India-bound Audi Q8 to be unveiled tomorrow

-    The all-new Q8 will be the flagship vehicle from Audi.
-    The coupe-SUV body style of the Q8 will have a five-seater layout.
-    The Q8 will also get an RS version.

Audi will unveil the all-new Q8 at the Audi China Brand Summit Shenzhen in Shanghai tomorrow. The German carmaker has already concluded a five-part video series as a run-up to the reveal of the Q8, apart from teasing the design sketches.

The Q8 will be the flagship offering from Ingolstadt and, as the name suggests, it will sit above the Q7. The coupe-SUV has been spotted on many occasions already, even in India. We first saw the Q8 as a Concept back in 2017 at the Detroit Motor Show. Although the production version will be a toned down version of the stylish concept, we know that the Q8 will retain the standard Audi design element both inside and out.

Upfront, the conventional grille with a dash of chrome will be complemented by massive air vents and skid plates. The rear will have a sleek LED tail light running across the tailgate. The coupe-SUV silhouette will make the Q8 more appealing and stylish compared to the Q7. The Q8 will be a five-seater only with decent off-road hardware. But primarily, it would be a luxury SUV more than anything else.

Based on the new MLB Evo platform, the Q8 will share its powertrain options with VW Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, even the Lambo Urus and Bentley Bentayga under the VW Group umbrella. So we can expect a slew of petrol and diesel engines to choose from. However, a hybrid powerplant won’t be out of place given Audi’s shifted focus towards electrification. Apart from that, a more potent RS Q8 is also on the cards given that Audi had showcased the Audi Q8 Sport Concept at the Geneva Show last year.

After being unveiled, the new Q8 is expected to hit the streets before the end of this year. Audi will surely bring the Q8 to India once it goes on sale in the international markets. It will rival the likes of BMW X6, Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupe, and the Range Rover Velar.