Audi Q8 SUV teased for Beijing – or is it the Audi Q4?

What appears to be a tease for the Audi Q8 has been posted by Audi on Facebook ahead of an expected debut at the Beijing Motor Show. Or could it be an Audi Q4 Concept?

As Audi continues to churn out more and more SUVs to tap in to every niche there is, we’ve got the Audi e-tron electric SUV launching this year, and the range-topping Audi Q8 Coupe SUV too.

We know the new Q8 – revealed as a concept at the start of 2017 – will go in to production this year – because Audi told us so – so a tease photo (above) posted by Audi on Facebook looks likely to preview the arrival of the production Q8 in the next few days at the Beijing Motor Show.

The Coupe SUV shape is still firmly in place, and it seems unlikely the production Q8 will stray too far from the concept’s design, and although some of the concept fripperies will be tamed, the coupe SUV style will remain as, we expect, will the huge grille.

Under the bonnet of the concept there was a 3.0 litre TFSI with 329bhp working with a 134bhp electric motor to deliver decent performance (0-62mph in 5.4 seconds) and impressive headline economy. But assuming the plug-in hybrid powerplant does make it in to production it won’t be the only option; expect at least the 3.0 litre diesel from the Q7.

But although we’re assuming this is a tease for the Q8, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is – although it’s the most likely.

When Audi confirmed the arrival of the production Q8 this year, it also confirmed that the Audi Q4 will arrive as a production model in 2019 to fill another niche in Audi’s SUV range as a smaller sibling for the Q8, and with a design perhaps not dissimilar to the TT Offroad Concept from a few years ago, and powertrains from a 1.5 litre petrol to a range-topping RS Q4 and probably a hybrid option too. So with that in mind, we’re about due a Concept Q4.

With the Beijing Motor Show looming we’ll know whether Audi’s tease is for the production version of the Q8 or the Q4 Concept soon enough.