- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru He
Audi’s top sports player
Introduced in 2019, the Audi SQ8 is a sports version of the first generation Q8 luxury SUV (as of 2021). Although this vehicle isn’t available in Israel, we still want to tell you about it. The SUV combines dynamics of an exquisite coupe, the emotions of a sports car, the roominess and versatility of an SUV. The Audi SQ8 is called “the most advanced sports car in the Q family.”
The first generation
In June 2019, the flagship Q8 SUV acquired a powerful version. Such a model is practically the same as the original vehicle with the S line package. The top-end version can be recognized only by the silvery mirrors, the brazen four round exhaust pipes and the new huge wheels (21- or 22- inch). The vehicle comes with the most powerful modern diesel engine by the Volkswagen Group and has become a mild hybrid.
Just like the exterior, the interior of the 2019/2020 Audi SQ8 is also almost unchanged. The interior is decorated with carbon fiber inlays, and the engine start button is ringed with a red rim. The vehicle is equipped with sports seats featuring S embossing on the backrests, contrasting stitching and integrated headrests. The SQ8 also has an additional instrument display mode, in which the tachometer is located in the center as the main driver’s device. With a three-meter wheelbase, the new SQ8 is extraordinarily spacious and offers unrivaled everyday usability. The trunk volume with the backrests folded down is 1,755 liters, while the standard configuration offers 605 liters.
And since the new Audi SQ8 is the closest relative of the SQ7, it has the same equipment. Almost the same. The G8 is equipped with the same 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 diesel engine, developing 435 hp and a torque of 900 Nm. The motor is aggregated with an 8-speed ZF automatic transmission. The vehicle is all-wheel drive with the Torsen differential distributing traction along the axles in a 60/40 ratio between front and back. It takes the SUV 4.8 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h, and its maximum speed is limited to 250 km/h.
Since the Audi SQ8 is a relatively new model, the creators have equipped it with a 48-volt system with a 470 watt-hour battery and an 8 kW starter-generator. This system helps the main engine operate in the first seconds after starting, and can also shut off the diesel engine for 40 seconds when coasting at a speed of 55 to 160 km/h, thanks to which the model complies with the environmental requirements.
The SUV comes standard with a pneumatic suspension, which allows you to adjust the ground clearance within 90 mm. The basic equipment also includes leather upholstery, LED headlights and much more. The list of options includes: fully steerable chassis, active electromechanical stabilizers and carbon-ceramic brakes, just like the SQ7. Overall, the 2021 Audi SQ8 has an almost limitless choice of optional equipment. The list of options includes a panoramic roof, four-zone climate control, an Air Quality ionization and aromatization package, an automatic door closer, an interior contour lighting package, light projection of Audi rings for side doors and other equipment.
