Audi Previews the All-New Q9: Inside the Brand’s Flagship Three-Row SUV

The Audi Q9 is slowly being revealed and here’s what you can expect.

Audi has officially pulled back the curtain on the interior of its highly anticipated flagship SUV, the Audi Q9. Positioned directly above the Q7 and Q8 in the brand’s global portfolio, the Q9 is engineered to compete in the full-size luxury three-row segment against long-standing rivals like the BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS, and Range Rover. And yes, true to the company’s promise, the cabin has physical buttons.

Described by Audi leadership as a “mobile living space,” the Q9 emphasizes passenger volume, tactile luxury, and cutting-edge cabin digitization. Built on Volkswagen Group’s Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture, the Q9 stands as the largest and most spacious SUV Audi has ever produced.

Executive Lounge Comfort: 6-Seat and 7-Seat Layouts

The cabin of the Audi Q9 is tailored for high-end executive travel and large family hauling alike:

• Seven-Seat Layout (Standard): Features a second-row bench configured with three distinct ISOFIX anchor points, allowing three child seats to be installed side-by-side. The second row incorporates power-sliding and tilting functions for effortless third-row access.

• Six-Seat Business Layout (Optional): Replaces the second-row bench with twin individual captain’s chairs. These business-class seats feature active cushion and backrest ventilation, heating, and integrated massage functions.
• Third-Row Utility: All third-row seatbacks feature individual power-folding controls to easily transition between passenger hauling and cargo storage.

Push-Button Electric Doors and Electrochromic Glass

A primary innovation debuting on the Q9 is its electrically operated power doors—a first for an Audi production model. Passengers can open or close the doors via interior push-buttons, the exterior key fob, the MMI interface, or the myAudi smartphone app. To prevent accidental damage in tight spaces, surround sensors continuously detect obstacles, cyclists, and passing traffic.

Overhead, the Q9 is fitted with a massive 1.5-square-meter panoramic glass roof. Utilizing Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) technology, the glass can instantly switch between transparent and opaque modes at the touch of a button, eliminating the need for a traditional fabric sunshade. When the vehicle is parked, the roof automatically darkens for privacy and thermal control. An optional ambient lighting module integrates 84 LEDs into the roof frame, scrolling across 30 customizable color themes.

Triple-Screen Digital Stage and 4D Haptic Audio

Up front, the driver and front passenger are greeted by a swept digital dashboard setup:

• Triple-Screen Layout: Combines a digital instrument cluster, a central MMI infotainment display, and a dedicated secondary passenger entertainment screen.
• Immersive 4D Bang & Olufsen Audio: Incorporates speakers built directly into the front headrests, alongside seat-mounted haptic actuators that translate bass frequencies into physical seat vibrations.
• Sustainable Craftsmanship: Material selections include Nappa leather, Dinamica microfiber, open-pore matte wood trim, and alpaca wool woven upholstery.

Powertrain Rumors and Expected Performance

While official mechanical specifications remain under wraps, industry reports indicate the Q9 will offer a versatile mix of electrified internal combustion engines:

• Quattro All-Wheel Drive: Standard across all variants, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission.
• Mild-Hybrid V6 & Plug-In Hybrids (PHEV): Turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 gasoline engines featuring 48V mild-hybrid assistance, alongside plug-in hybrid options delivering extended electric-only driving range.
• Potential SQ9 Variant: A high-performance SQ9 model is expected to follow, powered by a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 engine.

Market Launch and Availability

Full exterior design details and performance specifications for the Audi Q9 will be revealed ahead of its global production launch, with sales scheduled to commence in key North American, European, and Asian markets.