You know, when I look at a vehicle, I often find myself thinking, “Yes, I can picture myself behind the wheel of this car or that car.” When imagining going car shopping, and wondering what I would choose, my preference leans towards something understated bordering on bland or quietly stylish, and the Audi Q8 is the car that I can envision myself owning. Although it may appear unchanged, it has recently undergone a mid-lifecycle update. While most of it remains the same, this update includes a new pallet of colours, headlight and taillight designs, a refreshed front bumper, and some subtle rear modifications that you might not easily notice.

The Audi Singleframe, featuring an octagon design, now includes vertical inlays which are reserved for Audi’s top-tier models. New air intakes are integrated into the lower section of the front bumper, as well as the updated tailpipes. On Black Edition and Vorsprung models the Audi Singleframe, the trim on the side windows, and the front and rear bumpers, whilst the Singleframe mask is finished in high-gloss black.

The headlights now featuring HD Matrix LED technology and an additional laser light (Vorsprung spec only) as well as the digital daytime running lights positioned on the upper horizontal edge. Digital OLED rear lights, are available for the first time in the Q8.

Three new exterior colour finishes are available. Audi Sport GmbH offers Sakhir Gold, Ascari Blue, and Chili Red, all as metallic finishes. Five new alloy wheel designs are also introduced with sizes ranging from 21 to 23 inches depending on specification.

The powertrains remain unchanged, The range opens with the 286PS 50 TDI quattro, powered by a 3.0-litre six-cyinder diesel engine that generates 600Nm of torque. The Audi Q8 55 TFSI features a 340PS/500Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine. The range-topping SQ8 TFSI 507PS and 770Nm 4.0 TFSI with 507PS and 770Nm of torque comes with quattro permanent all-wheel drive. Performance figures for the SQ8 are delicious.

The interior remains largely unchanged, to the extent that Audi PR didn’t even include any interior shots in the PR Q8 hymn sheet. Sales of the updated Q8 and SQ8 model line-ups will commence on October 10th, with the first customer deliveries scheduled for the first quarter of next year.