Audi has a new flagship designed with the US in mind: The 2027 Q9

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Summary

Audi unveils the 2027 Q9, a full-size flagship SUV designed primarily for the US market, with V6 and V8 engine options, and the SQ9 performance variant.

<aside class="pullbox sidebar fullwidth">Audi provided flights from Washington, DC, to Munich, Germany, and accommodation so Ars could see the Q9 and Q7. And we also drove the new RS5. Ars does not accept paid editorial content.</aside> <p>MUNICH—It has taken Audi a little longer than its rivals, but with the debut of the 2027 Q9 this evening, the company has joined them in offering a range-topping full-size SUV. No, not the Q7, although a third-generation version of that vehicle <a href="https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/06/heres-audis-next-q7-suv-and-us-only-sq7-now-with-an-rs-v8/">broke cover in June</a>. The car was designed first and foremost for Europe, with a third row of seats that's fine for small children or occasional use. But in America, there's a segment one size larger, pioneered by the Cadillac Escalade, and it's here we find the new Audi. With no concrete plans to replace the A8 sedan yet, the Q9 SUV becomes the brand's new flagship.</p> <p>At 209 inches (5,309 mm) long, 79.2 inches (2,012 mm) wide, and 71.4 inches (1,814 mm) tall, it's definitely not diminutive, although parked next to the aforementioned Caddy, you'll find the American SUV exceeds this one by a few inches here and there. The 123.5-inch wheelbase (3,137 mm) is 5.6 inches (142 mm) longer than the Q7's, much of which translates to more room for the third row.</p> <figure> <img decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263821_large-1024x768.jpg" class="ars-gallery-image" alt="An Audi Q9 in a studio" loading="lazy" aria-labelledby="caption-2165066" srcset="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263821_large-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263821_large-640x480.jpg 640w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263821_large-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263821_large-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263821_large-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263821_large-980x735.jpg 980w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263821_large-1440x1080.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"> <figcaption> <div class="caption font-impact dusk:text-gray-300 mb-4 mt-2 inline-flex flex-row items-stretch gap-1 text-base leading-tight text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-300"> <div class="caption-icon bg-[left_top_5px] w-[10px] shrink-0"></div> <div class="caption-content"> The silhouette is like a station wagon, but scaled up by 1.3x. <span class="caption-credit mt-2 text-xs"> Credit: Audi </span> </div> </div> </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <img decoding="async" width="1024" height="768" src="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263824_large-1024x768.jpg" class="ars-gallery-image" alt="Audi Q9 from the rear 3/4s" loading="lazy" aria-labelledby="caption-2165065" srcset="https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263824_large-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263824_large-640x480.jpg 640w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263824_large-768x576.jpg 768w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263824_large-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263824_large-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263824_large-980x735.jpg 980w, https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/A263824_large-1440x1080.jpg 1440w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"> <figcaption> <div class="caption font-impact dusk:text-gray-300 mb-4 mt-2 inline-flex flex-row items-stretch gap-1 text-base leading-tight text-gray-400 dark:text-gray-300"> <div class="caption-icon bg-[left_top_5px] w-[10px] shrink-0"></div> <div class="caption-content"> OLED rear lights are an option. <span class="caption-credit mt-2 text-xs"> Credit: Audi </span> </div> </div> </figcaption> </figure> <p>The Q9 looked big in the studio, but it was less imposing than a Mercedes-Benz GLS or BMW X7. The body panels feature more curves and more subtle creases than the Audis of a few years ago. And there are definite station wagon vibes, but that’s mostly because its big wheels make it look smaller and closer rather than bigger and farther away (aka, the Father Dougal principle.)</p><p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/07/audi-has-a-new-flagship-designed-with-the-us-in-mind-the-2027-q9/">Read full article</a></p> <p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/07/audi-has-a-new-flagship-designed-with-the-us-in-mind-the-2027-q9/#comments">Comments</a></p>
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# Audi has a new flagship designed with the US in mind: The 2027 Q9 Source: [https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/07/audi-has-a-new-flagship-designed-with-the-us-in-mind-the-2027-q9/](https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/07/audi-has-a-new-flagship-designed-with-the-us-in-mind-the-2027-q9/) MUNICH—It has taken Audi a little longer than its rivals, but with the debut of the 2027 Q9 this evening, the company has joined them in offering a range\-topping full\-size SUV\. No, not the Q7, although a third\-generation version of that vehicle[broke cover in June](https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/06/heres-audis-next-q7-suv-and-us-only-sq7-now-with-an-rs-v8/)\. The car was designed first and foremost for Europe, with a third row of seats that’s fine for small children or occasional use\. But in America, there’s a segment one size larger, pioneered by the Cadillac Escalade, and it’s here we find the new Audi\. With no concrete plans to replace the A8 sedan yet, the Q9 SUV becomes the brand’s new flagship\. At 209 inches \(5,309 mm\) long, 79\.2 inches \(2,012 mm\) wide, and 71\.4 inches \(1,814 mm\) tall, it’s definitely not diminutive, although parked next to the aforementioned Caddy, you’ll find the American SUV exceeds this one by a few inches here and there\. The 123\.5\-inch wheelbase \(3,137 mm\) is 5\.6 inches \(142 mm\) longer than the Q7’s, much of which translates to more room for the third row\. The Q9 looked big in the studio, but it was less imposing than a Mercedes\-Benz GLS or BMW X7\. The body panels feature more curves and more subtle creases than the Audis of a few years ago\. And there are definite station wagon vibes, but that’s mostly because its big wheels make it look smaller and closer rather than bigger and farther away \(aka, the Father Dougal principle\.\) Like the Q7 \(and the new A5 and Q5\), the Q9 uses Volkswagen Group’s new Premium Platform Combustion, or PPC, architecture\. At launch, it will come with one of Audi’s 2\.9 L V6 engines under the hood, but there’s also the SQ9, which uses the twin\-turbo V8 found in some RS6 and RS7 models\. You’ll know the SQ9 by its wider wheel arches, bigger alloy wheels, and the different illuminated grille\. Audi says that unlike the regular Q9, the SQ9’s all\-wheel drive power delivery is rear\-biased for daily driving\.

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