Audi Unveils Q9, Its Largest-Ever SUV To The World

Audi raised the odds last night by unveiling its new flagship – the Q9, in New York City. This is the German auto giant’s largest-ever SUV at over 5.3 metres from bumper to bumper and is certainly headed for Indian shores later this year. Once launched in India, it will be Audi’s gloved fist and will aim squarely at the jaws of the BMW X7 and the Mercedes-Benz GLS.

Audi Q9 Features

The most noticeable things about the new Audi Q9 are its face, which is radically different from what we’re used to. And its size. At 5.31 metres long, 2.21 metres wide and 1.81 metres tall, this is gigantic. Then there is that new face with 16 illuminated bars topped by the similarly illuminated four rings of Audi. But that’s not the only light trick this mammoth Audi hides.

The digital matrix LED headlamps have a micro-LED module to provide excellent range and illumination, while at the rear, for the first time in an automobile, you get curved third-generation OLED tail lamps.

Audi has also upped the ante on simple things like indicators, where apart from blinking, they now also project bright orange arrows on the road to indicate the direction of turn.

A standout feature at the side of the vehicle is a ground projection that welcomes passengers as they approach with an unrolling carpet of light: the graphic projected beside the doors echoes the rhombus motif established by Audi Sport.

The generous interior of the Audi Q9 inspires a sense of elegance and freedom, and three rows of seating are standard across the Q9 range. Audi is offering automatic doors for the first time – they provide increased comfort when entering and exiting the vehicle. A wide opening angle allows easy access.

Obstacle detection automatically stops the door if a person or object is detected in its path. The door armrests and the center armrests in the front and rear can optionally be heated with surface heating plus. This feature is activated using the seat heating controls. Then there is the panoramic sunroof.

Measuring 1.5 square metres, the sunroof is the size of a small bathroom and is the world’s largest sunroof ever made. Switchable transparency means that there is no need for a hard shade underneath the massive glass. Just make it opaque in summer, and you’ll cut all the glare out. Audi also says that the glass prevents 99 per cent of UV rays. 

Audi has combined innovative interior cabin lighting with the updated Bang & Olufsen sound system that offers 4D sound. This is made possible thanks to 22 speakers, including in the headrests to enable personal phone calls, navigation prompts, and surround sound without noise.

Compared with conventional surround sound, the 4D system delivers an authentic concert-hall atmosphere. The integration of Fraunhofer Symphoria enables adaptive sound distribution. The seat actuators generate finely tuned vibrations that sync with the music and intensify the bass sensation.

At the unveil, Audi showed three powertrain options. The regular Q9 was paired with either a 2.9-litre twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine or a 3-litre V6 diesel hybrid. The petrol version had 429hp and 599Nm, while the diesel had 299hp and 630Nm or 245hp and 500Nm depending on the market. The sporty SQ9 is powered by a 4-litre twin-turbo V8 with 591hp and 800Nm. Transmission duties are handled by an 8-speed Tiptronic gearbox, and Quattro all-wheel-drive is standard.

No prices have been announced yet, and the car will launch in India this year.