Audi gives us a sneak peek inside its big three-row SUV flagship, which will be fully revealed in the coming months.
Audi has offered a seven-seat SUV ever since the Q7 arrived in 2007, but never on this scale. The new Q9 will be the roomiest Audi ever when it goes on sale late this year. Three rows of seats are standard in the Q9, with the second row hosting a three-seat bench that has anchor points for three child seats. Individual second-row chairs, which include heated and ventilated cushions, are also optional. Up front, heating, ventilation, and massage are also available. The front seats feature speakers in the headrests and can also vibrate to the music to create "4-D" sound. All three rows are power-adjustable, and the rearmost seats are adequately roomy for adults.
View Price on AmazonThe front console has dual wireless-charging pads and two massive cupholders; to make space, the Q9 uses a stubby column stalk for gear selection. Physical buttons and switches are largely absent, although a volume knob is preserved. Unfortunately, Audi has followed Porsche's lead with in-screen adjustment of the dashboard vents.
Overhead, the brand's largest-ever glass sunroof can be dimmed in sections; Audi says it can block more than 99 percent of UV radiation, obviating the need for a physical sunshade. Besides sheer space, the Q9 interior breaks new ground in how you access it. The doors are power-opening—and closing—another Audi first. The power doors can be actuated via the handle, a button on the inside door handle, the touchscreen, the remote, or the Audi smartphone app.
Ambient lighting also plays a big role here. The standard panoramic sunroof can be illuminated with 84 LEDs. Ambient lighting is splashed about the cabin on the dashboard, the center console, the seatbacks, and the door panels. It's also interactive and can change color to match the album art of the music that's playing on the Bang & Olufsen stereo.
Lastly, Audi seems to have taken to heart recent criticism of the cabin materials in its current model lineup. The brand whose rise to prominence came, at least in part, from its interiors' premium materials and exemplary build quality is no longer the segment leader in that field. The Q9—at least the example we were shown—works to regain that mantle. Audi is dialing back the glossy black plastic in favor of matte finishes, and the Q9 introduces new materials such as alpaca wool upholstery and new varieties of wood trim.
Source: caranddriver.com
