Luxury marque Audi has continued its new model onslaught with petrol-powered versions of the SQ7 and SQ8 performance SUVs, dubbed the SQ7 TFSI and SQ8 TFSI.
CarExpert has contacted Audi Australia for local details and timing, and is awaiting a response.
“The brand is thus responding to the worldwide trend toward sporty gasoline engines in the high-performance SUV segment,” Audi says in its press release, with the new TFSI models set to arrive in Europe during autumn 2020 – spring for the southern hemisphere.
Power in both crossovers comes from a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 with cylinder-on-demand technology, likely related to the unit used in the RS6, RS7 and RSQ8 but sans 48V mild-hybrid trickery.
Outputs are rated at 373kW and 770Nm – slightly down on the 441kW/800Nm produced by RS models. By comparison, the 4.0 TDI V8 SQ7 and SQ8 produce 320kW and 900Nm.
Audi claims the SQ7 TFSI and SQ8 TFSI can sprint from 0-100 in just 4.1 seconds, an improvement of 0.7 seconds over the diesel versions.
Drive is sent to a quattro permanent all-wheel drive system via an eight-speed ‘tiptronic’ automatic with torque converter, with sport-tuned air suspension fitted as standard.
Furthermore, the performance SUVs accelerate from 80km/h to 120km/h in a claimed 3.8 seconds, meaning overtaking will be a breeze.
Top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h, while fuel consumption is rated at 12.0-12.1L/100km “depending on equipment chosen” – likely down to wheel/tyre combinations.
Audi has employed several methods to get all that grunt to the road while maintaining a luxurious and powerful feel.
Firstly, there’s “two mode-controlled actuators [that] modulate the eight-cylinder sound”, while ‘oscillating coils’ in the active engine mounts help to minimise vibrations through the vehicle’s body by generating counter-vibrations to “largely eliminate them”.
There’s also all-wheel steering which turns the rear wheels by as much as give degrees in the opposite direction under 60km/h for improved agility, and turns them “slightly in the same direction” above 60km/h for enhanced stabilty.
Further bolstering stability and minimising body lean is the standard fitment of electro-mechanical active roll stabilisation – motor-driven stabilisers on each axle – as well as the quattro sport differential which vectors torque between the rear wheels for better handling.
The SQ7 TFSI comes standard with 20-inch wheels while the SQ8 TFSI features larger 21-inch rims. Both can be optioned with 22-inch wheels, and the SQ8 even has the option of huge 23-inch rims.
Brakes in both models feature 400mm front discs with black ‘S’ calipers, with carbon-ceramic stoppers optional.
Deliveries for the SQ7 TFSI and SQ8 TFSI will commence in Europe around September, with prices starting from €93,287 ($152,173) for the SQ7 TFSI and €101,085 ($164,893) for the SQ8 TFSI.
We’ll update once we have Australian-specific details. Stay tuned.
Tell us your preference in the comments below – V8 TDI or V8 TFSI?
