Flagship Audi Q9 on track for 2020 debut

Germany's

Designed and engineered to compete with the largest German luxury SUVs, the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS, the Audi Q9 will feature three rows of seats and be capable of carrying seven in comfort.

Based on the same MLBevo architecture that currently underpins both the Q7 and Q8, the Q9 is believed to have been on Audi's drawing board for more than a decade, with the German brand filing a trademark for the Q9 back in 2013.

Few details about the Q9 have been shared, but Autobild suggest a hot RS Q9 could follow after the late 2020 launch.

If so, expect it to come powered with the same 440kW/800Nm 4.0-litre V8 mild-hybrid donk from the latest RS Q8.