Audi Q8

A well-insulated cabin of the Q8 adds to the driving experience. It’s absolutely quiet inside, and you would hardly hear anything from the outside. The unbroken lines across the middle, cleverly hiding the air-con vents, give the cabin a visual uniformity that is luxurious and futuristic. Audi’s glorious digital cockpit is fitted as standard. Two high-resolution HD touchscreens, 10.1 inches, and 8.6 inches,  are integrated into the centre console seamlessly with impressive detailing. The upper display provides access to the infotainment systems and the lower display provides access to air conditioning, comfort functions, and text input. The haptic and acoustic feedback gives this state-of-the-art technology a very ‘real’ feel while reducing the number of buttons and controls in the cabin. 

The first-ever Audi Q8 represents a new dimension of luxury and class. The beefy radiator grille right at the front along with the sharp Matrix LED headlights to make the Q8 distinct. The grille together with the front-drawn spoiler and highly-contoured air inlets pose a strong and sturdy look. Rooflines, on the other hand, symbolize elegance and gently slopes down into the D-pillars. On the side, the Q8's visual appearance becomes even more pronounced, thanks to the large 20-inch wheels that can be upgraded to 21-inch or 22-inch wheels, sporting different alloy designs. The silver-finish bands around the window areas, from A to the C-pillars, define the overall profile. The frameless doors are only apparent when they are opened; they look like a convertible with windows rolled down. At the rear, the Q8 gets a no-chrome profile and rolling LED taillights. The wide-body profile is most evident at the rear.

Like other Audi models, the Q8 offers a good driving experience. The ride quality is pretty stable, and the optional four-wheel steering and electro-hydraulic rack provide great agility to the car. You can drive deep into the corners without any hiccups. The sports-tuned, five-link, anti-roll bar suspension at both ends is supportive enough to handle the torquey Quattro set-up. Audi’s tendency to equip its vehicles with vague steering kills any real sense of communication between your hands and the car’s front tyres, and it doesn’t make for a particularly engaging driving experience, especially across hilly routes.

Powering the Audi Q8 is a 2,995cc, three-litre, Turbocharged V6 engine that churns out 340 hp max power between 5,000 and 6,000 rpm, and 500 Nm of max torque between 1,370 and 4,000 rpm. The engine comes fitted with direct injection, lambda control, knock control, and turbocharging. Power is transferred to the wheels through an 8-speed Quattro Tiptronic transmission setup. The Q8 can race to 100 kmph from still in just 5.9 seconds and can reach a top speed of 250 kmph.

Braking duties are performed by the ventilated discs at the front and rear. The 21-inch and 22-inch alloy wheels are shod with Continental SportContact 6 tyres that offer the required traction. In terms of safety, the Q8 is equipped with 6 airbags - front impact, side impacts and overhead, ABS, stability control, seatbelt pretensioners, vehicle detection system, and ignition disable the device.

The Q8 is a futuristic drive. It possesses both on and off-road capabilities, which keeps it ahead of its competition. It looks beautiful from inside and on the outside, comes loaded with tech features, is comfortable for long drives, and will definitely leave you wanting for more.