Audi is set to roll out the Q9 next year, and as its name suggests, it will be positioned above the Q7, and will therefore rival the likes of the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS and the L460 Range Rover.
The upcoming Q9 will likely be underpinned by the Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, and is understood to offer a three-row layout with seven seats as in the Q7, though a six-seat layout is also being considered for the brand’s upcoming SUV flagship, according to Autocar.
Powertrains for the Q9 will be of a longitudinally-oriented layout, using engines ranging from 2.0 litre four-cylinder petrol units to twin-turbo 4.0 litre V8 engines, the latter most likely to be found in SQ9. According to Autocar, the SQ9 engine could be part of a plug-in hybrid powertrain to meet emissions standards.
The earliest reports of Audi considering an SUV model above the Q7 surfaced in 2014, while prototypes for the flagship SUV were first seen in 2021, the publication reported.
The German manufacturer prepares for the launch of its flagship SUV as it appears to be reconsidering the timeline for introducing its final internal combustion engined model, which was to be in 2026.
Now, further ICE-powered models could be introduced beyond that date, as different rates of electric vehicle adoption in key global markets mean that the carmaker could keep petrol and diesel-powered models on sale longer than initially planned.
GALLERY: 2024 Audi Q7 facelift
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