by Key Details About Audi Q9 Horch
First Photos and Model Features
Just when Audi confirmed three new models for 2026, our spies captured one of them on public roads. This is not the first time the future Audi Q9 has been seen, but this prototype appears to be the top-tier Horch version.
The flagship model is expected to follow the path set by the A8 L Horch and will directly compete with the Mercedes-Maybach GLS, serving as the ultimate demonstration of Audi’s luxury.
Exterior Appearance and Design
What makes this model so special? Not much on the outside, as the only visible signs are the modified front bumper and radiator grille with vertical slats.
However, the production model is expected to have additional changes, including extra chrome and Horch emblems on the rear pillars. The crossover may also follow the A8 L Horch by offering two-tone paint and wheels with the ‘H crown’.
Interior and Comfort
While the exterior is not very impressive, the interior should be an ultra-luxurious cocoon of comfort. Spy photographers did not peek inside, but we would not be surprised to see two separate rear seats divided by a wide center console. They are likely to have heating, ventilation, and massage functions.
Other features should include an entertainment system for rear passengers, diamond stitching, and high-pile carpets. Customers may also find additional wood inserts and Horch accents.
Rear passengers may be the center of attention, but those in the front will not be forgotten – they will likely find an 11.9-inch digital instrument cluster, a 14.5-inch infotainment system, and a 10.9-inch display for the front passenger.
Engines and Technical Specifications
Engine options remain a mystery, but the standard Q9 is expected to be offered with a range of conventional and hybrid powertrains. The Horch will likely only have the most powerful ones, which could mean the model will get a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8.
Audi’s Plans for 2026
There are still many questions about the Q9, but it will appear next year as part of the “biggest product initiative” in Audi’s history. It will be joined by an updated Q7, as well as “high-performance RS models.” Next year will also see the presentation of an affordable electric vehicle, expected to be called the A2 or Q2 e-tron, and we have already seen it during testing.
Financial Performance and Market Challenges
These new models cannot come soon enough, as Audi’s deliveries fell by 4.8%, to 1,175,765 units, in the first nine months of the year. This disappointing result was caused by a 9% drop in China, as well as a 5% decline in the US and Canada.
Although deliveries decreased, Audi Group’s revenue increased by 4.6% to 48.4 billion euros. Despite this, their operating profit fell from 2.1 billion euros to 1.6 billion euros.
This can be partly explained by US tariffs, restructuring measures, and the “financial burden” from “the postponement of development timelines for the D-segment electric platform, which is being developed jointly within the group.”
Audi’s planned debuts for 2026 reflect a strategic shift towards strengthening its presence in the luxury SUV and electric vehicle markets, which could help offset recent financial losses. The success of the Q9 Horch in competing with Maybach will largely depend on its ability to combine exclusivity with technological innovation, especially in key markets such as China and North America, where demand for premium vehicles remains high.
