Mumbai: Audi India has officially opened bookings for the new Audi SQ8, bringing a serious dose of performance and luxury to the country’s premium SUV segment. The high-performance SUV is set to launch on March 17, 2026, and customers can reserve one online via the Audi India website or through the myAudi Connect App with an initial booking amount of ₹5,00,000.
Positioned as the sportier and more aggressive sibling within Audi’s Q range, the new Audi SQ8 blends everyday usability with thrilling performance. In simple terms, it’s the kind of SUV that can take you to a board meeting in supreme comfort—and still reach there faster than most sports cars.
Under the hood sits a 4.0-litre V8 TFSI engine that produces a formidable 373 kW of power and 770 Nm of torque. That means the SQ8 can sprint from 0–100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds, which is remarkably quick for a luxury SUV that weighs about as much as a small apartment in Mumbai parking terms. The electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h ensures the SQ8 has more than enough punch for enthusiastic drivers.
Audi has equipped the SQ8 with its signature quattro permanent all-wheel drive system featuring a self-locking centre differential, ensuring power reaches all four wheels with precision. Complementing this is adaptive air suspension sport and all-wheel steering, which together promise a driving experience that is both athletic and refined. In other words, it corners with surprising agility while still delivering the plush ride expected from an Audi flagship SUV.
Speaking about the launch, Balbir Singh Dhillon, Brand Director, Audi India, said the SQ8 sits at the perfect intersection of luxury and performance. According to him, the model carries the unmistakable S-line sporting DNA while retaining the practicality and comfort of the Q8 family.
“The Audi SQ8 represents the ideal meeting point between everyday luxury and uncompromising sporty performance. Its formidable engine and distinctive S character make it a remarkably complete SUV. The enthusiasm we have seen for our Audi Q8 family in India gives us great confidence that the new Audi SQ8 will resonate strongly with customers who seek more than a conventional luxury SUV,” Dhillon said.
Audi expects strong demand for the SQ8 among buyers looking for something more exciting than a typical luxury SUV. Given the limited availability, the company has encouraged enthusiasts to secure their bookings early—because when a V8-powered luxury SUV arrives, the queue of performance lovers usually forms quicker than its 4.1-second sprint to 100 km/h.
With bookings now open and the launch just around the corner, the Audi SQ8 is ready to remind Indian luxury SUV buyers that practicality and performance don’t have to live in separate garages. Sometimes, they can share the same V8.
