The Q8 Lives: Audi Confirms a Successor

[Source: Edmunds]

The all-new Audi Q7 and Q9 SUVs have been grabbing all the headlines lately. And for good reason. They are two very important models for the brand. But Audi does still sell the Q8 SUV and there hasn’t been much said about it lately. Is it going to be put out to pasture as the Audi SUV lineup gets younger? Well, according to a recent report by Edmunds, that is not going to be the case. In fact, Audi has confirmed that they are already working on a brand new Q8.

Edmunds caught up with Audi CEO Gernot Döllner at the Q9 launch in New York last week. At that event they asked about the future of the Q8. “When I joined Audi, to my surprise, there was no decision for a successor, but we changed that,” Döllner said. “In the nearer future there will be a successor.”

For Audi enthusiasts, that’s welcome news. Since its debut for the 2019 model year, the Q8 has served as the brand’s flagship SUV, combining the practicality of the Q7 with a sleeker coupe-inspired roofline and more athletic styling. It has also become the foundation for some of Audi Sport’s most impressive SUVs, including the SQ8 and the mighty RS Q8.

While Audi has not revealed many specifics about the next-generation model, expectations are high that it will feature the brand’s Q7/SQ7 and Q9/SQ9 engines. But a lot can change as the new Q8 is not expected for another couple of years.

The Q8 may have been overshadowed recently by Audi’s newest SUVs, but it’s clearly still an important piece of the brand’s future. A successor ensures Audi’s flagship coupe-style SUV will continue evolving alongside the Q7 and Q9 rather than being replaced by them. For enthusiasts, that’s good news. The Q8 has earned its place in the lineup, and it appears the next chapter is already well underway.