SPY PICS: Audi Q9 inbound

New spy photos and renderings of the all-new Audi Q9 have emerged in Europe, revealing fresh details around the German luxury brand’s upcoming flagship SUV.

Set to be revealed later in 2021 or early 2022, the Audi Q9 is expected to be priced similarly to its seven-seat arch-rivals, the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS, which start at $136,000 and $150,000 plus on-road costs respectively.

The styling of the Audi Q9 appears a lot more conventional and almost ‘Americanised’ compared with the avant-garde aesthetic of the coupe-like Audi Q8.

New renders of the Audi Q9, based on the recent spy shots, show slimline headlights and a massive single-frame grille at the front, flared wheel-arches at each corner and Audi’s signature high-tech LED lighting at the rear, including a full-width light bar.

With high levels of luxury, the lavish family-friendly juggernaut could deliver several new technological advances, particularly in terms of in-vehicle infotainment.

Based on the same MLB evo platform architecture that underpins the Audi Q8 and other high-end SUVs from Volkswagen Group brands including Bentley and Lamborghini, the Audi Q9 will offer a range of chassis features designed to keep the body flat through corners and apportion engine torque to where it’s most needed, among other advanced functionality.

Expected to be the brand’s biggest vehicle thus far, the 2022 Audi Q9 is almost certain to be offered with a range of strong turbo-petrol, diesel and hybrid engine options, including a high-powered plug-in hybrid (PHEV) that should be good for 50km of emissions-free driving per charge.

There’s also a strong chance the petrol-heads at Audi Sport will tear it down and build it back up again to create the Audi RS Q9, which will likely be powered by the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 as the Lamborghini Urus (478kW/850Nm) and Audi RS Q8 (440kW/800Nm).