The technically related Audi SQ7 and SQ8 both ship with the same diesel powertrain in Europe – and no gasoline version. The U.S. spec fixed that for the SQ7 a couple weeks ago, and for the coupe-shaped SUV today.
On the outside, the North American SQ8 looks just like its Europe counterpart depicted here. It gets the same 4.0-liter V8 as its smaller cousin, specifically the one turbocharged to deliver 507 hp (378 kW) and up to 770 Nm (568 lb-ft) of torque to the wheels. To put things into perspective, the Europe spec has only 435 hp (324 W), but partly compensates for it with 900 Nm (664 lb-ft) of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission takes the U.S. version 0-60 mph (0-97 km/h) in 4.3 seconds, a considerable improvement over its Old World cousin’s 4.8 s.
There are two main trim levels to choose from: Premium Plus (89,000+ USD) and Prestige (94,500+ USD). Four-wheel steering, permanent AWD, 21-inch wheels, LED headlights, three displays, panoramic glass roof, 4-zone HVAC and AEB are standard for both. The sports seats come wrapped in perforated Valcona leather and support heating and ventilation.
Paid options include roll stabilization, active rear differential, 22-inch wheels, LED Matrix headlights, Intersection Assist, adaptive cruise control + lane control, and a 19-speaker set summing up to 1,820W of acoustic power. The Prestige trim throws in a couple extra niceties, such as the color HUD.