Audi Q8 makes regional debut in Oman
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2019 Audi Q8 Review: A Luxurious SUV Redefined
I haven’t been able to identify if it’s the weather, the people, or the serenity of Oman that keeps pulling me back, but every few months I find myself on a flight out of Dubai looking forward to my next adventure. With the immigration officer’s stamp leaving a bold mark on my passport, I make my way through Muscat’s all-new airport and find myself greeted by Audi’s latest SUV, the gorgeous Q8.
Design and Features
A firm believer in numerology, the number 8 is an important one for Audi. The A8 is its flagship sedan, the R8 is its flagship sportscar, and the all-new Q8, which bears a strong resemblance to its Lamborghini cousin, is its flagship SUV. In terms of market positioning, the Audi Q8 is the German marque’s rebuttal to segment leaders such as:
Upon first glance, it is evident that the Q8 is lower, shorter, and wider than the Q7 that it is based on, and the design is a smooth blend of contemporary and traditional, coming together to form the brand's new design language. The protruding octagonal grille is flanked by sleek headlamps, and the large 22-inch alloys that fill the wheel wells lend it that sporting persona.
Interior Comfort and Technology
Inside the Q8, there’s an underlying sense of familiarity, as it shares a large part of its design with the all-new A8 and A6 sedans. The sense of roominess is heightened with a narrow dashboard that houses sizeable infotainment screens and is embellished with piano black and silver trims for a modern, uncluttered, and upmarket feel.
Being an Audi – and a flagship model at that – the quality of materials is impeccable, featuring Alcantara on the headliner and door panels, smooth leather along the armrest and steering wheel, and perforated leather making its way onto the plush seats in both rows. From a practicality perspective, the Q8 offers:
- A sliding second row
- A four-zone climate control system
- 600-liters of boot space with all seats in use
Eliminating nearly all buttons, switches, and knobs from the cabin, the Audi Q8 is advanced on a variety of fronts. In terms of features, there are plenty (as one would expect), but one of its most revolutionary features is its natural voice recognition system, which responds to simple commands such as “I’m feeling warm” and adjusts the A/C temperature accordingly or responds to “I feel like eating pizza” by delivering a list of pizza restaurants nearby.
Performance and Handling
To further reduce distractions while driving, the all-new Q8 is armed with the brand’s Virtual Cockpit display that gives drivers a plethora of information in the instrument cluster. A digital screen, in essence, allows drivers to customize its layout and choose the information they find most useful, from navigation and trip information to a variety of different gauges to complement their mood.
Powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged engine, the Audi Q8 produces 340 horsepower and flaunts a sporty 40:60 front-rear power distribution while providing the Quattro benefit of added grip. Despite being heavier than the Q7 (due to the larger wheels and mild hybrid system), the Q8 feels more agile around corners, which can be attributed to its dimensions and four-wheel steering.
Turning the rear wheels in the same direction as the front wheels at lower speeds and in the opposite direction at higher speeds, the system gives the impression of a shorter wheelbase and drastically improves handling dynamics, both on tarmac and off the beaten path as I discovered while climbing Oman’s scenic Jabal Akhdar and Jabal Shams.
Sharing the group’s MLB Evo platform with the Audi Q7, Bentley Bentayga, Volkswagen Touareg, Porsche Cayenne, and Lamborghini Urus, the Q8 feels familiar behind the wheel but welcomes an interesting mild hybrid system for improved fuel economy. Between speeds of 55 km/h and 160 km/h, coasting disables the engine, and instead, a 48-volt lithium battery provides necessary power.
Conclusion
Gone are the days when buyers wanted hatchbacks, sedans, and station wagons. Today, the same set of buyers want compact SUVs, mid-size SUVs, and full-size SUVs, which explains why manufacturers are bending over backward to fill every niche in the segment. As for the Q8, it’s everything a flagship SUV should be, and that is why we’ll be seeing a lot of it on roads across the Middle East.
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