They say timing is everything, and the details of this sighting seem to support that. While it could be pure coincidence—perhaps test engineers taking a wrong turn at the Lincoln Tunnel—then again through the rarely quiet and even more rarely unphotographed Times Square, that’s exactly what appears to have happened recently with a pair of camouflaged Audi SQ9 and Q4 e-tron test mules.
How could these sorts of test mules be in Manhattan? Surprisingly, that’s not all that strange. You do have to wonder if a guerrilla attention-grab was at play given the location and the timing, but Volkswagen Group does also operate a test facility in nearby New Jersey where test mules of this sort are often spotted.
HERE’S WHAT WE KNOW
I first caught the images posted by our friend @audi4addict on Instagram, and further research took me to our friends at Le Nouvel Automobiliste who have published the full collection of photos – an extensive gallery of images from their source, Ambulant Driver, who happened to be in the right place at the right time—walking along 7th Avenue just north of Times Square in the Theater District when the two test mules inched past him in bumper-to-bumper traffic.
Le Nouvel Automobiliste’s story went live on April 4, just after New York Auto Show press days on April 1 and 2. In other words, public days of the show was taking place only a few blocks away at the Jacob Javits Center.
The larger SUV is clearly an SQ9-spec mule, with telltale cues including quad exhaust tips and more pronounced fender flares. Also visible in the images are Audi’s new, sleeker window frame-mounted door handles. Interestingly, Audi’s camouflage specialists attempted to disguise these by adding cutouts resembling conventional door handles in more familiar positions.
Further details interesting to me in these shots are what looks like a production-ready design wheel we haven’t seen before and also the look on the face of the Uber driver in the Volvo XC90 who’s surprised and capturing his own snaps of the SQ9 as the Q4 e-tron moves past ahead of its larger and more attention-getting full-camo brand sibling.
WHAT RUMORS SUGGEST ABOUT Q9 / SQ9
Expected to measure roughly 205 to 211 inches in overall length, with a wheelbase exceeding 122 inches, the Q9/SQ9 targets the upper tier of the full-size SUV segment. That footprint aligns it with established rivals such as the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS, while emphasizing interior space designed to approach limousine-like comfort.
Inside, flexibility appears central to the concept. Configurations are expected to include both six-seat layouts with second-row captain’s chairs and traditional seven-seat arrangements. The focus is clearly on rear-seat comfort and long-distance usability, with ample cargo capacity also part of the brief.
The anticipated powertrain strategy further reinforces this positioning. Rather than immediately pivoting to full electrification in this segment, the Q9 is expected to rely on a range of internal combustion engines, including turbocharged V6 options in the 340 to 375 horsepower range and a twin-turbo V8 producing more than 460 horsepower in the higher-performance SQ9.
Q9 / SQ9 TO DEBUT IN U.S. FIRST
During the brand’s recent media conference in Ingolstadt, Audi CEO Gernot Döllner reportedly confirmed plans to prioritize North America for the initial launch of the Q9 and SQ9. That would mark a departure from Audi’s typical rollout strategy, which usually begins in Germany—as seen with the RS 5 configurator going live there this month.
If accurate, that timeline could see both models arriving in U.S. dealerships before the end of 2026.
Production for both is slated to take place at the Volkswagen Group facility in Bratislava, Slovakia.
Q4 E-TRON FACELIFT
Also due for an update is the Q4 e-tron. While not an all-new model, the test mule spotted alongside the SQ9 in Times Square wore significantly less camouflage. This SUV-bodied Q4 e-tron appears consistent with similar prototypes that have already been seen testing across Europe.
Its production debut is expected before the end of the 2026 calendar year.
PHOTO GALLERY
