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| 2020 Audi SQ8 |
With prices starting at a very expensive 102,900 Euros, not to mention the additional costs added, the first-ever Audi SQ8 promises to be more fun to drive than the basic Q8, although it's hard to sure if this slightly pumped-up coupe utility is somewhere between a rock and a hard place because judging by the weight it possess, it's going to be as hard as a hard place and as comfy as a rock, in dynamics term at least.
While it features unique styling that adds some sporty character to this coupe utility as well as a specially made dark interior that smells like aftershave when you first get in, which is good for a semi-hot coupe utility in the beginning, the SQ8 is powered by a 4.0L V8 TDi diesel engine, which is deemed irrelevant in today's diesel-sceptic Europe, even when this engine comes with a 48-volt primary electrical system. This engine produces 435PS of power and 900Nm of torque, which sounds aplenty for a V8 diesel, and when mated to an 8-speed tiptronic gearbox, it does 0-100kph in less than five seconds and electronically limited at 250kph. Not Urus quick but this diesel engine really means brute force for the SQ8 and you can really pull some dynamic punches with this one.
Apart from the dynamic punches its V8 diesel engine delivers, the SQ8 features Audi drive select dynamic handling system, adaptive air suspension, and the electromechanical active roll stabilization, allowing the SQ8 to exploit its sports-inspired suspension setup to its fullest and with the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system, it's capable of handling through all kinds of weather. Not bad but such stuff made it slightly better to drive than the normal Q8 but not quite as good as a Cayenne Coupe per se in terms of sportiness.
Hands up if you want a Q8 with a beefy V8 diesel, sporty suspension, and that's about it. Anyone? Oh well...
Photo: Audi AG