Will Audi Fill its SUV Range with a Q1, Q4, Q6, and Q9?

TopSpeed

By Kirby Garlitos

Published Jun 6, 2018

Audi's drunk on the crossover and SUV juice

Fresh off the launch of the Audi Q8 coupe SUV, the German automaker is already considering expanding its SUV range further with plans to develop the Q4, Q1, Q6, and Q9. Nothing is set in stone at the moment, but there have been reports that Audi is already working on introducing a smaller coupe SUV (Q4) and an entry-level model (Q1) to bolster its growing crossover and SUV lineup. Now, there’s talk that the automaker wants to take things further by filling up its entire SUV alphanumeric naming range.

If you’re a fan of Audi, you might have noticed that the company has actually been dropping hints of its SUV plans over the years. Whether it’s through trademark filings, spy shots, or product plans, there was a sense in the business that it would only be a matter of time before the German automaker goes all-in on crossovers and SUVs.

Consider the launch of the Q8, then, as the first salvo in that expansion. Mainstays like the Q3, Q5, and Q7 welcomed the Q2 to the ranks a few years ago. More recently, another new addition, the Q8, arrived. Now, there are reports that the Q2 and Q8 won’t be the only new additions to Audi’s crossover and SUV family. Numerous reports have indicated that the Q4 — a smaller version of the Q8 — could hit the scene as early as 2019. From there, an entry-level Q1 is also reportedly in the works for a 2020 debut.

Not content with these models, Audi is also looking to dust off the Q6, a name it has planned on using for an SUV for a long time. Then there’s the Q9, which, according to Autocar is Audi’s ace card for a range-topping, ultra-luxurious SUV. It’s worth noting that Audi has repeatedly filed trademarks for the Q9 name, going as far back as 2013. Evidently, the German automaker has held on to the name, waiting for the right time to use it. Given how popular crossovers and SUVs are these days, it wouldn’t be surprising if Audi’s stable of engineers and designers are already working on a model that’s going to end up using that name.

To further illustrate Audi’s growing obsession with SUVs, it’s worth noting that the automaker also has a pair of electric SUVs in the works. One of them, the E-Tron, is expected to debut later this year. The other one, a Sportback variant of the same model, will follow in the next few years.

If there’s anything that the growing popularity of crossovers and SUVs has shown us, it’s that automakers are willing to go as far as they can to squeeze out every bit of opportunity as they can out of it. Look no further than Audi as an example of that.

Further Reading