Audi's flagship full-size Q9 SUV has finally arrived, and it isn’t wanting for performance. Both the Q9 and SQ9 are powered by twin-turbocharged powertrains, with the SQ9’s 4.0-liter V-8 producing a whopping 591 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. Having such punch already on tap means Audi executives aren’t keen on producing an RS version of its new SUV — at least, not just yet.
“It's not the focus. You know, never say never. We can always reconsider. But I think in this space, I think we feel that this is sort of exactly the right balance,” Filip Brabec, senior vice president of product management at Audi of America, said to Road & Track when asked about the potential of an RSQ9.
View Price on AmazonThe Q9 and SQ9 are a decided departure for Audi, which has never before built an SUV of this size. Brabec characterized the Q9 and SQ9 customers as people who make no compromises with their need for size and capability. As a result, Audi equipped both SUVs with generous seating arrangements, a 7,700-pound towing capacity, and class-leading powertrains. And the choice to include the twin-turbo V-8 powerplant for the U.S. market was quite intentional.
“The V-8 is U.S. specific — and with 591 horsepower and 3.80 seconds to 60 mph, you're basically like near-RS level. Normally, RS [models] would be right around 600 horsepower or just a little over 600 horsepower. You're basically getting an RS performance for an S price, which is pretty cool,” Brabec said to Road & Track.
The apparent skepticism about an RS version isn’t just about pushing beyond the existing performance levels; it’s in large part about the vehicle’s intended use. The German automaker has been pushing plenty of RS models recently; the five-cylinder RS3 is already an enthusiast favorite, and the new RS5 uses trick differential technology to be a sideways riot. By comparison, a model like the SQ9 is not exactly built for the track, Brabec said.
“We really look at each and every vehicle specifically to say, ‘Does it make sense or does it not make sense?’ And then we go that way. It's not always just a predefined formula,” Brabec said about RS vehicle development.
Source: roadandtrack.com
