This is our first look at the forthcoming Audi Q9, which is set to debut later this year. While the exterior remains disguised, we can reveal what the interior of Audi's new flagship SUV will look like, and it's going to focus on luxury and space with a healthy dose of technology to boot.
How big is the Audi Q9?
The Audi Q9 is expected to stretch well beyond the five-metre mark, and that enables an interior that will offer three full-size rows in either six or seven-seat configurations.
Access to the Q9's cabin can be made even easier by the option of electrically operated doors. Passengers need only to pull on the door handle, and it will then open automatically.
An advanced set of sensors behind the bodywork ensures that it won't hit any objects. The driver will also be able to operate the doors via the key, smartphone app or from the interior.
What's the Audi Q9's interior like?
Once inside, the driver is greeted by a curved display that incorporates a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 14.5-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system.
Front-seat passengers will also get their own 12.3-inch display that lets them control the infotainment system and stream media during a journey.
The centre console contains two wireless charging pads that have a strong magnetic connection, so smartphones will snap into place and remain there even when the vehicle is on the move. These use the latest 'Qi2.2' standard, while additional USB-C charge ports can provide up to 100 watts of power.
Audi will offer decorative elements in a range of materials, including carbon fibre with basalt grey accents, fine-grain ash wood and silk beige.
The designers have noticeably reduced the number of glossy surfaces inside in favour of more textured and matte finishes.
New upholstery options include tamarind brown and stone beige, while materials range from leather and leatherette blends to fine Nappa leather, Dinamica microfibre and even wool in the form of alpaca fibre.
Overhead is a 1.5-square-metre panoramic glass sunroof which can be opened to provide a proper open-top experience. When shut, the glass can be switched to an opaque finish at the touch of a button thanks to a special layer within the glass. It comprises nine segments, and each can be individually controlled so that users can decide how much or how little they wish to have covered.
These layers block more than 99.5 per cent of UV radiation, according to Audi, so not only does it help to regulate the temperature inside, but it also does away with the need for an additional sun blind, which would otherwise eat into the amount of available headroom.
Furthermore, the top trim level includes detailing in the glass that combines with 84 LEDs as part of the ambient lighting in a choice of 30 colours.
Audiophiles are well catered for thanks to a premium 4D 22-speaker sound system from Bang & Olufsen. This can combine with the cabin's dynamic interaction light that forms part of the ambient lighting package, matching the colour scheme to the track's cover art and can sync with the music's beat and rhythm.
Augmenting the audio experience are actuators in the bases of the front seats so that you can feel the music as well as hear it - don't worry, it can be turned off if that's not your thing.
What's the Q9's passenger space like?
In the second row, there are very generous levels of legroom and headroom for even the tallest of passengers. The optional six-seat layout is expected to do well in the United States, which Audi expects to be the Q9's biggest market, but less so in Ireland.
If you choose the seven-seat configuration, all three seats in the middle row are equipped with ISOFIX for child seats, which will be a boon to parents.
All seats will also be electrically operated as standard, making it even easier to access the third row. At the touch of a button, the second-row seats smoothly and quietly tilt and slide forward out of the way, allowing for easy ingress via the large rear door aperture.
The Audi Q9 has 280 litres of boot space when all seats are in use. Owners can easily drop the third row of seats down to the floor at the touch of a button, leaving between 700- and 850 litres of boot space depending on the position of the second row of seats. They too can be lowered to transform the Q9 into a capacious load-carrying car with 2,308 litres of carbo capacity.
When do we get to see the Audi Q9 in full?
You'll have to wait a little longer before the full car is revealed. Audi plans to do just that at its world premiere on July 29. Watch this space.