Behold, Audi's Q8 hybrid concept.
The Q8 is not a compact SUV. Measuring 16.5-feet long with a wheelbase of 9.8 feet, the car was designed to offer plenty of interior space.
The car doesn't come with many extraneous flourishes, giving it a sturdy and powerful look. Audi stripped the window frames from the door to give it a flat roofline, and the car comes with defined wheel arches.
As part of that design effort, Audi installed deep outer air inlets that are meant to resemble "the intakes of a turbine," Audi says.
The concept also comes with a rear spoiler and a continuous strip of lights that act as brake lights and dynamic turn signals.
The SUV is equipped with a 100 kW electric motor that provides an all-electric range of 37 miles.
Audi says the hybrid produces roughly 516 lb.-ft. of torque and can accelerate to 62 mph in a respectable 5.4 seconds.
The car has a top speed of 155 mph.
The concept may not look wildly futuristic at first glance, but Audi gave it some high-tech touches. As soon as the doors detect hand contact via touch sensors, they will swing open.
Inside, the car is covered with touchscreen displays. It comes with a 12.3-inch display that shows 3D maps.
There's also a center console for climate control and the infotainment system.
When the car detects someone is in the passenger seat, the center console will automatically display a dual climate control option.
There's also a digital driver's instrument behind the wheel. The driver can use buttons on the steering wheel to switch between "battery mode," which is for conserving electric energy, and hybrid mode to utilize the electric motor.
The car also comes with a heads-up display that will display directions and notifications from the driver assistance systems on the windshield.
Audi says it used several touchscreen displays to reduce the number of buttons and switches and give the interior a clean and minimalist feel.
However, for a large SUV, the car only seats four. It comes with two individual seats in the rear.
There's no word yet on price and which features we can expect in the 2018 production model, but it's clear Audi is looking to use a luxury SUV to make its play in the electric car space.
