Not too long ago BMW launched the X6 and they managed to create a whole new segment called Sport Activity Coupe, or SAC. While the trend didn’t really catch on at first, after a couple more years most other major manufacturers started to announce that they are going to release cars to compete with the X6. Now its finally the turn for Audi which released not too long ago a statement which said that a 2016 Audi Q8 is in the works and just like the name suggests, it is going to be a car mostly based on the new generation of the Q7.
2016 Audi Q8 review
This also means that it is going to use the same MLB modular platform as most other SUVs from the VW group which limits the engine choices to only a few. On top of that, Audi is going to keep the costs to a bare minimum mostly because they don’t expect the car to sell in large volumes, so most of the interior is likely going to be shared with other cars from Audi’s roster. The release date has been said to be in the fall of 2015 but newer reports suggest that the car might in fact be launched in 2016 when it is going to hit the market at a base price higher than that of the Q7, starting at roughly $60,000 and going all the way up to more than $100,000 for the RS version of the car which is likely only going to be offered in certain parts of the World.
Interior
Just as we previously stated, the interior of the 2016 Audi Q8 is going to be largely shared with other models, most likely the Q7 as well as the A8. The dashboard as well as most of the equipment is going to be carried over from the Q7 but the base car is likely going to make use of better materials such as aluminum and carbon fiber. The higher end models on the other hand are going to be identical to the Q7, both cars sharing the same infotainment center, similar design for the air vents as well as a very similar selection of materials. The changes are going to be in the form of new sportier seats on the Q8, a new steering wheel which is very likely going to be carried over from the R8 as well as less room on the back seats due to the sloping roof.
2016 Audi Q8 exterior
The outside of the 2016 Audi Q8 is still unknown at this point but there are a few renders which suggest how the car may look like. It seems that the front end is likely going to be shared with that of the Q7 but this is where most of the similarities will stop. The rear of the car as well as most of the sides are going to be all new with new rear doors, a coupe-like back end as well as a more aggressive styling all around the car.
Engine of 2016 Audi Q8
Under the hood of the 2016 Audi Q8 there are going to be two different engines available at launch with more coming later down the road. The base model is going to come with a supercharged 3 liter V6 which is going to offer between 330 and 380 horsepower and as much as 370 lb-ft of torque. The higher end versions will stick with a 4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 with up to 440 horsepower. All of these will use an 8 speed automatic as well as the standard quattro all wheel drive system. The news will come in the form of the S and RS models which are scheduled for a later release. Both of these are likely going to use some form of the Cayenne’s turbocharged V8 with as much as 650 horsepower for the RS.
