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How long it will take for the Audi to launch the new SUV? Our stakes are on the 2020 Audi Q9. There are a few reasons why we believe this is a real option. First of all, the company registered this nameplate for the future. Then, there were no Q8 in the lineup and the German company built it. The Q9 will go the same way. Finally, a true full-size luxury SUV spot is vacant in the squad, and it is just a matter of time when it is going to complete the family.
The production of the 2020 Audi Q9 is not going to start so soon. The company will take some time to develop a new model. It could arrive next year as a platform and the concept will be used for the future full-size premium SUV. Also, the Q9 is going to be closely related to the Audi pickup truck. Two vehicles will use the same platform. Some rumors say the Q9 will actually be a truck. Nonsense.
Well, there are still a lot of questions regarding the new big rig. One of the main concerns is how it will be accepted on the market. We can see differences in approaches by the US, Japanese, and German carmakers. Definitely, the Q9 will need something to respond to Mercedes and BMW models. Of course, Audi is not unveiling any details, but the most recent addition by its archrivals will make them speed up the development.
New Concept
The arrival of the Audi Q8 didn’t fulfill expectations. Fans wanted to see the large SUV and the company delivered a coupe version of the mid-size Q7 to compete with Mercedes GLE AMG and BMW X6. As soon as the vehicle was launched, the new speculations appeared. Now, we analyze the possibilities of the 2020 Audi Q9 debut. Definitely, the German carmaker needs such unit to compete with BMW X7 and Mercedes GLS.
Well, the new SUV will need fresh architecture. Currently, the Q8 is the largest vehicle in the lineup, but it is still not the full-size model. It is 196 inches long, with a 118-inch wheelbase. That is 7/4 inches (overall length/wheelbase) shorter than the BMW X7 and 8/5 inches less than GLS.
Besides that, Audi will have to make the platform that will support the further upgrades. The special attention will be on electric/hybrid capability. Sooner or later, the company will have to introduce these kinds of engines. Audi is already pretty active in this segment with the new E-Tron platform raising the expectations.
2020 Audi Q9 Specs
Another big mystery is a drivetrain of the 2020 Audi Q9. Most of its competitors are using powerful V8 units. On the other hand, the German carmaker will probably stick to some high-output V6 unit, rather than to explore the new engineering sectors.
The Q9 might get the same powertrain as its smaller siblings, Q7 and Q8. Well, we are not sure that SUV could attract too much attention with 335 horsepower and 325 pounds-feet of torque coming from the 3.0-l supercharged V6. For Audi A8 sedan, the same engine is tuned to burst 335 hp and 370 lb-ft of twist, but it is still not enough for the full-size category.
Sports segment could help there. A 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 produces 444 hp and 443 lb-ft. Engineers can tune it to deliver even more power and torque. However, the displacement is too small. The difference in weight between RS5 where it is currently used and the new Q9 will be over 1,000 pounds. So, it is a big question of how these two can work.
There is also a high-output V10 from the R8 sportscar. The problem is the same, but the V10 is much larger displacement (5.2-liter) and produces 540-610 horsepower. That could be the solution for the Q9.
2020 Audi Q9 E-Tron
Audi E-Tron is the whole new electric SUV concept. The vehicle is already announced for Europe, but the US release date is not available yet. That was enough for rumors to start swirling that the new 2020 Audi Q9 will be based on the E-Tron concept. Well, with 402 horsepower and 490 pound-feet of torque, the electric SUV would be competitive on the market. Add the range of 250 miles, and that is a good reason to consider this one as one of the best full-size SUV, even among the petrol competition.
Q9 Truck
Well, the whole story about the 2020 Audi Q9 is still speculative. There are not too many proofs. For the end of this article, we left the final rumor, and we believe this is the least likely one to happen. For a long time, we can hear that Audi is developing a pickup truck. Recently, the rumors informed it could be named the Q9. In that case, which nameplate is left for the full-size SUV? This is a way more important segment than a luxury truck, especially with BMW and Mercedes already selling their models both in Europe and the USA.
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