As Mercedes-Benz sells more and more GLS models, BMW continues to move X7s, and as the Range Rover and Cadillac Escalade grow ever larger, more opulent, and more expensive, Audi has yet to step up to the “land yacht” segment of luxury SUVs. That’s all about to change, however, with the launch of the Q9 and SQ9, expected to reach the market sometime next year.
While the strong-selling Q7 isn’t going anywhere, the Q8 and its derivatives will exit stage left — at least for now — as a new Q7 is being readied alongside the Q9.
Test mules have been out and about for some time now, long enough that we’ve begun to distinguish between the Q9, SQ9, and a more recently spotted ultra-luxury version believed to wear the Horch badge. Whether that model makes it beyond the Chinese market — where A8L Horch variants have existed since 2022 — remains to be seen. What’s certain is that the Q9 and SQ9 will firmly take Audi into the large-SUV arena. Beyond that, it’s likely we’ll see Porsche and Bentley derivatives on a similar footprint, each offering either amped-up performance or elevated luxury.
With that in mind, let’s get back to the SQ9. Like the SQ7 and SQ8, it will likely represent the understated yet highly capable formula established decades ago by cars like the ur-S6 Avant — a philosophy the SQ7 and SQ8 continue today, only this time in an even larger package.
That’s where our friend @kelsonik comes in. A noted future-model rendering artist with a strong social-media following, he has a knack for visualizing vehicles that have yet to be seen in public, all with a remarkable sense of realism. No doubt he pores over spy shots to get the details right, and judging by his take on the SQ9 shown here, we’re guessing he’s pretty close to the real thing.
To expand on his work, we’ve used AI tools to visualize the car from additional angles beyond those featured on his site. Expect both the Q9 and SQ9 to arrive in 2026.
PHOTO GALLERY
