The Audi Q9 is coming. It will be a configurable seven-seat SUV with electrically powered doors and a panoramic roof and 4D sound and likely a hotline to the International Space Station. Jokes aside, it will also take over from the outgoing A8 as Audi’s new flagship automobile. It will also be absolutely flippin’ huge.
Audi itself calls the incoming Q9 its “first large full-size SUV,” forgetting it already makes something large and full-sized called the Q7. This is bigger of course, because it’s not really aimed at a sceptered, pot-holed island, but rather the many states that make up America, and a place called ‘China.’ Big places, those.
Big places that need a big car. You can spec it as a seven-seater, but if you opt for a six-seater the middle row gets a pair of heated/cooled individual chairs that offer “business-class comfort.” Every chair is electrically adjustable, with the fronts getting all the goodies.
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Speaking of the front, you’ll notice the Q9 gets a large, wide digital display and infotainment system angled towards the driver, while the passenger gets their own separate screen display. Screens, huh, wonder if they’ll ever catch on.
Mercifully there are buttons too, on the steering wheel, on the center console, and on the doors. Speaking of doors, they’re electrically powered “for the first time in an Audi,” and operated “with a key, the myAudi app, the MMI, the brake pedal, or the seatbelt buckle.” They won’t open if one of the gazillion sensors can sense danger, or if there’s not enough room.
Plenty of room inside of course, no doubt aided by that standard-fit panoramic sunroof that can change to block out the sun. Naturally there’s ambient lighting courtesy of many LEDs, a 4D sound system from Bang & Olufsen, many options, and lots of storage.
Engines? There will be some. Likely big (V8), likely helped by electricity. There’ll also be a bit of a hurdle to overcome, likely depending on whether new US tariffs for EU cars actually come into play, which will likely affect a car like the Q9.
We’ll see the finished car at the end of July, but in the meantime, why not share your thoughts on this absolutely flippin’ huge Audi?
More photos of the 2026 Audi Q9:
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopGear.com. Minor edits have been made.
