Audi has announced pricing details on the forthcoming 2020 Audi SQ8, with the performance-oriented luxury SUV-coupe thingy set to debut in the spring.
Related: 2020 Audi SQ7 and SQ8: 6 Things Performance SUV Shoppers Will Wanna Know
The SQ8 will be offered in two trim levels, Premium Plus and Prestige. The Premium Plus will start at $89,995 while the Prestige checks in at $95,495, both slightly higher than the SQ7, which starts at $85,795 (all prices include a $995 destination charge). These two vehicles are very similar, sharing the same powertrain, suspension upgrades and prospective release date.
The SQ8 is one of three Q8 variants that will be offered by Audi, with the regular and S versions arriving in 2020, and the completely bonkers RS Q8 coming later as a 2021 model. The SQ8 serves as a middle ground for the Q8 lineup, its 500-horsepower, twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 splitting the difference between the 335-hp Q8 and the 591-hp RS Q8.
I’m happy to see the arrival of the SQ8 (and the SQ7, for that matter) as I was not a fan of the turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 found in the Q7 or the Q8. A step up to a more responsive powertrain would go a long way toward making those two vehicles feel more lively, and of course the prospect of a big SUV rumbling from 0-60 mph in just 4.3 seconds is fun to imagine.
In addition to the larger engine, the SQ8 also features all-wheel steering and all-wheel drive standard. It will also offer active roll stabilization and a rear sport differential for added agility.
The SQ8’s exterior design only hints at the performance punch it carries. It looks much the same as the regular Q8 from a distance, but closer inspection reveals small touches like a prominent rear diffuser, quad exhaust tips, and aluminum trim on the grille and mirror caps. A Black-optic Package will also be offered that adds 22-inch wheels and a slew of black exterior accents.
The five-seat SQ8 doesn’t skimp on interior features, with heated and ventilated sport seats, four-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic moonroof, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, Virtual Cockpit and a pair of dashboard screens all come standard. A 360-degree camera system, automattic forward emergency braking, side exit assist and blind spot monitors are also standard, giving the SQ8 a better set of standard safety features than you’ll find on most Audis.
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