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The Chinese consider that 8 is a lucky number. Eight is equally important in musical theory; many scales are written in eighths. In Audi-speak, 8 means lighthouse, like the A8 and the R8. The German firm has just added a third and final pillar, the Q8, to its armada of high-end models, and Digital Trends has made it to the vast Atacama desert in Chile for take a look at it.
Unveiled in June, the Q8 will not go on sale in the US until the end of 2018, so it's too early to say what it will do and what will not be standard. Audi has also not published price information, but we speculate that it will start at around $ 70,000. On landing, it will compete in the same segment as the Land Rover Range Rover Sport, the Maserati Levante and the Porsche Cayenne. Buyers will also inevitably compare it to swoopier rivals like the BMW X6 and the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe.
Interior and technology
The cockpit design of the Q8 makes it seem like you are taking a chair in a cockpit, especially with a desert as a backdrop. Filming crews could film a sequel to Mad Max in this landscape. The widespread use of straight lines reinforces this effect.
Audi has added a sleek and elegant strip of chrome trim to the top of the dashboard to accentuate the width feel of the Q8, and has installed the genuine metal trim to frame the center console. Every part of the driver's field of vision or touch seems to belong to a luxury car, and we have not found any blatant sign of cost reduction. The Q8 confirms Audi's reputation for the quality of its interior by feeling as good as the latest Porsche Cayenne.
The latest Audi infotainment software, which we previously called one of the best business systems, reappears in the Q8. It is built around a 10.1-inch touch screen with haptic feedback, which means that it emits a small vibration to confirm that you have pressed an icon. We like shallow menus that make it easy to find an arrangement, and we like the drag-and-drop feature. Why are not all automakers offering this? You can move an icon on the screen by tapping it for about a second, such as on a smartphone or tablet, and set favorites.
Audi has developed an application that allows owners to lock or unlock the car remotely, adjust the air conditioner, schedule a destination in navigation and even adjust the seats.
Buyers looking for smartphone integration will not be disappointed. The compatibility of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay has become standard, and Audi has developed an app that allows owners to lock or unlock the car remotely, adjust the air conditioner, schedule a destination and even to adjust the seats. Called Audi MMI Connect, the app works with Android and Apple devices.
The second screen of the center console replaces the buttons, buttons and dials normally required for the operation of the air conditioning system. The result is a clean, crisp, high-tech look that you would only have found in a futuristic concept car a few years ago. The dual-screen configuration also makes the dashboard almost button-less, although we applaud Audi for keeping an old-fashioned volume knob; some things should not change, and the volume knob is one of them.
The Q8 rolls on an evolution of the platform that underlies the Q7, but it is shorter, lower and a little wider. Both models share the same wheelbase. The SUV roots of the Q8 family allow it to offer a spacious interior for people and equipment, especially compared to more style-oriented rivals with a fastback-esque roofline; we are watching you, X6. Two full-size adults can sit on the second row without feeling even cramped, even with a pair of six feet in front. The trunk space is 21.4 cubic feet with the remaining two rows of seats and a generous 62 cubes with the second row folded flat.
Driving experience
The Q8 is the first chapter of a book that will later include high-performance variants SQ8 and RS Q8, both with a V8 power supply. We are not here yet. The standard Q8 comes with a 3.0-liter turbo V6 engine developing 335 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. It transmits power to all four wheels thanks to an eight-speed automatic transmission and the Audi quattro all-wheel drive system. The 40/60 torque at the front and rear gives the Q8 a road holding at the rear under normal driving conditions.
The Audi Q8 2019 manages to feel respectably fast from the line.
In comparison, the BMW X6 offers a 300 hp inline six-cylinder engine. Cross the road to reach the Land Rover Dealer and the Range Rover Sport Base brings a 340 horsepower supercharged V6 to the table. At Porsche, the Cayenne starts with a V6 of 335 horses.
The Q8 is in the same state of mind as its rivals in the performance department. It is important to remember that these 335 horses need to move about 4,700 pounds, but despite the highways, the Q8 manages to feel respectably fast, especially when the mode selector driving goes to dynamic. The model-specific suspension settings help to deliver a more engaging driving experience than the Q7 on which it is based, although we wanted to offer more feel to the electromechanical steering system. It gets into a bend with a stride, shows a surprising level of lateral grip, and comes out with a plumb thanks to a big chunk of torque available on almost the entire rpm range.
Our test car came with the optional air suspension, which helps bring out the full scope of the Q8's personality. One minute we were in the Andes climbing, climbing and moving away with the Q8 buttoned in dynamic mode. The next day, we were driven by Chilean llamas on a dirt road that looked like the type of surface that car manufacturers are reproducing on their test tracks to test the longevity of their suspension systems.
Dynamic would not have cut it, so we switched to comfort to smooth the surface of the road. This is not magical, and will not make a dirt road like the German motorway, but it does lift the body for extra ground clearance and dampen the dampers to offer a more consistent ride.
We noticed two constants regardless of the driving mode or the road surface. First of all, the interior of the Q8 is surprisingly quiet. Too calm, almost; This is a performance model and we would like to know more about the six-cylinder. Secondly, the eight-speed transmission has the gift of finding the right relationship at the right time. We do not know the gearshift paddles on the steering wheel for most of our journey, whether we were on a bus carrying tourists to a desert resort, or driving in the snow and mud at 15,000 feet.
Audi's upscale SUV lives up to the eighth of its name
Speaking of snow and mud, Audi points out that the Q8 is an all-terrain vehicle designed around performance, not an off-roader capable of attacking the Rubicon Trail. Get a Jeep Wrangler if that's what you're looking for. But, to credibly wear the SUV label, the Q8 must offer at least a semblance of off-road capability.
Our driving time included a stint on an off-road course in the vast and arid Desert of Atacama, giving us the opportunity to test the prowess of the Q8 and the technology that surrounds it. By selecting a different driving pattern called, Off-Road conveniently prepares the car to venture onto the sidewalk by raising the air suspension to its maximum height for additional ground clearance. The central touch screen turns into a command center that displays an inclinometer, steering angle and geographic data like altitude. Well configured, the Q8 allowed us to easily climb – and, significantly, down – sandy slopes that we would not have dared to tackle in a crossover derived from a car.
We have not spent enough time driving the Q8 to measure fuel economy in the real world. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not yet released any figures for the new Audi model.
guarantee
The Q8, like all Audi, comes with a warranty valid for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. Audi also includes four years of 24-hour roadside assistance at no additional charge.
How DT would configure this car
We can not tell you how to configure the Q8 until we see the list of standard and optional features. However, many of the technology we mentioned (including triple screens) will come standard. We would add the air suspension for a more comfortable ride and, as an audiophile, the optional sound system.
Conclusion
More than a mere burlesque Q7, Audi's premium SUV stands at the eighth rank of its name in terms of technology, luxury and power. We can not wait to see what happens when Audi puts the performance dial.
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