The Audi Q8 is one of those large coupe-style SUVs, part of a genre pioneered by BMW a decade ago with their X6 and subsequently copied by Mercedes. Audi's considered solution for fashion-orientated folk browsing in this segment is Q7-based and very Vorsprung durch technic.

Background
The Volkswagen Group's MLB Evo platform has certainly spawned lots of luxury SUVs. First, we had the Audi Q7, then the Bentley Bentayga, the Porsche Cayenne, the Volkswagen Touareg, the Lamborghini Urus and now we've come back full circle to a derivative of the Q7, this swoopier Q8.

You can see why Audi wants a slice of the large sector SUV-coupe market. BMW has, after all, shifted over half a million X6s since that car pioneered the genre a decade ago. This one rolls off the same Slovakian Bratislava line as the Q7, the Cayenne and the Touareg and shares the same wheelbase and cabin width as its large Audi stablemate. The driveway demeanour though, is very different here, the emphasis on fashion, rather than family. It's pointless asking whether we really need this kind of car. People want them. Audi's made one. Is it any good? Let's find out.

Driving Experience
The Q8's primary engine is the '50 TDI' 3.0-litre diesel unit we're familiar with from the A7 Sportback and the A8. Most will go for this unit in 286PS form, but you can also talk to your dealer about a lesser version of this powerplant with 231PS (the Q8 '45 TDI'). A 3.0 TFSI petrol-engined variant with 340PS (the Q8 '55 TFSI') is also being made available and Audi is also developing a top RS Q8 flagship version. We'll focus on the '50 TDI' 286PS derivative because most customers will. This puts out a hefty 600Nm of pulling power and accelerates this large SUV from 0 to 62mph in 6.3 seconds on its way to a top speed of 144mph. Your transmission will be an 8-speed Tiptronic auto. And of course there's standard quattro 4WD, which divides torque front-to-rear in a 40:60-split. When required, it transfers the majority of power to the axle with the better traction.

Adaptive air suspension with controlled damping is a standard feature, with a sport set-up. This further improvers the supple ride you can expect from the aluminium five-link front and rear suspension. It can be adjusted to four modes with the Audi drive select dynamic handling system, varying the ride height of the body by up to 90mm. Q8 buyers also get standard 'progressive steering' which becomes increasingly direct as the steering angle increases.

►   / vehiclefinance  
►   / osvmotoringnews  
►   / osv-ltd