Audi Q8 and SQ8 get a mild refresh for 2024
The Audi Q8 first hit the market back in 20218 and turned plenty of heads as it was an all-new flagship from the German brand. The Q8 and SQ8 now get a facelift to keep things fresh. The general proportions of the vehicle stay the same, but many of the finer design elements have been given a nip and tuck, as does the interior technology and the list of standard and optional equipment.
The revisions begin at the front, where the Singleframe grille for both the Q8 and SQ8 now includes octagonal parts. Interestingly, the German luxury brand claims it has modified the coupe-SUV's imposingly massive corporate grille to not only distinguish it from the A-badged vehicles, but also to indicate it is at the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Even the standard edition gets a pair of hefty air intakes as part of the mid-cycle modification.
Audi is using OLED technology in the taillights to replicate the A8 full-size sedan and the smaller Q5 SUV. Not only do they include the standard arriving home and departing home sequences and dynamic turn signals, but they also have a safety feature.
The biggest change comes in the lighting system of the car. As an extra high beam, Audi currently employs HD Matrix LED modules with a laser. The headlight unit has 24 LEDs and a high-power laser diode, as well as a blue ambient light warning, and features digital daytime running lights and multiple configurable light signatures. When a car behind gets within 2 meters of a stopped Q8, all OLED parts illuminate automatically to make the luxurious SUV more noticeable.
The range of configuration possibilities now includes five new wheel designs ranging in size from 21 to 23 inches, as well as three new paint colours: Sakhir Gold, Ascari Blue, and Chili Red. Black Optics option packages, for example, provide contrasting features such as black exterior trim and emblems.
Audi Q8 and SQ8: Powertrains
Buyers worldwide can purchase the Q8 with one of three engines. The base model comes with a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 with 231PS and 500Nm of torque. There's also a more powerful version of the same engine with 286PS and 600Nm of torque, as well as a gasoline-powered 3.0-liter V6 with 340PS and 500Nm of torque. The four wheels are driven by all three engines via an eight-speed automatic transmission and Audi's tried-and-true Quattro all-wheel-drive technology.
The SQ8 comes next, with a 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged engine producing 507PS and 770Nm of torque. Audi hasn't released any information on the new RS Q8. Needless to mention, all units of the Q8 are coupled to an 8-speed tiptronic auto and Quattro four-wheel drive.
Audi Q8 and SQ8: InteriorThe inside receives comparable updates: the fundamental architecture of the dashboard hasn't altered dramatically, but Audi has modified some minor elements. Audi has introduced three new trim levels, and the list of applications compatible with the infotainment system has been increased to include Spotify and Amazon Music. The company promised to keep adding applications to the Q8's infotainment system through regular software upgrades.
The rest of the equipment stays the same, which means the Q8 still has Audi's dual MMI touchscreens, four-zone temperature control, a head-up display, seat heating, ventilation, and massage, and a Bang & Olufsen hi-fi system.
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