Audi has a new flagship designed with the US in mind: The 2027 Q9 - Ars Technica

What the report says

Ars Technica reports that Audi has unveiled the 2027 Q9, a new full-size SUV that will sit at the top of the brand’s lineup when it reaches market in the fourth quarter. The vehicle starts at $87,700, while the higher-performance SQ9 begins at $118,000. Ars reported from Munich that the model is aimed especially at the U.S. market, where large three-row luxury SUVs such as the Cadillac Escalade, Mercedes-Benz GLS and BMW X7 define an important segment.

The Q9 is larger than Audi’s Q7, measuring 209 inches long with a 123.5-inch wheelbase, which helps create more third-row space. It is built on Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Combustion architecture, also used by newer Audi models. At launch, the standard Q9 will use a 2.9-liter V6, while the SQ9 gets a twin-turbo V8 related to engines used in some RS6 and RS7 variants. Ars noted that the SQ9’s all-wheel-drive system is tuned with a rear-biased daily-driving setup.

Audi is also using the Q9 to bring active-matrix LED headlights to the U.S. The system can adjust portions of the beam to reduce glare and can project visual guidance such as lane markers. The Q9 and Q7 also add turn signals that project indicators onto the road to improve visibility for pedestrians and cyclists.

Inside, the SUV can be configured with six seats and second-row captain’s chairs or with a bench. Cargo space ranges from 19.3 cubic feet with all rows up to 87.7 cubic feet with seats folded, and towing capacity is listed at 7,700 pounds.