The Story
We get the final details on Audi’s big new flagship SUV, including the price.
Welcome to what is supposed to be our First Look at the Audi Q9. But between our sneak peek at the new Q9’s interior and our first look at the closely related Q7 and SQ7, you may know most of what we’re about to tell you. We do, however, have new details regarding exterior styling, pricing, and a few luxury-oriented items of note—including a new hands-free driving system…
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWThe Q9 is Audi’s new flagship, and it’s the company’s biggest SUV yet—nearly 17.5 feet long, longer than a Mercedes GLS and nearly as long as a Cadillac Escalade (the regular-size one, not the big-momma ESV). The Q9 shares most of its mechanical bits with the Q7, as well as a great deal of sheetmetal and styling, particularly from the…
Differences start at the rear doors, which are longer for better access. As with the Q7, the Q9’s doors offer optional electric opening and closing. You’d expect that to be a door-ding disaster waiting to happen, but the power portals can sense objects in the door’s way and stop. The doors also look out for oncoming pedestrians and traffic, reducing the chances of beaning a…
Moving back, the Q9 has a more squared-off roofline than the Q7, emphasizing its extra passenger space, which is gifted to both the second and third rows. Our biggest complaint about the Q7 was the cramped third-row seat, a problem the Q9 should eliminate, but as we said in our Q9 interior review, it doesn’t. A low seat cushion puts adults’ knees at eye level, and there’s not…
Rounding out the visual changes is the tailgate, which places the rear license plate on the bumper rather than on the tailgate itself as it is on the Q7. Like the Q7, the Q9 has OLED taillights that can display various patterns, but on the Q9 the panel is curved, the first use of this technology in an Audi. It’s a rather cool effect, but U.S. Lighting regulations mean they…
Why It Matters
Rounding out the visual changes is the tailgate, which places the rear license plate on the bumper rather than on the tailgate itself as it is on the Q7.
CarMotion Daily’s Take
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWThe Q9 is Audi’s new flagship, and it’s the company’s biggest SUV yet—nearly 17.5 feet long, longer than a Mercedes GLS and nearly as long as a Cadillac Escalade (the regular-size one, not the big-momma ESV). Watch this space over the coming weeks.
📝 Source & Copyright Notice
This story was first reported by MotorTrend. For the full article with original photography and complete coverage, visit the source: Read the full story at MotorTrend →