Audi Q9 flagship considered, no four-ringed city car

Audi Q7 S line Style Edition

Well, how about that? Just a month after BMW confirmed that it will be building a flagship X7 SUVCAR UK has now reported that an Audi Q9 flagship is being considered to compete with it, sitting above the already enormous seven-seater Q7 (pictured above).

Asked about a range-topping model at Auto China in Beijing, Audi chairman of the board and CEO Rupert Stadler told the British publication that while the R8 is the flagship of the brand and the embodiment of the tagline “vorsprung durch technik”, there was still room for the rest of the range to grow.

And that growth will apparently come from its Q lineup, with Stadler saying, “We want to expand the SUV side of the business. By 2020, our Q models will account for over 45% of sales.”

AudiA1Sportback_officialpics_22

Neither is the company worried about being late to the mega-SUV market, with Bentley and Lamborghini concepts also already shown. “If we do [a Q9], it will not be because of what our rivals are doing,” said Stadler. He also added that if and when it does get the green light, an e-tron plug-in hybrid variant will be offered.

But while the Audi range has space to grow upmarket, the possibility of the brand pushing in the opposite direction – possibly with a VW up!-based A0 city car under the A1 (pictured above) – remains unlikely. “There is no need for a car [below the A1 in the range],” Stadler said. “We are quite happy with A1. It sells 120,000 units, and has a high degree of equipment and accessories, so [profit margins] are quite good.

It remains to be seen if Audi would take the two-pronged approach to moving upmarket by creating a new flagship sedan to slot above the A8 as well, following what BMW might be doing with its own range – apart from the X7, BMW is also mulling a possible 9 Series, which the Vision Future Luxury concept shown in Beijing might have been previewing.

GALLERY: Next generation Audi Q7 spyshots

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Hadi75 on Apr 30, 2014 at 6:09 pm

    The Q7 is already quite big….can’t imagine the size of the Q9…..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • AutoFrenz (the original) on Apr 30, 2014 at 7:25 pm

      As big as landcruiser/lx i guess…this.suv is so big as big as vellfire..but im.guessing it will b bigger..in d league.of starex mpv….now that wd.b.d biggest.suv even if u put it.next to.hummer…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • nabill (Member) on Apr 30, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    Godness me how big this gonna be..it will probably needs its own runway!

    Maybe for US market to compete withe the Chevy Tahoe,Cadillac Escalade and GMC denali

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Audi's Boss on May 01, 2014 at 7:36 am

    And the next project is Q11 follow by Q13 and Q15, not forgetting Q17 and Q19.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • it’s gonna be as big as merc GL class

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • niterunner99 on May 01, 2014 at 9:58 pm

    Now we need bigger parking lots…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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