A crossover smaller than Q2 is unlikely.
The Q8 SUV is the most recent addition to Audi’s SUV range. But it may soon be outsold by a larger and more luxurious model. According to Rupert Stadler (ex-Audi CEO ), Autocar, the Germans are currently analyzing the possibility of launching an SUV range-topper that would compete with the best offerings in the segment. The future of the project will depend on customer demand.
Marc Licthe (the automaker’s chief designer) echoed Stadler’s comments, saying that Audi has “so much ideas, so many …”ideas German brand believes that there is room for a larger, more expensive and more luxurious SUV model. This will be positioned above the Q8 in order to compete with the most luxurious Range Rover models and even the Bentley Bentayga. The Q9, if approved, will likely be built on the same platform as the Q8, Porsche Cayenne and Lamborghini Urus. However, it will be far more luxurious than the Q7 or Q8.
Audi, on the other hand, has no plans to lower its Q2 model. It believes that an entry-level crossover is not a viable business proposition. Audi believes the A1 does a great job in offering Audi customers an affordable entry to its world. A smaller model than the Q2 will not fit the Audi lineup. When asked about a smaller crossover than the Q2, Stadler stated that “I think we’re well-equipped with Q2 because it is already a premium product, at the right price point.” “The A1 car is for young people. Below that, the possibilities are even tighter.