Audi’s Answer To The BMW X7 And Mercedes-Benz GLS Inches Closer To Production-Ready
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New spy shots have emerged of Audi’s highly-anticipated flagship crossover SUV, the Q9, compliments of our esteemed spy photographer, SHProShots. Previously, our photographer caught a test mule of what possibly appeared to be the hybrid or sportier SQ9 version of the big three-row ute. But now, SHProShots spied another new test mule running about, sporting details indicating that this prototype could be a precursor to the standard model.
Audi’s been known to be working on a new flagship crossover SUV to join the big, full-size luxury three-row bandwagon after its rivals to the west, the BMW with its X7 and Mercedes-Benz with the GLS, experienced great success with its models. Now, it looks like they’re getting closer to being production-ready.
Audi
Divisions
Audi Sport GmbH
Founded
July 16, 1909
Founder
August Horch
Headquarters
Ingolstadt, Germany
Current CEO
Markus Duesmann
Status
Active
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The Q9 Will Slot Above The Q7 As Audi’s New Big SUV
Since Mercedes-Benz broke ground on the full-size three-row luxury crossover SUV segment with its GLS (formerly GL-Class), Audi’s been the only premium German brand sitting the game out, as BMW eventually produced its own competitor with the X7 in 2019. The Ingoldstadt automaker does have the Q7, which offers three rows of seating.
But it’s dwarfed by the GLS’s and the X7’s considerably larger proportions and higher price tags. Given that the GLS and X7 have been solid successes, it was only a matter of time until Audi introduced its player into the game. But almost two decades later since the Benz arrived, it has us asking, « what took Audi so long to make one? »
Regardless, expectations are high, as these SUVs are basically the cream of the crop when it comes to luxury crossovers. Just like their sedan siblings, they sport all the latest and greatest technology and boast some of the best and most luxurious driving characteristics of any crossover SUV out there.
SHProShots | TopSpeed
From the latest spy shots, we can see a number of different details compared to the original Q9-based prototype SHProShots photographed a few months ago. Such details include a different 16-slot vertical grille, a supposedly near-production-ready front and rear bumper design, and quad-exhaust tips.
SHProShots | TopSpeed
« Audi’s attack on the BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS started in the Winter test season! That’s where we took the first pictures of the Audi SQ9, and since then, at the Nürburgring. Now, however, an Audi Q9 has passed our lens. The grille immediately caught our eye, now with 16 vertical bars, » SHProShots writes to us. « The lower bumper now resembles the production bumper, and the rear bumper also reveals its true design. Four tailpipes have been replaced with two square ones, which tells us we’re dealing with the standard version of the Q9. »
Details for the production Q9 remain sparse. But rumors and some tips from SHProShots suggest the Q9 will come with a variety of powertrains, including the usual gas and diesel engines, along with a hybrid powertrain of some sort. There hasn’t been any indication of an electric model as of yet.
« Diesel, gasoline, and hybrid powertrains are expected, although we should be mindful of the vehicle’s overall weight. Audi’s new luxury SUV won’t hit the market until early 2027 at the earliest, » SHProShots continued. « The traditional markets will be the USA, Saudi Arabia, and China! Whether the Q9 will make its way to Europe is not yet known, but with BMW now developing its second generation of the X7, it would only make sense for Audi to offer the Q9 in Europe. » Production is expected to commence in the coming months, with an official debut in 2027.
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TopSpeed’s Take
SHProShots | TopSpeed
Audi will be the last German automaker to join the big, full-size luxury crossover SUV segment, after the
BMW X7
and the Mercedes-Benz GLS. Even Land Rover upped its game and decided to participate by creating a long-wheelbase version of the Range Rover with a third row of seating. So, it was only a matter of time until Audi brought its game, and they soon will, hopefully by early next year.
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