It started as little more than a Q7 with a stretch in the middle, but Audi’s new three-row Q9 has been progressing quickly. The automaker’s largest vehicle to date has been spotted by the CarBuzz photographers out testing once again. This time, it appears to be the standard model instead of the sportier SQ9 model. Signs of that include the new grille, but this one also appears to be wearing a production-spec front bumper. It’s still likely a couple of years away from production, but we learn more every time we see it.
- Base Trim Engine
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2L I4 ICE
- Base Trim Transmission
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8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
The last two times Audi’s new big SUV was spotted, it was the SQ9 version. It’s easy to tell from the grille, which is a black honeycomb mesh. Exactly what you’d find on other SQ models from the German brand like the SQ7. Very large bumper openings helped confirm our suspicions, along with the quad tailpipes poking out at the rear.
Slat Grille Makes Q9’s Big Face Look Even Larger
This Q9 has 16 vertical grille slats. That’s a lot of grille, and it’s a design that looks nothing like other current Audi models. It’s closer in appearance to the Panamericana grille design that is the signature of Mercedes-Benz AMG models.
The grille will probably still get some changes before production. The odd sheen to the plastic gives away that it is a pre-production part, not one that’s ready to be put on a car that’s going for sale.
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The Audi Q9 is still coming, and it will be considerably more spacious than the existing Q7 three-row SUV.
Below the grille, though, the bumper does look ready to go. It’s still hidden under a camouflage wrap, but the overall design of the vents appears ready. The driver’s side is more closed off than the passenger side, hinting at differences under the skin. Possibly a fluid cooler on the right-hand side of the vehicle.
Complex New Taillights Should Make This Expensive Audi Look The Part
Audi’s complex new taillight design is poking out from behind the wrap. The multiple horizontal slats are a big change versus the current Audi design, which might be a way to distinguish this flagship from other Audi models. We’ll wait until the whole thing is unveiled to see how it all comes together, but we see hints of Cadillac Escalade IQ in there.
Below the rear bumper, there are just two exhaust tips poking out. That hints at gas and diesel power options for this big SUV, with the 335-horsepower 3.0-liter V6 from the Q7 the most likely starting point. Audi puts a 2.0-liter four in the base Q7, but that seems a bad choice for this larger and heavier SUV. Audi is most likely planning for hybrid power, too, but this prototype doesn’t show the telltale left-side flap that would indicate a charge port.
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The BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS competitor is expected to go on sale in 2027, with initial markets including the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and China. It might be large for Europe, but with a new-generation Bimmer coming, and a large Porsche SUV under development, Audi will likely want to make sure it isn’t left out versus the competition.
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