Audi picks Detroit for flagship SUV preview

By RELAXNEWS | 24 December 2016


INGOLSTADT: The star of Audi's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) stand will be a near-production-ready version of the Q8 SUV coupé.

Take a close look at the latest data regarding global vehicle sales and the types of cars getting consumers excited, and you'll see that comfortable, sporty coupés and premium SUVs have never been more in demand.

So the Audi Q8 could well be the most on-trend car to make its debut at this year's Detroit auto show.

"With the Audi Q8 concept, we have created a new spearhead within our Q model line. Its design strongly evokes sportiness and prestige," said Audi Head of Design Marc Lichte.

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The initial sketches released ahead of the official unveiling paint a picture of a car that is equal parts agile and aggressive, and give the first clear pointers as to how Audi's next-generation flagship sedan, the A8, will look.

As for what the production version will offer owners in terms of performance and creature comforts, Audi is saying little other than that it will offer class-leading cabin space, as long as you have two, rather than three, children. "We believe an important aspect of this showcar is that it offers a spacious interior with four equally comfortable seats, even with the flat roof line," said Lichte.

Still, even with such a coy response, expect the car to offer industry-leading semi-autonomous driving aids and an engine line-up that contains a choice of diesel, gasoline and hybrid powertrains.

Competition within the upper echelons of the SUV market has never been greater. The Q8 will go head-to-head with the equally coupé-esque BMW X6 and the new Mercedes GLE. Porsche and Land Rover are also expected to unveil coupé versions of the Cayenne and Range Rover Sport respectively over the course of 2017.

However, the sporting SUV coupé that is going to be generating the most excitement in 2017 will be the one from Lamborghini -- the supercar company owned by Audi. Though it won't go into production until 2018, the Uris is expected to make its debut at the Geneva motor show in March. And when it does it will be the fastest and most powerful production SUV in the world.

Nevertheless, for the time being, the Q8 will have the limelight to itself when the Detroit Auto Show opens to the public on Jan 14. Porsche is giving this year's show a miss, as are Land Rover and Lamborghini.

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