Audi has revealed its flagship Q8 SUV! Take a look at what the sporty-looking newcomer has to offer…

Previously we only had design sketches to ogle over but official details of the new Q8 have now been released by the Ingolstadt-based brand.

The powerful design of the new Q8 SUV incorporates a thick single-frame grille with vertical chrome slats which also featured on the Q8 Concept shown at the Detroit Motor Show in 2017. The Q8’s imposing design is further emphasised with a creased bonnet, sleek Matrix LED headlights and gaping air intakes.

The aggressively-styled Q8 is set to rival the Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe and BMW X6.

Viewed from the side, the Q8 features a sloping roofline, raked C-Pillar and frameless windows to enhance it's coupe-like appearance.The new design language draws inspiration from the Ur-Quattro of the 1980’s.

At the rear, the Q8 wears slim tail lights with a continuous brake light and trapezoidal dual exhausts. A dash of rugged appeal is added with front and rear skid plates and flaring side skirts. The look is rounded off with large wheels filling the arches.

The Audi Q8 shares its MLB Evo platform with other models such as the Audi Q7, Volkswagen Touareg, Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus. The Q8 will rival the likes of the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe.

The interior boasts the very best technology in Audi's arsenal…

On the inside, the driver is cocooned in leather with the interior design sharing similarities with the A6, A7 and A8. It's an all-digital affair inside the Q8 with Audi's 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit placed directly ahead of the driver. Furthermore, thereare also 2 touchscreens found in the centre stack to take care of infotainment/navigation and in-car convenience feature settings.

In terms of practicality, the Q8 offers a large and spacious interior with the load bay measuring at 605 litres and expanding to 1 755 litres with the rear seats folded down. The tailgate is electrically operated and an electronic parcel shelf is offered as an option.

Enginepower

The Q8 50 TDIis powered by 3.0-litre V6 engine with 213 kW and 600 Nm oftorque and features mild-hybrid technology with a 48-volt electric system incorporating a lithium-ion battery and a belt alternator-starter. Audi says the system can recover up to 12 kW of power during braking and feed it back into the battery.

The engine ismated to an 8-speed tiptronic automatic transmission whilequattroall-wheel drive ensures maximum traction. The Q8 will sprint from zero to 100 kph in 6.3 seconds.

The engine range will expand at a later stage with an additionalturdodiesel engine joining the mix, as well as a potent 3.0-litre turbopetrol engine with at least 253 kWexpected.A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) is also on the cards and the Q8 will also likely be offered in S and RS guise. The Q8 RS may even offer as much as 395 kW.

The new Audi Q8 is built inBratislava, Slovakia and will go on sale in Europe in Q3 of 2018. A spokesperson from Audi South Africa has confirmed that the new Q8 will be launched in South Africa before the end of 2018.

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