Audi already offers a three-row SUV with the Q7, which spawned a sleeker two-row Q8, but the automaker isn’t done with massive family haulers just yet. Development boss Geoffrey Bouquot told Automobilwoche that the company would release a new Q9 SUV in 2026 to coincide with a redesigned Q7.
The Q7 and Q9 will both ride on Audi’s new Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, which also underpins the new A5 and A6. It will also be the basis of Porsche’s new gas Macan, expected for the 2028 model year.
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In addition to gas powertrains, the PPC can support diesel engines, hybrids, and plug-in systems, and it could offer a range-extended option in the future. Rumors have speculated that BMW could revive the tech for a next-generation X5, so it wouldn’t be outrageous to see a range-extended Q9 or Q7 in the near future.
The Q9 has been in development for a while, and the latest sighting of the range-topping SUV came just last month. One photographer caught what appears to be a high-performance variant, which could indicate that an SQ9 is in the works. As for the regular model, many expect Audi to offer a range of drivetrains, depending on where the Q9 is on sale, including six-cylinder mild-hybrid options for North America. The SQ9 will likely arrive with a V8.
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Given the Q9’s flagship positioning, expect an opulent interior, and it will likely offer cavernous passenger accommodations with options for six or seven seats. It will also receive the latest tech and safety features Audi has to offer, with an emphasis on rear-seat comfort and entertainment.
That said, the Q9 won’t be alone when it arrives. The Cadillac Escalade has been filling the full-size luxury SUV hole in buyers’ hearts for a long time, giving the Q9 a built-in competitor with an established customer base. Despite that, European SUVs tend to offer more engaging driving dynamics, even on the larger side of the spectrum.
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