An Even Bigger, More Luxurious Audi Is Coming Soon

A bigger Audi has been spotted testing in the far North. The large SUV rumored to be called the Audi SQ9 has been spotted during winter testing, giving us our best look so far at the Audi SUV that’s looking to take a bite out of the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS.

Audi

Audi is a German automaker that produces a range of luxury vehicles that combine sporty driving dynamics with the latest technology. Its history goes back over 100 years and includes both production cars and a rich racing heritage.

Founded

1909

Founder

August Horch

Headquarters

Ingolstadt, Germany

Owned By

Volkswagen Group

Current CEO

Gernot Döllner

Production Status

Available

Expand

We’ve seen Q9 prototypes before, as far back as 2021. Those, though, were merely Audi Q7s with some extra length in the middle. This one lets us see what Audi’s big new model might actually look like, and in the higher-performance SQ9 form. The photos also go a long way toward confirming it will actually happen.
Current Q7 Doesn’t Measure Up To Competition

Audi already has a large SUV in the form of the Q7, but when it comes to big luxury SUVs, the Q7 doesn’t quite measure up. The Q7 comes in at 199 inches long – right at the elusive « five-meter » figure that is the cutoff between something that can be parked in a cramped Euro city center and one that’s too big for downtown. The BMW and Merc are both longer at 204 and 205 inches in length, respectively. The difference might not sound like much on paper, but it matters when it comes to interior space.

Audi Has Several New Models Coming Including The Q9 SUV

Many will be electric, but good ol’ gasoline isn’t done yet.

The X7 has 13 cubic feet more cargo space behind its second row, and the Mercedes-Benz nine more than the Q7’s 36. Third-row legroom figures put the Audi at just 29 inches to 33 for the BMW and 35 for the Merc.
Our CarBuzz spy photographers peg this Q9 prototype at around seven inches longer than the Q7. More than enough to catch up with its German competitors when it comes to cabin space, though still nowhere near the 212-inch long Cadillac Escalade (and even larger Escalade ESV).
The photos show a large SUV with headlights that are even thinner than the Q7s. The grille is massive, rising all the way to the very tall hoodline. The design at the rear is more Mercedes-Benz GLB than Q7, though it has Audi’s current taillight shape. The Q9 will probably have an LED light bar running between the taillights as well, like the rest of the latest Audis.
Q9 Will Need To Be More Than Just Larger

We’re expecting more than just a longer wheelbase and more space from the Q9. If Audi wants to take buyers from the other two, it will also need to add luxury features. Audi has a lot of room to make improvements here, as while the Q7 probably occupies the same place in your brain as the X7 and GLS, its base price is about $25,000 lower than either.
The size means that the Q9 will probably only be sold in North America and China, though other markets, including the Middle East, are possible. Expect PHEV and gas engines.

2025 Audi SQ7 And SQ8 First Drive Review: Spicy Seven-Seat SUV vs. Five-Seater Fury

Audi’s SQ7 and SQ8 add power and handling to already potent mid-size crossovers – but which one is best?

Audi isn’t the only VW Group brand looking at going big. Porsche is working on a large three-row of its own, codenamed the K1. That model was initially expected to be fully electric, but reports point to Porsche recognizing the need to alter those plans. The K1 could end up starting over and joining this Audi on the same platform. Both the Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne use the same group platform, shared with the Bentley Bentayga and Lamborghini Urus Performante.