Ingolstadt – Audi's new year's resolution? To upstage the world's automakers by showing off its Q8 SUV concept in 2017.
The Q8 will make its world premiere at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January.
Budget Bentley Bentayga?
Audi says its 'near-production study represents a synthesis of the emotional styling of a coupé and the spaciousness that typifies an SUV'.
Think of it as a rival to its cousin, the Bentley Bentayga. Albeit, a 'budget' option.
Audi design boss Marc Litche's says the Q8 will 'spearhead the automaker's Q model line-up' and that the car we'll see in Detroit 'offers a spacious interior with four equally comfortable seats.'
The Q8 is definitely an imposing vehicle, the front-end is dominated by a octagonal singleframe grille, that is 'considerably wider than that in Audi’s current production models'. Audi says the grille is positioned well forward, with three-dimensional sculpting.
Wonder where the designers got their inspiration from? Well the Ur-quattro of the 1980s of course, these elements include the extremely flat but very wide C-post, and flared shoulders above the wheels. Audi says these balanced proportions give equal emphasis to the front and rear wheels – instinctively quattro.