Audi not sure what body style would be suitable for the A9 flagship

Audi is still not sure on what sort of car the A9 flagship model would have to be.

There have been various rumors about a range-topping A9 that have been doing rounds for several years but Audi still hasn’t figured out what body style should its flagship model have. Audi chairman Rupert Stadler said that an A9 has a great deal of potential, especially in the SUV and prestigious full-size car category. The company’s marketing chief Luca de Meo says that a Sportback or a coupe are not innovative enough to receive this moniker.

De Meo did confirm during the ongoing North American Auto Show this week in Detroit that the company is analyzing the prospects of launching the A9, a model which if will ever reach the production phase it will have to “be a statement for the brand.”

Previous rumors have indicated a 2016 launch for a model which would be an Allroad sedan based on the next generation of the Q7. The same report also indicated that the A9 would receive underbody skid plates and an increased ride height, as well as a semi-autonomous driving system.