In January, Audi premiered its Q8 concept in Detroit, the study a preview of what to expect with the brand’s future flagship SUV. Two months on, and another perspective of the composition called the Q8 sport is being offered in Geneva, presenting a sportier outlook.
Most of the general exterior dimensions remained unchanged, the car measuring in at 5.02 metres long and 1.70 metres tall. The only difference is with the width – compared with the Q8, the wheel housings on the sport have been widened by a further 12 mm, and so the latter is a shade wider at 2.05 metres.
The Q8 sport – finished in a Krypton Orange paint finish in the case of the show car – retains the octagonal Singleframe grille as seen on the Q8, but presented with a different outlook. The unit features a honeycomb lattice structure with aluminum segments and a surround finished in a contrasting colour.
Likewise, the interior of the four-seater study, with its horizontal fascia and black panel central control and display surfaces. There are some accent changes, with more aluminium visible on the Q8 sport.
Meanwhile, the seats are covered in a combination of Fine Nappa leather and Nubuk leather, both in pastel silver, and interior highlights include the Audi virtual cockpit, with its 12.3-inch TFT 1920 x 720 resolution display presenting multiple modes, switchable via buttons on the steering wheel.
The Q8 sport is powered by a 3.0 litre TFSI six-cylinder turbocharged engine paired with an electric-powered compressor and an effective mild hybrid system for recuperation, which the company says is a first.
The starter generator – which is positioned between the crankshaft and the transmission – handles recuperation. If required, it can work in the opposite direction as an additional electric motor.
As for the electric-powered compressor, it’s positioned in a bypass downstream of the intercooler, and instead of a turbine wheel integrates a compact electric motor, which accelerates the engine’s compressor wheel up to 70,000 rpm in less than 250 milliseconds.
It provides the Q8 sport with additional push by supplying the mill with fresh air, supporting the turbochargers at times when the exhaust gas is insufficient for rapid development of power – when not asked to provide spontaneous push, the unit prevents unnecessary downshifts and keeps the engine speed at a low level.
Power output from the system is slightly higher than the Q8’s plug-in hybrid system, with 476 hp compared to the 448 hp on the latter. Torque is identical though, with 700 Nm on call from the mill. It’s paired with an eight-speed Tiptronic transmission, pushing power to the wheels via a quattro permanent AWD system.
Performance numbers are up from the Q8, with the sport doing the century sprint in 4.7 seconds (5.4 seconds, Q8), while top speed is 275 km/h (250 km/h, Q8). Operating range is also higher, at 1,200 kilometers, 200 km more than that listed for the Detroit debutant.
The Q8 sport – which rides on 23-inch wheels and 305/35 profile rubbers – is equipped with an adaptive air suspension sport system, which offers five different ground clearance settings offering ride levels up to 90 mm in height difference.
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Looks like DS7…