Audi launched the Q8 in 2018 as a mid-size luxury crossover SUV coupé. The German automobile manufacturer built the vehicle to compete with the likes of the BMW X6 and the Mercedes-Benz’s GLE-Class Coupe, and it does an amazing job in keeping the competition at bay. Audi's new offering is also packed with technology, for the first time featuring full-laser headlamps and tail lamps.
Audi described the Q8 in their press release saying it "brings together the best of both worlds – the elegance of a four-door luxury coupé and the practical talents of a large SUV.” The Q8 is just as elegant outside as it is outside. Here are 10 details that prove it.
10 The Two Screens
Standing out from the car’s glamorous dashboard is the dual-screen infotainment system. The Q8’s in-car entertainment is fully touchscreen and substitutes any traditional switches and gauges. The 10.1-inch upper display is used to control the infotainment itself and the navigation, while the lower 8.6-inch display allows the driver to control the car’s onboard functions such as the temperature of the climate control, the color of the customizable mood lighting, and ventilation.
The system is made even more reliable by the Multi Media Interface (MMI) system, innovative technology to make sure the system reacts to the driver.
9 The Virtual Cockpit
The Q8’s cockpit is meant to assist the driver, displaying navigation information as well as information from outside the vehicle. It features a 12.3-inch display with a 1920x720 resolution which can switch between navigation and classic view, thanks to the controls on the multifunction steering wheel.
On the lower edge, the virtual cockpit shows fixed indicators such as the outside temperature, time, and any warnings. Since the image is refreshed every 60 seconds, the Q8 is always accurate.
8 The Bang & Olufsen Sound System
The Danish company Bang & Olufsen designed the sound system of the Audi Q8 with the goal of “distributing high-quality content evenly to all listeners – delivering multi-dimensional sound with a setup so easy on the eyes.” The car’s system features the Acoustic Lens Technology, which improves the dispersion of high frequencies to ensure the audio disperses in a uniform manner.
The unique 1920-watt system features 23 active speakers and Vehicle Noise Compensation (VNC). Forget radios: this is a concert in a vehicle.
7 The Customizable Mood Lighting
Audi offers two lighting packages on the Q8: the standard ambient lighting package and the contour/ambient lighting package. The standard package features white LED lights in the headlining, in the footwells, and the door handles, with strips of light between the grab handles. Reading lights, vanity lights, and door lights are also LED. Depending on where the driver uses the light, it can be warm or cold.
On the other hand, the ambient lighting matches the mood of the driver through indirect lighting from the surface source to suggest an impression of floating. Plus, contour lights underline the car’s profiles with colors and moods.
6 The Two-Zone Automatic AC
This feature of the Audi Q8 isn’t an extra: it is a standard for any model. Thanks to this feature, both drivers and passengers are comfortable thanks to the automated heating or cooling of both the front and the back. With two-zone automatic AC, the driver can choose a specific temperature to keep in the part of the car.
Is the Q8 getting too cold? Audi offers the auxiliary heater, heated windshield and the pre sense rear package with seat belt tensioners for the outside rear seats.
5 The Aluminum Door Sills
The Q8 has an aluminum trim that gives the vehicle a chrome and sporty look. The sills aren’t the only exclusive feature of the Audi’s doors. The frameless doors and the convenience key make the Q8 modern and luxurious.
The convenience key means the Audi is keyless, which means the drive can open and close the car without ever taking the key outside of the pocket. Through proximity sensors, the key activates at five feet of the vehicle, which is comfortable if passengers are carrying weight.
4 The Transmission
Drivers take the transmission for granted. It is a tool to use, not an interior’s feature. But the one in the Audi Q8 is a 8-speed Tiptronic automatic, an 8-speed torque converter automatic. In the tiptronic system, an rpm-adaptive torsion damper balances out undesired engine vibrations and enables efficient driving at extra-low engine speeds.
The transmission also features a dynamic shift program (DSP) which enables an efficient mode of driving by preferring large gears and low engine speeds. The Q8’s transmission works with the start-stop system of the car to ensure a smooth ride.
3 The Fancy Seat Options
The seats of the Audi Q8 are the most luxurious part of the car’s interior. They are leather and suede-like Alcantar with electrical adjustment for comfort. But the real deal is in the optional features and in the higher models. Options for the Q8 are sport seats and the S sport seats plus with the addition of head restraints and high bolsters.
The seats come with three-stage ventilation, including cooling and heating. If that wasn’t enough comfort, Audi has the optional massage seats, with ten pneumatic pillows loosen the back muscles according to seven programs and three intensities.
2 The Air Quality Package
This optional package is more than fancy AC or flaming hot heating. The air quality package includes fragrancing. The air flow from the air conditioning system spreads an olfactory agent throughout the car. The oil is concealed in the instrument panel, which controls its distribution.
The intensity of the oil fragrance comes in four levels and they are replaced during servicing. The scents are carefully picked and produced thanks to the work of professional perfumers.
1 The Voice Control
The Q8’s natural language voice control works even without Internet connection and with both the Radio and Media menu. It allows the driver to dictate texts and to converse with the control as if conversing with a person. The clever dialogue manager corrects, asks questions, and offers choices. The models equipped with the hybrid voice control system access saved data from the car’s previous trips to help the driver as well as accessing knowledge from the cloud.
While dialoguing with the hybrid voice control, the driver can switch between menus and control features such as media sources, the air conditioning system, and telephone functions. The activation is easy: just press the voice control button on the steering wheel.