Drivin' in Czechia
All you need to drive smart in the Czech Republic
Audi was late to the SUV game, initially beginning to significantly expand its lineup of such vehicles only after its direct rivals, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, had already taken that step. Today, however, the range of Q-family SUVs is quite broad—in Europe, it spans seven model series, from the Q2 to the Q8. Now, another expansion is on the horizon, with a flagship model called the Audi Q9 just around the corner.
There has been speculation for years about the arrival of the Audi Q9, with spy shots of large prototypes fueling the rumors—although it was unclear whether these depicted the Q9 or merely the next generation of the Q7. But now everything is certain: the new Audi Q9 is coming—and very soon!
Geoffrey Bouquot, head of development for the Four Rings, confirmed to the German magazine Automobilwoche that the vehicle named Q9 will arrive in 2026, launching alongside the third generation of the Q7. He did not provide further details, but given the name, it can be assumed that it will be even larger than the Q7. It would come as no surprise if it exceeded 5.1 meters in length and rivaled vehicles like the BMW X7, which itself is about to debut in its second generation. The current Q7 measures 5.06 meters in length.
The design will likely follow the styling cues of Audi’s most recent models such as the A6—our AI-generated render gives a possible look. The interior will focus on luxury craftsmanship and will very likely feature a seven-seat layout.
New vehicles for 2026
Let’s take a look at new cars planned for 2026 we already know something about.
In terms of engineering, it’s confirmed that the car will be built on the Premium Platform Combustion (PPC), also used in the current A6 with combustion engines. This suggests that the Q9 will be offered with large-displacement engines running on both petrol and diesel. However, they will be electrified, so in addition to mild hybrids, we can also expect plug-in hybrids with external charging capability.
For Czech customers, the arrival of the Q9 is very welcome news. Czechs love large Audi models: the Q8 has long been the best-selling Audi in the Czech market, and the Q7 is also among the brand’s most in-demand models. That’s quite an impressive performance for such large vehicles, whose prices commonly exceed two million Czech crowns (82.300 EUR).
