Audi has unveiled the 2027 Q9, its new range-topping SUV, aimed squarely at the large-SUV segment popularised in the US by vehicles like the Cadillac Escalade. Unlike the smaller Q7, which remains a Europe-focused model, the Q9 becomes Audi's de facto flagship, as there are currently no firm plans to replace the A8 saloon.

The Q9 measures 209 inches long, 79.2 inches wide and 71.4 inches tall, with a 123.5-inch wheelbase that is 5.6 inches longer than the Q7's, providing more usable third-row space. It shares Volkswagen Group's new Premium Platform Combustion architecture with the Q7 and new A5 and Q5, launching with a 2.9-litre V6, while a performance SQ9 variant uses the twin-turbo V8 found in some RS6 and RS7 models. Notable features include Audi's active-matrix LED headlights arriving in the US for the first time, new road-projecting turn signals, and an interior offering both an olive open-grain wood trim and a carbon-accented SQ9 option. The Q9 is due to arrive in the US in the last quarter of the year.