The house of the Four Rings never stops aiming high and, in November 2023, the new one will arrive in dealerships Audi Q8: a new design, new features and a scratchy engine for the German company’s flagship SUV coupé. Our test drive the Audi Q8 50 TDI.
Design and interior: what’s new on the Audi Q8 50 TDI
After the restyling of Audi Q8, there are many new features. From design, especially the external one. The octagonal single frame reaches up to the base of the light clusters and the grille features an innovative and new layout. The front air intakes and exhaust pipes are completely redesigned.
There is also space for the identity of the Four Rings house, with the single frame mask and L-shaped inserts that integrates the new logo – in two dimensions and available in anthracite or white.
Audi Q8 50 TDI it is reconfirmed as the flagship of the car manufacturer’s SUV coupé range, and the new restyling also aims to underline the sportiness of the car with three new body colours, including the elegant Blu Ascari.
The screen printing with the name and type of range returns to the B pillar – which was introduced on the Q8 e-tron and which, ensures Audi, will also be present on all future models. Finally, great news from the new one Audi Q8 they are the Audi Matrix HD LED headlights with laser spots, capable of illuminating up to 600 m in front of the car in specific conditions: over 70 km/h and outside residential areas.
The new technology, which can be customized via the MMI, is able to recognize the presence of a car close to the car or coming from the opposite direction and turn off the LEDs in that direction.
The range of wheel rims is customizable, with five new sizing options ranging from 21 to 23 inches.
The restyling of the interiors
Even the interior of the Audi Q8 50 TDI some changes are made, even if all in all the interior maintains the lines and spaces that have characterized the car so far. The interiors are also highly customizable, starting from the decorative inserts.
Among the new features are carbon, matt twill and aluminum with linear embossing, as well as the metallic colors Sakhir gold and Ascari blue which derive from Audi Sport.
The rear seats get an upgrade, which also become heated like the front ones already present, while the driving position maintains its comfort and the possibility of controlling every aspect via the infotainment system, the screens and the buttons found on the side door and on the steering wheel.
The technological system introduces the virtual cockpit with HD resolution, while the infotainment system now offers the integration of apps developed by third parties and downloadable from the Audi app store. Applications such as YouTube and Spotify will therefore already be available on the car’s system, without the need for a smartphone as an intermediary.
A third screen is added to the virtual cockpit and the infotainment control screen, positioned in the lower part, just below the infotainment screen, dedicated to controlling the climate inside the car.
48 Volt mild-hybrid technology for V6 engines
The new Audi Q8 offers engines with V-architecture and 6 cylinders: the two diesel engines and the petrol engine share the volume of 3 liters and the tecnologia mild-hybrid a 48 Volt. At launch, the range offers two diesel and one petrol power options.
As for the diesel versions, the first is the 45 TDI with 231 HP and 500 Nm of torque with a maximum speed of 226 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds. The second version, the one we were able to try during the test driveit is theAudi Q8 50 TDI, a more powerful version with 286 HP and 600 Nm of torque. Maximum speed of 241 km/h and sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.1 seconds.
We then find the direct injection turbo petrol on the 55 TFSI, which delivers 340 HP and 500 Nm of torque with a 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.6 seconds and a self-limited top speed of 250 km/h.
All V6s work in combination with quattro permanent all-wheel drive with self-locking central differential which, in ordinary conditions, distributes the torque according to a 40:60 ratio between the front and rear axles. Furthermore, for all versions there is the 8-speed tiptronic automatic transmission.
Additional technologies
The engines also benefit from important innovations, starting with the MHEV technology which allows consumption to be reduced by up to a maximum of 0.5 liters per 100 km. The mild-hybrid system ofAudi Q8 50 TDIwhich we were able to try during our test drive, also features the belt-driven starter-alternator or RSG.
Its operation is very simple: if the driver, at speeds between 55 and 160 km/h, releases the accelerator pedal, the car is able to coast forward “in neutral” or sail with the engine off for a maximum of 40 seconds. When the driver presses the pedal again, the RSG restarts the engine more quickly and progressively than a traditional scooter.
Audi Q8 50 TDI: test drive
We got to tESTING the diesel version of Audi Q8 is the 50 TDI with 286 HP on the Emilian Apennines, on a picturesque route from Bologna to the areas south of Reggio Emilia which allowed us to test all the functions and handling of the new SUV flagship.
The new car from the Four Rings company, in fact, also boasts all-wheel steering, designed as an optional but essential when tackling the most demanding routes. Precisely thanks to all-wheel steering – which can count on in-phase steering of up to 1.5° and up to 5° in anti-phase – the driving experience is extremely dynamic and at the same time stable.
The steering aids the stability of the vehicle, which allows excellent grip even when cornering and at high speeds.
Also to be appreciated adaptive air suspension “Adaptive Air Suspension Sport”, controllable through the Audi Drive Select driving dynamics. The suspensions excellently dampen the sustained pace even on the steepest and most unpaved roads, with the possibility of raising the car up to 90 mm from the ground. Parameter adjustable from the infotainment screen in the Driving Mode section, the use of which could be more immediate via a dedicated button.
The driving comfort is undeniable. The interior design, with a premium feel, gives a sense of compactness and the adjustable seat allows excellent visibility of the road, despite the large size of the car.
The price of the new Audi Q8
During the month of November 2023 the new Audi Q8 will arrive in dealerships, for now only in the S line version and in the standard or sport attitude configurations.
The price starts at 91,000 euros for the 45 TDI while theAudi Q8 50 TDI that we tried in test drive part of 93.100 euro. The 55 TFSI petrol variant, however, starts at a price of 94,100 euros. The cost of the SQ8 ranges from 119,450 euros to 129,250 euros for the sport attitude setup.
Additional options are, as mentioned above, lo integral steering at a cost of 1,390 euros – while it is present as standard on the SQ8 – and the panoramic sunroof for 1,870 euros. The other options concern aesthetic customization.
Audi has already announced that it will also arrive in 2024 versione plug-in hybridwhich will complete the SUV coupé range.