3 Things To Know About The 2019 Audi SQ8
The latest Audi Q8 was introduced back in June 2018. It is the company’s latest SUV offering and competes with a market dominated by BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, and the Porsche Cayenne. Now that the regular Q8 is ready to hit dealerships, Audi is looking at expanding its existing lineup with a performance-oriented SQ8.
Exterior
In terms of design, it would take a truly Audi expert to notice the difference between the Q8 and the SQ8. There isn’t as much chrome as on the regular model while the grille inserts are black. But any difference stops there. The SQ8 has the same wide Singleframe grille with sharp corners, slender headlamps with LED technology, and the same bumper with massive vents on the sides. The engine hood remains the same though the Q8 has a sporty hood that fits the character of the SQ8 quite well.
On the sides, the only differences are the all-black mirror caps, the black roof rails, and twin five-spoke wheels with the beefed-up brake calipers behind it. At the back, the skid plate has been replaced by a diffuser-like element and there were four oval tips instead of the rectangular exhaust outlets.
Interior
The insides of the SQ8 speaks premium material, though it will have the same layout as the regular Q8. A continuous air vent strip will run at the top of the dashboard while the lower section, finished in gloss black, will house the infotainment display. There are two different screens—a 10.1-inch screen in the center stack and the smaller 8.6-inch screen above the center console.
The seats will be wrapped in fine leather with a diamond-quilt pattern, though there might be an option for sportier seats in the SQ8. Technology included are the LTE Advanced data transfer, Wi-Fi hotspot, a navigation system with intelligent suggestions, and Car-to-X services for traffic and hazard information as standard. There will be an optional Audi Connect key that will allow you to lock, unlock, and start the vehicle from an Android smartphone.
Drivetrain
We don’t have the exact details yet about the engines, but we believe that the SQ8 can use the same engine as the SQ7—a turbodiesel V8 engine that produces 435 horsepower and 660 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough to take on the X6 M50d.
Photo Source: Motor Authority