44 september 2019 whichcar.com.au/motorPace andspace, not much grace
AUDI SQ8
AUDI SPORT’S first performance
version of the range-toppingQ8will
arrive here in the first halfofnextyear.
Like the firm’s other recentS-brand
additions, the SQ8 TDI isdiesel-onlyfor
now, with the same 4.0-litre320kWV8
engine as in the related SQ7.
Petrol fans will have towaitforthe
even more angry and powerfulRSQ8
rumoured to be in the workstoanswer
the apparently pressing needfor
500kW (!) fireworks.
In this top-of-the-line ‘Vorsprung’
trim, the SQ8 gets plenty of electronic
trickery like four-wheel steering,
adaptive air suspension (capable of
adjusting ride height through 90mm
of travel), active anti-roll bars and an
actively locking rear diff in addition to
the centre Torsen diff. It therefore has
the ability to switch between surprising
handling agility and driver engagement
to luxurious, refined touring comfort.
Identified externally by a wider,
chromier grille surround, unique alloy
wheel design and quad exhausts, therefined, relaxing and long-striding, then
taking on greater responsiveness and
aural drama when you select Dynamic
driving mode, where noise enhancers
inside both the exhaust and the cabin
enrich the V8’s sound. It then sounds
sweeter and more tuneful than you
expect, but isn’t dialled up to ridiculous
volumes or made to seem unnatural.
The car’s power delivery is always
smooth and quite cultured, but leaves
a little to be desired on high-range
potency and outright linearity. You
don’t begin to get peak torque until
the bigger of the two turbos comes on
stream just under 3000rpm, but above
3500rpm your rate of gain tails away.
Ride and handling mirrors the
adaptability of the powertrain. The
adaptive suspension stops well short of
loping along in Comfort, but it still rides
very well indeed considering how good
the car’s body control is, how strong its
grip level and how keenly it can change
direction in Dynamic.
This is the sort of car for someone
who’s been around the block with fast
SUVs before. Someone who would
value its just-so compromise of pace
and space; of cruising range, ride
comfort and driver appeal; of off-road
capability, onboard technology and
luxury; and the status it implies and
desirability it reflects, blended with an
understated performance aesthetic.
Those looking for the biggest,
loudest, fastest, most exciting or most
bombastic luxury SUV for the money
should probably apply elsewhere.MAIN
The SQ8 rides on
bigger wheels and
tyres than the closely
related SQ7, but
otherwise it’s pretty
much the same
mechanical package➜ENGINE 3956cc V8 turbodiesel, DOHC, 32v
POWER 320kW @ 3750-4750rpm
TORQUE 900Nm @ 1250-3250rpm
0-100KM/H 4.8sec (claimed)
4.0 WEIGHT 2365kg • PRICE $180,000 (est)Rating
LIKE: Brisk, quiet, smart and
spacious; technologically rich;
excellent ergonomics
DISLIKE: Fussy ride around
town in Dynamic mode; hefty
size and priceM FRONTFRONT END.END.JUSTJUST LAUNCHEDLAUNCHED
BY • MATT SAUNDERS
SQ8 has a cabin that differs from an S
Line-spec Q8 only in the details, so it
remains a very agreeable, comfortable
place in which to travel. The driving
position and seats are first rate, and
Audi now thankfully offers a round
steering wheel in a move away from
fitting only flat-bottomed ones in cars
like this – many S and RS customers
advised they don’t like them.
That electric-assisted engine has
real versatility of character, being