New Audi Q8 revealed – South African launch date and line-up

The facelifted Audi Q8 has been unwrapped with the high-end SUV sporting a refined exterior design, enhanced creature comforts, and a range of new optional extras.

The fresh-faced Audi is going on sale in the European market this month, and it will hit South African showrooms in the second quarter of 2024, the domestic arm of Audi confirmed to TopAuto.

Like the current Q8, the new line-up will include the 45 TDI and 55 TFSI models, but now, the athletic SQ8 will also form part of the family as standard. Previously, the SQ8 was only available as a limited-edition trim.

The locally-specific pricing and specifications of the Audi have yet to be revealed, however, with these to be announced closer to its launch date.

Everything new

Notable changes on the new Q8 take the form of an octagonal grille with vertical inlays in a teardrop pattern on the standard models and L-shaped on the range-topping SQ8, new front air intakes, and a “premium-quality” exhaust system.

Further underscoring the revised appearance are a contrasting underride guard, door attachment trim, and diffuser, as well as 20-inch alloy wheels for the base versions, whereas the S-badged models get body-coloured finishes all around and feature more accentuated side air intakes in the front bumpers for a distinctive appearance.

High-intensity Matrix LED headlights with 24 LEDs that increase high-beam range above 70km/h are now standard, as are Digital OLED taillamps with a proximity indication function that triggers the activation of all digital light segments when the assistance systems detect a vehicle from behind coming within two meters of the stationary Q8.

The grille is now painted in high-gloss black and the redesigned, “two-dimensional” Audi badging that first featured on the electric Q8 e-tron is also stuck on the nose and tailgate.

Optionally available are three new metallic paints comprising Ascari Blue, Chili Red, and Sakhir Gold, 21 to 23-inch wheels, and Black and Black Plus optics packages that incorporate darkened accents around the grille, window trim, and front and rear bumpers.

As part of the mid-life update, the Q8’s seat seams now come standard in a contrasting grey colour, and nine decorative cabin inlays are on offer including fine-grain ash natural silver for the entry-level model, and carbon twill matte and aluminium linear silver grey for the S Line and SQ8.

Standard kit has then been expanded with a rear-view camera, park and high-beam assist, keyless entry and start, and assistance systems such as lane-change warning, other road-user distance warning, intersection assist, and traffic light information.

For the first time, passengers can now also use popular apps from third-party providers such as Spotify or Amazon Music via the central display, and regular over-the-air software updates with a market-specific app portfolio ensures a constantly expanding range of apps to be made available “for even greater individualization of the infotainment system,” said Audi.

Like the current Q8, the new model is equipped with either a 3.0-litre, turbo-diesel (45 TDI/50 TDI) or turbo-petrol (55 TFSI) mill, whereas the more premium SQ8 boasts a screaming 4.0-litre, turbocharged V8.

The specifications for these underpinnings are shown in the following table:

All variants of the SUV are equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and quattro permanent four-wheel drive, while the 45/50 TDI and 55 TFSI also have a 48-volt mild-hybrid system.

This semi-electrification brings benefits such as improved fuel consumption of up to 0.5l/100km, energy recuperation of up to 8kW, and coasting with the engine off for a maximum of 40 seconds at any speed between 55-160km/h.

The flagship SQ8’s V8 features clever fuel-saving tech, too, as it can switch off half its cylinders when certain conditions are met without sacrificing performance in the spirit of using as little propellant as possible, and this particular derivative also gets adaptive air suspension and rear-wheel steering up to five degrees for greater handling performance and ease of use.

Audi Q8 S Line

Audi SQ8