Audi Q8 - did the first test disappoint us?
For a long time, Audi did not have a model that would cause such vivid emotions from the moment the concept was introduced. The latest Q8 should be the hallmark of the company from Ingolstadt and at the same time ignite the desire of customers. There was no such connection for a long time.
Luxury limousines give prestige and allow you to travel in exceptional conditions, but for a long time there was no car in this segment that would make your heart beat faster. While they can find the latest technology, better materials and options unheard of in today's vehicles, affluent buyers are increasingly looking to luxury SUVs.
On the one hand, Audi should have finally responded to the proposal of the BMW X6, Mercedes GLE Coupe or Range Rover Sport, but on the other hand, it clearly did not want to follow the beaten path. The latest Q8 only at first glance has something to do with the best Q7. In fact, it is something completely different.
body hybrid
At the 2010 Paris Motor Show, Audi presented a modern interpretation of the sporty Quattro with a particularly successful design. The only problem was that the customer, firstly, finds coupe bodies impractical, and secondly, wants to ride something huge and massive. Is it possible to combine fire and water? It turns out that modern technology is not powerless, and behind the "master" is Audi.
Hence the idea to combine a coupe-style body with a luxury SUV. However, unlike competitors in their own backyard, Audi decided to start the project from scratch.
The Q8 is not a redesigned Q7 with a more angled rear window, it's a completely new concept. This can be seen in the dimensions: Q8 is wider, shorter and lower than Q7, which is visible at first glance. The silhouette is sporty and slender, and yet we are dealing with a colossus almost 5 m long and 2 m wide. The wheelbase approaches 3 meters.
Nevertheless, the Q8 gives the viewer the impression of a sports car. Perhaps this is due to indecently large wheels. The base size in our market is 265/65 R19, although there are reportedly some countries where there are 18 tires in the series. The test units were shod in beautiful 285/40 R22 tires, and to be honest, they didn't feel too low profile even in the field (more on that below).
The absence of common body elements with the Q7 gave designers more freedom in shaping the body. The impression of communicating with a sports car is made up of proportions (low and wide body), a strong slope of the rear window, huge wheels and frameless windows in the doors. It is complemented by a unique grille available in three colors (body color, metallic or black). There is also a rear apron with lights connected by analogy with the A8 and A7 models.
On the top
Every manufacturer struggles with the dilemma of how to position this type of car. The Range Rover Sport is supposed to act as a cheaper and less luxurious model than the "proper" Range Rover, and BMW is putting the X6 over the X5. Audi has gone in the same direction, recognizing that the Q8 should be the brand's first SUV. As a result, an impressive list of equipment, as well as elements for which you do not have to pay extra. For example, the Q8 is the only Audi car to offer the Virtual Cocpit electronic display as standard.
There are so many options on the list of equipment that we quickly get lost in them. On the technical side, we have three types of suspension (including two air suspension), a torsion bar rear axle, LED matrix headlights on the outside, a HUD head-up display on the inside, and a Bang & Olufsen Advanced music system that delivers XNUMXD sound. Safety is ensured by a range of systems and sensors that assist driving and parking and continually reduce the risk of collisions.
Although the Audi Q8 is an SUV with coupe performance, the huge body provides comfort in the cabin. There is plenty of room in the cab, both for legs, knees and overhead. The rear seat can be electrically adjustable as an option. The trunk holds 605 liters as standard, so no compromises. Sportiness in this case does not mean impracticality, the luggage compartment can be equipped with compartments for separating luggage.
Looking at the cockpit, the Audi style is dominated by the two huge screens (10,1" and 8,6") of the MMI Navigation Plus system. For this reason, the individual characteristics of individual models are limited to small details. Common to all models is also concern for the quality of finishes and the use of quality materials.
Comfort for sports
Initially, only the 50 TDI variant is available for sale, which means a 3.0 V6 diesel engine with 286 hp but 600 Nm of torque. It works with an eight-speed automatic transmission on both axles. Similarly to the A8 or A6 models, it is called here. a mild hybrid using a 48-volt setup with a large battery allowing for up to 40 seconds of "float" with the engine off, and an RSG starter generator for a smooth "silent" start.
Outside, you can hear that we are dealing with a diesel engine, but the driver and passengers are deprived of such discomfort. The cabin is perfectly muffled, which means that you can still hear the engine running, but somehow the engineers managed to suppress its rattling sound, if not completely get rid of it.
Dynamics, despite the overwhelming curb weight of 2145 kg, should satisfy the most demanding drivers. Hundreds can be reached in 6,3 seconds, and if the regulations allow - to disperse this colossus to 245 km / h. When overtaking, the box has a delay, which will take a little getting used to. The adaptive suspension will obediently keep the car on the road even in very tight corners, like this car, but something is missing in all this ...
The handling of the Q8 is more than right, you can't fault it, but - regardless of the selected driving mode (and there are seven of them) - the Audi sports SUV does not intend to become a sports car. The absence of such sensations can be perceived as a minus, however, only for those drivers who intend to buy Q8 not only because of the appearance, but also (or maybe in the first place) driving performance. The good news is that there are plans for an RS version of the Q8, which should appeal to those for whom the regular Q8 isn't predatory enough.
Short trips on the roads of southern Mazovia made it possible - and by chance - to test how the new Audi SUV behaves off-road. No, let's leave the Vistula beaches alone, we weren't taken to any landfill either, but the traffic jams around Kalwaria Hill and the reconstructed road No. 50 encouraged us to look for workarounds. Forest road (access to private property), why not? Initial concerns about wide "low" profile tires quickly gave way to admiration for the ease with which the car handled potholes, roots and ruts in off-road mode (air suspension clearance increased to 254mm).
More options coming soon
The price of the Audi Q8 50 TDI was set at PLN 369 thousand. zloty. This is as much as 50 thousand. PLN more than you have to pay for a Q7 with a similar, albeit slightly weaker engine (272 hp). Mercedes does not have such a powerful diesel engine, the 350d 4Matic version (258 hp) starts from 339,5 thousand. zloty. BMW estimates its X6 at 352,5 thousand. PLN for xDrive30d version (258 km) and PLN 373,8 thousand for xDrive40d (313 km).
One version of the engine is not much, but soon - early next year - two more to choose from. The Q8 45 TDI is a weaker version of the three-liter diesel shown here, reaching 231 hp. The second novelty will be a 3.0 TFSI petrol engine with a capacity of 340 hp, bearing the designation 55 TFSI. Details about the sporty version of the RS Q8 are not yet known, but it will most likely be equipped with a hybrid drive system known from the Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.
The Audi Q8 looks great and definitely stands out from the range of the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer. The number of sports features in the bodywork is sufficient, and it's all well-prepared and well-prepared for the market battle. You can complain about the too comfortable chassis settings, but the offer will have something for those who like hard driving. It looks like the Q8 has a good chance of eating a big chunk of the sport utility pie.
