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2025 Audi SQ8 Prestige Review: Twin-Turbo Refinement Confronts Aging Technology

At 6:47 AM in Dallas traffic, the 2025 Audi SQ8 Prestige transforms from luxury cruiser to exotic performance machine with a single throttle stab. The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 unleashes 500 horsepower that pins you to massaging leather seats while delivering a 3.6-second sprint to 60 mph. This creates an intoxicating contradiction. Here sits automotive engineering excellence wrapped in a seven-year-old design struggling against newer competitors.

Designer: Audi

My $126,490 test vehicle loads every meaningful option. The S Sport package adds $6,000 for electronic differential wizardry and active anti-roll stabilization. Luxury package contributes $3,700 for extended leather and Dinamica headliner. Carbon accents, Black Optic elements, and 23-inch wheels push the visual drama while Bang & Olufsen’s 23-speaker audio system creates concert hall acoustics.

Yet excellence comes with frustration. Nearly a decade ago, when I first experienced the clicked haptic feedback, it felt impressive and futuristic. My opinion has changed completely. The MMI touchscreen now requires excessive pressure for simple inputs while Apple CarPlay freezes during routine connections. This technology feels unacceptable at this price point. Buyers face a choice between proven V8 character and cutting-edge infotainment sophistication.

Audi’s Design Restraint Contrasts BMW’s Aggressive Styling

The SQ8 uses restraint where BMW goes aggressive. This seven-year-old design whispers its capabilities rather than shouting them like an X6 M50i with its kidney grilles and angular bodywork.

My test car’s Black Optic package transforms chrome into dark elements that create visual cohesion. The 23-inch multispoke wheels add drama but punish ride quality over broken Dallas pavement. Carbon mirror housings and side sills provide subtle enhancement without crossing into BMW’s theatrical territory. What surprises me most is how the SQ8’s aesthetic could belong to a standard Q8.

The OLED taillights offer four lighting signatures with approach animations that feel genuinely advanced. HD Matrix LED headlights complement this premium lighting experience while providing actual functional benefit through adaptive beam patterns. Interior cargo space measures 31 cubic feet behind rear seats, expanding to 61 cubic feet when folded. The 40/20/40 split bench doesn’t fold completely flat but provides reasonable utility for a performance SUV.

Audi’s fastback roofline creates athletic proportions without resorting to the visual aggression plaguing competitors. The Singleframe grille dominates with purpose while quad exhaust tips hint at the V8 within. This design philosophy either works for buyers preferring subtlety or disappoints those wanting automotive theater.

Performance: V8 Excellence in a 5,269-Pound Package

The heart of the SQ8 experience lies in its 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, producing 500 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 568 lb-ft of torque from 3,000 rpm. Paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic and quattro all-wheel drive, this powertrain delivers acceleration that rivals dedicated sports cars.

Real-world performance confirms the specifications. The 3.6-second 0-60 mph time feels conservative during aggressive launches, with the 48V mild hybrid system providing seamless engine restarts and energy recovery during braking. The quarter-mile performance of 12.2 seconds places the SQ8 in exotic territory, though the 155 mph electronic speed limiter reminds you this remains a family-oriented SUV.

The optional S Sport package transforms the driving experience significantly. The electronic sport rear differential can direct up to 1,800 Nm of torque between rear wheels within hundredths of a second, while the sport differential enhances cornering agility beyond what the 5,269-pound curb weight suggests possible. Active anti-roll stabilization keeps the SQ8 remarkably flat through aggressive direction changes.

Standard sport adaptive air suspension delivers excellent body control, though the ride quality varies significantly with wheel and tire choices. The 23-inch wheel package creates a firm, sometimes harsh ride that emphasizes road imperfections while providing precise steering feedback. Owners prioritizing comfort over ultimate handling precision might prefer smaller wheel options.

Quarter-mile performance averaging 12.2 seconds confirms the SQ8’s straight-line capabilities, while the sport-tuned suspension delivers handling that belies its SUV proportions. The standard torque vectoring system and all-wheel steering enhance agility without sacrificing the confidence-inspiring stability that makes this vehicle suitable for daily family duties.

Technology: Where Excellence Confronts Frustration

Here the SQ8’s contradictions become most apparent. The dashboard features a three-screen setup including a 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit Plus, 10.1-inch upper MMI touchscreen, and 8.6-inch lower climate control display. These screens suffer from fingerprint-prone piano black surfaces that I universally criticize, yet Audi continues using this material.

The MMI system’s poor touchscreen response creates daily frustration. Simple inputs require excessive pressure to register, while the poorly calibrated stop/start system behaves erratically during my testing. Apple CarPlay freezing issues compound the technology problems, creating an experience that feels unacceptable at this price point.

Standard equipment does impress elsewhere. The Bang & Olufsen 3D Sound System with 23 speakers delivers exceptional audio quality, while the panoramic sunroof, 360-degree cameras, and Virtual Cockpit Plus surpass most competitors’ base specifications. The massaging front seats in the Prestige trim provide genuine comfort during extended driving sessions.

Real-world fuel economy averages around 17-18 mpg in mixed driving conditions, on par with the EPA’s 17 mpg combined rating but firmly in gas-guzzler territory. The 22.5-gallon fuel tank provides reasonable range, though premium fuel requirements add ongoing expense.

Value Proposition: Premium Performance with Dated Technology

Starting at $106,195 for the Prestige trim, the SQ8 costs roughly $1,000-2,000 more than 2024 models. Popular options quickly push prices toward $125,000: the S Sport package adds $6,000, Luxury package $3,700, and the Bang & Olufsen Advanced 3D audio system commands $4,900.

My test vehicle’s final price of $126,490 includes nearly every available option, creating a compelling value argument when compared to similarly equipped competitors. The BMW X6 M50i offers 523 horsepower but slower 4.2-second 0-60 acceleration, while Mercedes-AMG’s GLE 53 Coupe delivers just 429 horsepower from its inline-six hybrid setup. Only the Genesis GV70 Sport offers notably better value, though with 125 fewer horsepower and a much smaller footprint.

KBB data suggests negotiating $4,100-4,200 below MSRP in current market conditions, while five-year ownership costs total approximately $93,000 including depreciation, with the SQ8 retaining 59% of value. Annual maintenance averages $902 for the first five years, while insurance costs approximately $3,524 yearly.

The 7,700-pound towing capacity leads the segment, though owners report cargo space limitations for family travel despite the SUV’s substantial external dimensions.

Sustainability: Mild Electrification and Manufacturing Responsibility

The 48V mild hybrid system represents Audi’s primary efficiency technology in the SQ8. EPA ratings of 15/21/17 mpg trail most competitors, though real-world testing shows modest improvements around 19-20 mpg in mixed driving. The system enables smooth engine restarts and energy recovery but cannot propel the vehicle on electric power alone.

Annual CO2 emissions reach approximately 8.3 tons based on EPA driving assumptions, placing the SQ8 firmly in the high-consumption category. Audi achieved carbon-neutral production at all facilities as of January 2025, employing recycled aluminum that saves up to 95% energy versus primary aluminum production.

The company’s Mission:Zero program encompasses decarbonization, water usage reduction, biodiversity protection, and resource efficiency throughout manufacturing. Components are designed for end-of-life recyclability from the concept phase, though the complex 48V system raises long-term sustainability questions about maintenance and component replacement.

Final Assessment: Exceptional Fundamentals Can’t Mask Technological Stagnation

The 2025 Audi SQ8 delivers exceptional core performance. Its twin-turbo V8 provides intoxicating acceleration, the chassis delivers surprising agility for a 5,269-pound SUV, and interior materials showcase genuine craftsmanship. These strengths shine through daily use, but seven-year-old design elements increasingly struggle against newer competitors.

The SQ8’s value equation comes down to priorities. That 500-horsepower V8 delivers supercar acceleration in a family SUV while undercutting Porsche Cayenne pricing by $20,000-30,000. The technology frustrations feel inexcusable at $126,490, but they don’t diminish the fundamental driving experience.

This represents Audi’s last hurrah for the twin-turbo V8 era before electrification dominates. The SQ8 succeeds as a bridge between old-school performance and modern luxury packaging. Buy it for what it does brilliantly rather than what it struggles with.

The post 2025 Audi SQ8 Prestige Review: Twin-Turbo Refinement Confronts Aging Technology first appeared on Yanko Design.

The iPhone Air is NOT a precursor to Apple Glasses… Here’s why

I recently read a Digital Trends piece that spoke about how the ‘iPhone Air is setting us up for Apple Smart Glasses‘, and I couldn’t help but think about how journalists who look at the iPhone Air have one of two reactions. There’s one group of bloggers who believe this particular launch is just a stepping stone to a foldable phone… while the other group, marveling at how all the computing of the iPhone Air exists inside the bump, believe that this is actually leading to Apple building smart glasses. The latter are wrong, but before I tell you my spicy take, let me just preface by declaring that Apple almost certainly could be working on both foldables as well as smart glasses. I just don’t think the iPhone Air is leading to Apple Glasses – because there’s already a device that’s been leading to it. The Watch.

Something about Apple launching a new product really makes journalists lose all sense of objectivity. I’m not being rude, I’m saying this because I’ve found myself doing this too. I was genuinely excited when Apple unveiled the Touch Bar, the Dynamic Island, and Camera Control. It felt ground-breaking for precisely 4 minutes before I then reminded myself… the Touch Bar was first put on a Lenovo laptop 2 years before apple, the Dynamic Island is still larger than most hole-punch cameras, and the Camera Control, while great, doesn’t beat the innovation that Sony’s had in their ‘camera phone’ era. I’m not dunking on Apple, but hear me out – it’s impressive how Apple managed to fit an entire smartphone into the iPhone Air’s camera bump, but Apple’s done this before – the Apple Watch is essentially a computer crammed into a wristwatch. Saying the iPhone Air is building up to smart glasses means completely ignoring all of Apple’s work in the Watch category.

Will the iPhone Air’s innovations lead to wearable breakthroughs? Absolutely. The watch’s heart rate monitor led to breakthroughs in heart-tracking tech that made it to the AirPods Pro 3. The Center Stage camera on the Mac made it to the iPhone. Innovation always travels in multiple directions. But nobody looked at the heart rate monitor on the Apple Watch and thought, wow, this is definitely going to go into my ear someday.

The point is, Apple’s been on track for making powerful wearable devices. The Watch is essentially a computer that’s only limited by its chipset and OS. Bump the S-series chipset’s capabilities to match the A-series and the smartwatch essentially becomes a powerful computing device. It’s already got a gyroscope, it has a battery, tracks health, is ridiculously water-resistant, and could easily pack a camera if you remove the entire sensor array on the bottom for calculating blood oxygen, wrist temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate variability.

So what’s the iPhone Air hinting at? To be honest, I think the most logical conclusion is a foldable. Apple’s built the iPhone Air to be ridiculously strong, thin, and capable of matching up to the performance of regular flagships. The iPhone Air’s thin design still has a massive battery, which obviously doesn’t port to a pair of smart glasses. Digital Trends asks this exact same question, wondering if Apple’s glasses will have a tethered battery pack like the Vision Pro. But then again, this is exactly what I find so amusing – journalists forgetting that Apple’s been making powerful computing devices with tiny batteries. All you need to do is look at your wrist!

The post The iPhone Air is NOT a precursor to Apple Glasses… Here’s why first appeared on Yanko Design.

This DIY Framework 13 Mod Turns a Modern Laptop into a Retro Mechanical Marvel

DIY laptop mods that blend modern hardware with retro aesthetics are having a moment, and it’s easy to understand why. Modern ultrabooks prioritize thinness and portability over tactile satisfaction, leaving many users longing for the chunky, satisfying keyboards and analog controls that made 1990s laptops feel substantial and purposeful. One ambitious modder has answered that call with something truly special.

The Campus, built by Reddit user flurpyflurples, transforms a Framework 13 into something that looks like it escaped from a 1990s computer lab, complete with all the modern performance you’d expect. The custom-milled aluminum housing is dramatically thicker than the stock Framework, creating space for a gasket-mounted mechanical keyboard that delivers the kind of tactile feedback laptop users haven’t experienced in decades.

Designer: flurples

What makes the Campus particularly compelling are the three rotary encoders integrated into the chassis, providing analog control over volume, screen brightness, and keyboard backlight. These physical dials offer a hands-on experience that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly direct compared to fumbling through software controls or hunting for function key combinations. The satisfying click and smooth rotation of each encoder adds a layer of interaction that modern laptops have completely abandoned.

The builder made thoughtful ergonomic adjustments throughout the design process. The Framework 13’s trackpad gets repositioned off-center to better align with natural hand placement when typing, while the mechanical keyboard itself is slightly slimmer in depth than the original, eliminating the half-height function row to create more space for comfortable finger positioning and wrist placement.

Despite the dramatic visual transformation, the Campus maintains compatibility with Framework’s modular expansion card system, preserving the flexibility that makes the platform so appealing to tinkerers. The increased chassis thickness also creates potential for a larger battery, though the current build prioritizes the mechanical keyboard experience over extended runtime. The aluminum construction should improve thermal management compared to thinner designs.

Community response has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic, with Reddit users immediately suggesting additional modifications like optical drives, trackpoints, and even coffee makers. The project taps into a deep nostalgia for laptops that felt like serious tools rather than disposable consumer electronics. Comments range from genuine purchasing interest to playful suggestions about cramming even more retro features into the generous chassis space.

The practical trade-offs are obvious but intentional. The Campus is significantly heavier and thicker than any modern ultrabook, making it less suitable for daily commuting or frequent travel. However, for users who value typing experience and tactile interaction over portability, these compromises feel worthwhile. The aluminum construction and mechanical switches should provide durability that outlasts several generations of disposable laptops.

The Campus stands in stark contrast to the stock Framework 13, which emphasizes thinness, portability, and modern minimalism. While both laptops share modular DNA, they serve completely different philosophies about what a laptop should prioritize. The Campus joins projects like the MNT Reform in pushing open hardware boundaries, but its combination of mechanical keyboard, multiple rotary encoders, and familiar laptop ergonomics feels uniquely practical.

Projects like the Campus demonstrate how open hardware platforms can enable entirely new approaches to laptop design. The resurgence of interest in mechanical keyboards, analog controls, and substantial build quality suggests that some users are ready to trade portability for satisfaction. The Campus proves that with enough creativity and machining skills, you can have both modern performance and retro tactile pleasure in a single, admittedly chunky package.

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The North Face x Cecilie Bahnsen Bags Bring Couture Florals to Technical Gear

High-fashion designers partnering with technical outdoor brands used to feel like an odd mismatch, but these collaborations are becoming surprisingly common and genuinely compelling. The latest example comes from an unlikely pairing: The North Face, masters of rugged adventure gear, teaming up with Cecilie Bahnsen, the Danish designer known for romantic, sculptural womenswear that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale.

The collaboration reimagines The North Face’s iconic Base Camp bags through Bahnsen’s couture-inspired lens, creating pieces that somehow make perfect sense despite their contrasting origins. Where The North Face brings decades of technical expertise and durability testing, Bahnsen contributes her signature floral appliqué, quilted textures, and an understanding of how clothing can make people feel beautiful and confident.

Designer:
Cecilie Bahnsen x The North Face

The Maria Base Camp Clutch transforms the utilitarian duffel silhouette into something you’d actually want to carry to dinner. Floral appliqué and quilted overlays soften the technical shell, while recycled polyester and nylon blends maintain the weather resistance and durability you’d expect from The North Face. The compact size works equally well as a statement evening bag or as an organizer pouch inside a larger travel bag.

What’s particularly clever about the clutch is how it maintains all the practical details that make Base Camp bags so reliable. The oversized zipper pulls, reinforced stitching, and interior organization pockets are all present, just wrapped in Bahnsen’s romantic aesthetic. The detachable wrist strap adds versatility, letting you transition from hands-free exploration to elegant hand-carry without missing a beat.

The Audrey Base Camp Duffel takes this concept even further, applying sculptural quilting and floral embellishments to a medium-sized travel bag that actually works for real adventures. The technical construction remains unchanged, with spacious main compartments, internal mesh pockets, and adjustable shoulder straps that distribute weight properly during long carries.

Material choices reveal careful consideration of both brands’ values while embracing Bahnsen’s signature aesthetic approach. The collection uses technical polyester with PVC coating for durability and weather resistance, maintaining The North Face’s performance standards. The 3D floral appliqués are crafted from PVC, staying true to Bahnsen’s established material vocabulary while meeting outdoor gear requirements for water resistance and long-term durability.

The aesthetic transformation is remarkable without feeling forced or gimmicky. Bahnsen’s floral appliqué and quilted textures genuinely soften The North Face’s utilitarian image, creating bags that feel approachable and beautiful rather than purely functional. The dual branding and signature hardware maintain authenticity for both brands, while the unexpected material combinations create something entirely new in the outdoor gear space.

The bags appeal to design-conscious consumers who appreciate technical quality and outdoor enthusiasts curious about more expressive gear options. This cross-pollination suggests a broader shift toward products that refuse to choose between beauty and utility.

The collection works particularly well for modern lifestyles that blend city living with outdoor adventures. Whether you’re traveling between meetings, heading to the gym, or packing for a weekend camping trip, these bags adapt gracefully to different contexts while maintaining their distinctive character.

The North Face x Cecilie Bahnsen collection demonstrates how thoughtful collaboration can push both brands into new territory, creating products that honor their individual strengths while exploring entirely new possibilities for what outdoor gear can look and feel like.

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LaCie Rugged SSD4 with data transfer speeds of 4,000MB/s is built to last a 3m fall

Creative professionals demanding speed, reliability, and ample storage have always had LaCie portable SSDs by their side. The Seagate brand has been at the forefront of transforming the external hard disk (and solid state drives now) with its distinguishable orange bumper for protection against falls and splashes. A reason creatives from all walks of life love that charming orange powerhouse on their work desk, which, with a new tweak, is becoming even faster, more capable, and robust.

LaCie’s Rugged line of portable SSDs has been updated with the new version called LaCie Rugged SSD4. It is pretty much like its predecessors, with a slight difference in the construction material and a massive boost in the transfer speeds it supports.

Designer: Seagate

According to the information available through news agencies, the new LaCie Rugged SSD4 touts a data read speed of up to 4,000MB/s and up to 3,000MB/s write speeds. This is a massive improvement, which easily makes it one of the fastest external SSDs on the market (perhaps behind the company’s own Rugged SSD Pro5). With its incredible speeds and high data storage capacity, the SSD4 comes in 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB capabilities. Seagate has dropped the option of 500GB (that’s worth a phone’s storage, who cares for that much on a portable SSD anyway).

The impressive read/write speeds and massive storage options, the Rugged SSD4 is targeted at filmmakers, photographers, and audio professionals, though the company doesn’t shy from affirming that with the SSD4, just about anyone can be a creator with their own library of creations available on the move.

Assuring high-end data performance within a tough-designed body, the SSD has a smoother brushed aluminum finish as compared to its predecessor, the Rugged Mini SSD. The design is slightly upgraded with the built material. The Rugged SSD4 has a centrally-located USB-C port, which was a little off-set from the center in the Mini; it works with USB 40 Gbps and Thunderbolt 5.

The new SSD is compatible with PCs, Macs, tablets, iPads, and even smartphones – Android and iOS – out of the box. According to information, the Rugged SSD4 enables ProRes 4K on iPhone 16 Pro via USB-C, and ProRes RAW video recording on the new iPhone 17 Pro series. This is a huge plus for content creators who prefer the freedom of a powerful flagship mobile device.

Ruggedness provided by the orange bumper is also worth mentioning. It has been rated to protect the SSD4 from falls as high as nearly 10 feet (slightly above 3 meters). The drive is also IP54 rated for dust and water resistance. As mentioned, it comes in three variants: 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB, each priced at $134.99, $249.99, and $479.99, respectively. If you’re interested, the Lacie Rugged SSD4 is available through the company’s authorized retail partners now.

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