SUV?  

    Edit: found it on the Audi website..Q7 is listed as 7 passenger, so 3 row. 

    Edited by Cubical-aka-Moltar
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    Robert Hall
    41 minutes ago, smk4565 said:

    This is basically the poor man's Bentley Bentayga.

    Same wheelbase, same platform.  Probably a lot of dirty bits in common.  VWAG seems to really get the most out of platforms. 

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    frogger
    21 minutes ago, balthazar said:

    Using a 117.9-in wheelbase platform for one SUV, then also using another 118.1-in wheelbase platform for another SUV shows they have a lot more work to do.

    Why?  They have been using a modular platform for a decade, gone are the days of being tied to one wheelbase when sharing a modern platform. It underpins most Audis and other VW group vehicles 

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Group_MLB_platform

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    balthazar

    Look again at the numbers and keep in mind platforms are not made of taffy.  It shares hard points but still has to be fabricated independently.  That costs money; money for 3/16ths of an inch difference. 

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    Robert Hall
    24 minutes ago, balthazar said:

    Look again at the numbers and keep in mind platforms are not made of taffy.  It shares hard points but still has to be fabricated independently.  That costs money; money for 3/16ths of an inch difference. 

    Lamborghini probably had a specific reason for that extra 3/16th of an inch for the Urus.   Likewise, the Bentyaga and Q7 wheelbases differ by 1/12 of an inch (could be a rounding error by the source, though)

    Edited by Cubical-aka-Moltar
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    smk4565

    The Bentley Bentayga has a 117.9 inch wheelbase.  That is what this thing is, although the overall length is less than the Bentayga, maybe shorter hood if they have no W12 plans.

    I wonder how they will price the Q8, my guess is above A8, so it better have an A8 level interior or better.

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    ccap41
    15 hours ago, Frisky Dingo said:

     

    Coming from someone who owned an Escape. :roflmao:

    As ugly as that gen Escape was, it still looks better than any of the "coupe" CUVs. 

    15 hours ago, balthazar said:

    Why not just offer 1 vehicle here, with an optional 3rd row?
    Instead of 2 vehicles fractions of an inch apart in dimensions?

    Yeah even if they completely re-engineered the second row to make it look unique to the two row, premium, thing, it would have to save them a ton of money. 

    • Haha 1
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    balthazar
    13 hours ago, Cubical-aka-Moltar said:

    Such small differences could be accounted for by adjustable suspension arm mounting brackets, perhaps?  

    That's a good point- suspension geometry certain could explain that small of a variance, yet the platform could still be the same otherwise. It's the only explanation that makes any sense.

    Edited by balthazar
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    Frisky Dingo
    3 hours ago, ccap41 said:

    As ugly as that gen Escape was, it still looks better than any of the "coupe" CUVs. 

    Yeah even if they completely re-engineered the second row to make it look unique to the two row, premium, thing, it would have to save them a ton of money. 

    I don't think the Escape is ugly, but it has a more dramatically sloping rear roofline than this. And it was supposed to be 'conventional'. That was the point I was trying to make.

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    ccap41
    11 minutes ago, Frisky Dingo said:

    I don't think the Escape is ugly, but it has a more dramatically sloping rear roofline than this. And it was supposed to be 'conventional'. That was the point I was trying to make.

    Umm... No... 

    2013 Escape.jpg

    Audi.jpg

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    Suaviloquent

    I am completely underwhelmed, but only because the styling, it feels sooooo old. Only Audi can pull off having their flagship crossover be like a stuffed up Q2 with nicer proportions portions here and there.

    And yeah the XT5 is not pretty either. Ditto for the Escape. The Bentayga can drive off a cliff all I care.

    I'm starting to see a pattern here.....

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