It looks like Audi is finally about to enter the full-size segment. Mercedes has been in the business with the GLS for a long time, while the Bavarian rival entered the class a few years ago, with the X7 model. Now, it’s time for the Ingolstadt compact, if we can trust rumors. The fact is that there is a large mule on the road, but no one has still confirmed it’s about the 2022 Audi Q9. So, keep the following paragraphs with a big reserve.
At this point, we are relying mostly on rumors. Of course, it’s pretty clear that the new Q9 would be the largest model in the lineup. Also, we have no doubt it would share a lot of parts with models like Q8, but could also take a lot of inspiration from the A8 saloon. The engine lineup shouldn’t bring any surprises. We presume that the new model could arrive already in the first half of the next year.
2022 Audi Q9 Redesign
Despite that the test mule is still completely camouflage, most of the base design characteristics are relatively easy to understand. Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is the platform and this aspect definitely won’t bring any surprise. The 2022 Audi Q9 will ride on the company’s well-known MLB architecture, which underprints most of Audi’s models. Among them, you can also find Q7 and Q8 models. Of course, this model would be notably bigger, which would require some wheelbase stretching. Knowing the segment standards, we presume that the distance between the axles will go somewhere around 121 inches.
Also, we count on an even more advanced suspension setup, which means we could see some things borrowed from even more premium cousins, such as Bentley Bentayga. Without any doubt, an adaptive air suspension will be standard.
Styling
When it comes to the styling, we’ve already mentioned that the test mule still wears camouflage. The cover is massive, so it’s hard to talk about details. On the other side, we can see the overall shape, which seems pretty similar to the Q7, just in bigger proportions. This would mean a wagon-like shape, which promises a lot of passenger and cargo room.
While the overall shape is easy to see, we still don’t know how the front face will look like. As you probably know, the current Q7 doesn’t follow the brand’s latest design language, which can be seen in the Q8. We presume that the 2022 Audi Q9 would rather go in the same way as the even-numbered sibling. This means a front face full of sharp lines, with a massive grille design. The rear end would, of course, follow this aesthetical approach.
Interior
We don’t expect that Audi designers will experiment too much with the interior. Instead, we count on a typical approach, similar to what we can see in the latest A8 saloon. This means a plethora of conservative design solutions, which provide a classic appearance that can remain fresh for many years. This company knows to combine conservative shapes with tech features pretty well, so there is no wonder that this cabin will also look very nice. Audi traditionally offers excellent materials and build quality, so we have no doubt that the 2022 Audi Q9 will come in the same fashion.
Besides great quality, we expect that this cabin will be very spacious. If you look at the current Q7 model, it is spacious but still doesn’t provide enough room in the third row. We expect that the Q9 will use additional inches to solve this issue. The same thing goes for the cargo area, which offers subpar ratings in the mid-size 7-seater.
2022 Audi Q9 Engines
This aspect definitely won’t bring any surprise. Therefore, base models will certainly come with a familiar 3.0-liter turbo V6, which puts out around 335 horsepower. Of course, the well-known 4.0-liter V8 will be in the offer. We expect to see it in different output configurations. The most powerful version should wear the famous RS badge and feature a max output of around 600 horsepower.
We have no doubt that the 2022 Audi Q9 will be offered with diesel engines in Europe. This includes both V6 and V8 options, which would come in various output versions. Finally, we also count on hybrid and plug-in hybrid variants. Such models can already be found in the Q8 model, in a combination with the V6 gasoline engine.
2022 Audi Q9 Release Date and Price
At this point, it is still hard to predict a more precise launch date. The test mule is still under camouflage, so we doubt the production model will read before the end of this year. The first half of 2022 sounds much more likely. When it comes to the price, we presume it would be typical for the segment, which means somewhere between 75.000 and 80.000 dollars for base models.
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