All-new Audi Q8 arrives Down Under

Australians will finally be able to get their hands on Audi’s all-new flagship SUV, the 2019 Audi Q8 coupe crossover, when deliveries begin in late January.

Priced from $128,900 plus on-road costs, Audi’s new flagship SUV will arrive Down Under initially in one specification; the Audi Q8 55 TFSI quattro tiptronic, denoting its 250kW/600Nm 3.0-litre V6 turbo-petrol engine, eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.

The Audi Q8 range will be fleshed out with the oil-burning Q8 50 TDI, equipped with a 210kW/600Nm 3.0-litre turbo-diesel V6 and eight-speed auto (also priced from $128,900), by July next year.

Petrol and diesel models will share identical standard features and options.

Elements of the new Q8 introduce Audi’s new design language, such as its large, octagonal grille, full-width tail-lights and blistered guards (a nod to the Audi 80 coupe-based 1980 Audi quattro).

The Audi Q8 is based on the latest Q7 and uses the modular MLB Evo platform. While it is 66mm shorter than Q7 at 4986mm long, it is 27mm wider at 1995mm wide and sits on the same 2994mm wheelbase as Q7.

While Q7 is a three-row seven-seater, the Q8 is restricted to a two-row five-seat configuration.

The Audi Q8 has a 605-litre boot (770L in the Q7), with 1755L available when the 40/20/40-split rear seat is folded forward.

Despite nearly 40 per cent aluminium in its structure, the Q8’s unladen weight is a solid 2265kg. Towing capacity is 3500kg braked with a 350kg towball download maximum.

A factory-fitted hitch-receiver towbar and wiring is an option fitted at the Bratislava, Slovakia factory.

The twin-scroll turbo V6 develops 250kW at 5500rpm and 500Nm over 2900-5300rpm. Claimed acceleration to 100km/h is 5.9sec, average fuel consumption is 9.2L/100km and CO2 output is quoted as 210g/km.

The V6 is teamed with an eight-speed conventional auto with paddle shifts and Sport mode, and delivered to the wheels via the quattro all-wheel drive system that splits drive 40/60 front/rear in normal driving and up to 70 per cent to the front or 85 per cent to the rear as required.

Adaptive coil-spring suspension is standard while adaptive air suspension (which allows a variation of up to 90mm in ride height according to conditions) is optional.

The air suspension has different settings as part of the Audi Drive Select system, which offers seven driving modes (off-road, all road, auto, efficiency, comfort, dynamic and individual).

While it is an AWD with single-range transmission -- rather than a dual-range off-roader -- Audi the Q8 has an impressive 500mm wading depth, maximum 254mm ground clearance and hill descent control.

The Dynamic all-wheel steering option allows the rear wheels to turn up to five degrees counter to the front wheel direction at low speeds and up to 1.5 degrees in the same direction at higher speeds. Turning circle is reduced by 1.1 metres with this option.

The Audi Q8 has a 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical system that saves fuel with its ability to coast (engine off) at speeds from 55km/h to 160km/h, allows power recuperation of up to 12kW and engine idle-stop operation from 22km/h.

Safety equipment includes autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and traffic-jam assist, lane departure warning, pre-sense front and rear, lane change warning, cross traffic assist (rear), head-up display and 360-degree cameras with kerb view.

The Audi Q8 hasn’t been crash-tested yet but it’s likely to share the Q7’s five-star rating.

The Q8 is decked out with plenty of standard features, including three-zone climate control, heated and ventilated front seats,10-speaker 180-Watt audio, DAB+ digital radio, MMI navigation plus with MMI touch response and 10.1-inch and 8.6-inch touch-screens with acoustic and haptic feedback.

There’s also Audi phonebox (mobile phone wireless charging and antenna), Wi-Fi hotspot, electric tailgate, LED headlights, 360-degree cameras, adaptive cruise control including lane-change warning, damper control suspension, S-line exterior package and 21-inch alloy wheels.

Like other recently launched Audi models, such as the A8 limo and A7 Sportback, the Q8 has a fully digital operating system. Haptic and acoustic feedback plus smartphone-like touch, swipe and pinch-to-zoom operation are key features.

Audi offers free map updates for the Q8’s MMI navigation system for up to five years.

Warranty for the Q8 is Audi’s standard three-year/unlimited-kilometre period with three years for paint defects and 12 years for body corrosion.

While Audi Australia says it has simplified its options across the range, like most prestige brands, it still offers a fair slab of expensive optional extras for Q8.

Options include a Bang and Olufsen 1920W, 23-speaker Advanced 3D Sound System ($12,100), Premium plus package, which includes 22-inch alloy wheels, adaptive air suspension, privacy glass, HD Matrix LED headlights, four-zone climate control including rear touch-screen and colour interior lights ($11,000).

There’s also a full leather package, which adds Nappa leather to centre console, door armrests, dashboard and door rails, including door pockets and electric sunblinds for rear windows and a manual sunblind for the rear window ($8900), Dynamic steering package, which includes all-wheel steering and variable ratio steering rack ($4500), two-section panoramic glass sunroof ($3550), metallic paint ($2300), power assisted door closure ($1500) and electric steering column adjustment ($900).

The standard, no-extra-cost colours are Night Black and Carrara white, while the $2300 extra-cost colours include Glacier white metallic, Floret silver metallic, Daytona grey metallic, Orca black metallic, Galaxy blue metallic, Navarra blue metallic, Dragon orange metallic and Argus brown metallic.

How much is the Audi Q8?
Audi Q8 55 TFSI quattro tiptronic -- $128,900
* plus on-road costs