Audi revealed the 2027 Q9 and SQ9 to the world on July 29, 2026. It is the brand's first full-size three-row SUV, positioned above the Q7 and the Q8, and it enters a segment Audi has never fought in directly. The obvious targets are the BMW X7 and the Mercedes-Benz GLS.
Two things matter about this launch:
- The SQ9 is the first-ever performance version of Audi's largest SUV. A 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 producing 591 hp lands under a body that carries seven passengers.
- The US gets a petrol Q9, not the international TDI diesel. North American buyers get a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 at 429 hp; the diesel Q9 launched elsewhere is not coming to the US.
SQ9: what Audi actually said
Audi's press materials for the SQ9 are unambiguous on the numbers. Direct from Audi:
- Engine: 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 591 hp (441 kW)
- Torque: 590 lb-ft
- 0-60 mph: 3.8 seconds
- Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic
- Drivetrain: Quattro all-wheel drive
- Starting price: $118,000 (plus $1,395 destination)
Audi did not publish a top speed figure in the reveal materials. Anything you see north of 155 mph attributed to Audi at this point is not from the press release.
Q9 (base): the US 2.9 TFSI
The base Q9 for the US market uses the 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 (the EA839 evo, familiar from the RS 5 and S6) producing 429 hp and 442 lb-ft. Starting price is $87,700 plus $1,395 destination. Deliveries begin in Q4 2026.
International markets get a different powertrain, notably a 3.0 V6 TDI diesel at 299 hp / 630 Nm for Europe and Asia. That trim is not offered in the US.
Dimensions and packaging
- Length: 208.9 in (5,307 mm)
- Wheelbase: 123.5 in (3,137 mm)
- Ground clearance: up to 10 in
- Cargo: 19.3 cu ft behind the third row, 87.7 cu ft with the second and third rows folded
- Seating: three rows, six or seven passengers depending on middle-row configuration
That wheelbase puts the Q9 between the BMW X7 (122.2 in) and the Mercedes-Benz GLS (123.4 in). Third-row access has been engineered as a headline feature, with electric door assistance available.
The design signature: curved OLED tail bar
The Q9 introduces Audi's first curved digital OLED tail-light bar as a segment first. It is a full-width unit that carries the four rings badge at centre and runs animated welcome and departure sequences. The rest of the exterior reads as an enlarged, squared-off Q7 with the second-generation Digital Matrix LED headlights up front and Audi's flagship-SUV Singleframe grille language.
The SQ9 replaces the chrome grille with a blacked-out version, adds quad exhaust outlets, and rides on 22 or 23-inch wheels with red brake calipers visible through the spokes.
Where it fits
The Q9 becomes Audi's largest SUV and its second three-row model, sitting above the Q7 in the range. The e-tron equivalent at the top of the electric line is the Q6 e-tron; the Q9 is a combustion flagship, not a battery one. Audi has said an electric variant of the three-row full-size SUV is not part of this launch.
The SQ9 is Audi Sport's first cut at a full-size SUV. There is no RS Q9 announced.
US timeline
- World premiere: July 29, 2026
- US deliveries: Q4 2026 for both Q9 and SQ9
- Built at: Bratislava, Slovakia
Sources: Audi press release for the SQ9, Audi US press site, Auto Channel coverage of the July 29, 2026 reveal, Motor1 pre-reveal breakdown of Q9 and SQ9 specifications.