2019 Audi Q8 Is A Sport Quattro For The Crossover Era – First Photos

Audi is set to unveil the all-new Q8 in Shenzhen, China tomorrow but the first images of the crossover have hit the web.

Posted by Observador.pt, the pictures reveal the production model has remained relatively faithful to the Q8 and Q8 Sport concepts. This enables the crossover to appear significantly sportier than its Q7 counterpart.

Starting up front, we can see a prominent Singleframe grille with vertical chrome strips and a contrasting grey surround. Flanking the grille are large air intakes and slender LED headlights which are positioned above a blacked out panel. We can also see a silver skid plate and a sculpted hood.

The side profile is the Q8’s sportiest angle as it reveals the crossover has a gently sloping roof and a heavily raked C-pillar. The greenhouse is relatively compact and it reportedly features frameless windows to enhance its coupe-like image.

Continuing to the rear, the Q8 has a tailgate-mounted spoiler and a sporty rear bumper. We can also see a dual exhaust system and LED taillights which are connected by a thin strip.

The sporty styling gives way to a luxurious and high-tech interior which follows in the footsteps of newer models such as the A6 and A8. Drivers sit behind a flat-bottomed steering wheel and find themselves surrounded by leather and Alcantara upholstery as well as metallic accents. This particular model also has piano black trim which blends in with the main infotainment system. Speaking of screens, the Q8 has a digital instrument cluster and a third display for climate control and convenience features.

The rear seats look relatively roomy and there appears to be a decent amount of headroom despite the crossover’s sloping roof. There doesn’t appear to be many amenities back there but rear passengers will be able to adjust climate control settings via a touchscreen mounted on the rear of the center console.

Detailed specifications are lacking but the Q8 reportedly holds 605 liters (21.3 cubic feet) of luggage behind the rear seats. That can be expanded to 1,755 liters (61.9 cubic feet) with relative ease.

Under the hood, there will be an assortment of petrol and diesel engines featuring mild-hybrid technology. At launch, there will reportedly be a 3.0-liter V6 petrol with 340 PS (250 kW / 335 hp) and two 3.0-liter TDI units. The entry-level diesel is slated to produce 231 PS (170 kW / 228 PS) while the more powerful variant will have 286 PS (210 kW / 282 hp).

The Q8 will be launched in Europe this fall and we should learn more details tomorrow.

Thanks to Miguel for the tip!