The Audi Q8 Concept Is A Coupe-Ish SUV With An Unbelievably Massive Grille
When Audi revealed a couple of teaser images for its incoming Q8 a few weeks ago, we were struck by one particular detail: its spectacularly massive grille. But now the car has been revealed in full at the Detroit Auto Show…yeah, we still can’t ignore it. I mean, look at it!
However, we’ll battle past the temptation to ponder how terrifying it might be to see that amazingly imposing front end closing in on your rear-view mirror, as this “coupe-like” SUV sounds rather interesting.
It has a hybrid powertrain consisting of a 3.0-litre V6 (329bhp and 369lb ft), plus an electric motor (134bhp and 243lb ft), which combine to give a total of 443bhp and 516lb ft. So, despite the Q8 being rather massive, it’s still capable of 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds. It’s good for up to 122mpg, while puffing out 52g/km of C02 according to the usual not-terribly-realistic lab figures.
Power is sent to all four-wheels, and there’s a system that brakes the inside wheels during boistrous cornering. The air suspension’s pretty slick too, and can be raised by up to 90mm if required.
While the car you see here is only a concept, a production version is going to be built, going on sale next year. Expect something like this, plus some door handles and minus the 23-inch wheels. Hopefully the mega grille will make it to the showroom version mostly un-changed…
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
This is a car that, when I saw one in the mirror, I would like to stamp on my brakes. In the hope that it would rear-end me… You never know, it might make it better looking. :p
If you hit a pig in that it’d convert it straight into a portion of pulled pork!
We have a contender!
I really want to know how large this thing actually is. These wheels, as mentioned in the article, are 23” and they look fairly normal-sized on that car. It’s a freaking IFV out of a science fiction film, that’s what it is.
Oh, and expect the fuel consumption figure to be significantly higher than what they claim. The current EU standard on testing fuel consumption and emissions rates plug-in hybrids ludicrously more efficient than they would ever be in real life. Same story with the Volvo XC90. The EU standard test rates it 2.5 l to 100 km, while in reality you’d be lucky to get anywhere less then 10 l.
No matter how big or bad an Audi can get…
In the end, this is all we’ll ever see…
Yeah! Finally another SUV…they got pretty rare these days!
Doesn´t look bad at least.
This grille will be all you can see in your rear view mirror if you drive too slow on the autobahn’s left side :D
The entire car is a transportation device for its own grille…my god
122 mpg?????? Did I read that right?