Audi’s coupé-shaped SUV is not heading for retirement after all, with the company approving a second-generation Q8.
Speaking to Edmunds, Audi chief executive Gernot Döllner said the model did not have a confirmed successor when he took charge in September 2023. Audi has since changed direction, and the Q8 will return for another generation.
The company has not revealed when the new model will arrive. Döllner only said it was coming in the “nearer future”, leaving its launch date open to interpretation. A 2028 launch may be possible, but that remains an estimate rather than an official target.
The next Q8 should retain its familiar position as a sleeker alternative to the Q7. Its lower roofline gives it a sportier shape than a traditional large SUV, placing it against models such as the BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé.
There are no spy photographs or confirmed design details yet. It is therefore unclear whether the second-generation Q8 will adopt Audi’s newest styling direction. The brand has begun introducing a cleaner look through recent concepts and production models, but the Q8 could take a different route depending on how far development has progressed.
Audi has also said nothing about engines, performance versions or pricing. The current Q8 uses a turbocharged 3.0-litre V6 with mild-hybrid assistance, while the SQ8 and RS Q8 use more powerful V8 engines. New versions of those performance models are possible, but neither has been confirmed.
The announcement refers to the combustion-powered Q8 and should not be confused with the Q8 e-tron. Audi ended production of that separate electric SUV in 2025, though a successor is planned.
For the moment, the clearest news is simply that Audi still sees room for a large, swoopy five-seat SUV. With the new Q7 and three-row Q9 covering more traditional designs, the next Q8 will continue to offer something sleeker at the top of the range.