Report

Audi Q8 crossover-coupe thing approved for production

According to a report in Car magazine, Audi officials have given a new Q8 crossover model the green light. It will be a flagship CUV that trumps the Q7 (pictured here) and focuses more on being sporty and stylish than the automaker's current lineup of utility vehcicles. In other words, it'll be something of a BMW X6 rival.

The Q8 will reportedly ride on the new aluminum-intensive, long-wheelbase MQB architecture that will underpin the the next-generation Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne, not to mention the next Q7. This new platform is said to be an integral part of Audi's bid to cut around 660 pounds from today's Q7. Under the hood will be a range of gasoline and diesel engines, with an eventual 550-horsepower RS model topping things off. That's right, folks – RS Q8.

Car points out that while crossovers like the Q3, Q5 and Q7 are more boxy and upright, the Q8 will be a part of an even-numbered family of CUVs designed to be more, um, coupe-like. Once again, it's like what BMW is doing with the forthcoming X4 and current X6 in comparison to the X3 and X5.

Don't expect to see the Q8 on the street anytime soon, though. Car reports that the vehicle is still in the very early stages of development and a production model is unlikely to appear before 2017.

Audi Information

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