2021 AUDI Q8 center console

4M8012721BF
Lights and Vision

headlights are not switched on, the high beam
assistant will remain activated.

ZA WARNING
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 121.
— High beam assistant is only intended to as-
sist the driver. The driver is responsible for
controlling the high beam headlights and
adjusting them to match the lighting and
visibility conditions.
— High beams can cause glare for other driv-
ers, which increases the risk of an accident.
For this reason, only use the high beams or
the headlight flasher when they will not cre-
ate glare for other drivers.
G@) Tips
Adhere to any local applicable regulations
when using the lighting equipment, for exam-
ple in regard to reducing glare for other driv-
ers. The driver is always responsible for adher-
ing to the regulations applicable in the coun-
try where the vehicle is being operated.
Adjusting the exterior lighting
You can adjust the exterior lighting separately.
The settings depend on the vehicle equipment.

» Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
VEHICLE > Light & Visibility > Exterior light-
ing.
Automatic headlights
You can adjust the following settings in the Auto-
matic
headlights menu:
Activation time - You can adjust if the headlights
switch on Early, Medium, or Late based on the
sensitivity of the light sensor.
High beam assistant - You can switch the high
beam assistant on and off.
Entry/exit lighting
The Entry/exit lighting illuminates the area
around the vehicle when the vehicle is unlocked
or when the driver’s door is opened while the ig-

nition is off. The entry/exit lighting works when it
is dark and when the AUTO light function is
switched on. The front and rear daytime running
lights* switch on automatically each time the ve-
hicle is unlocked regardless of how bright it is
outside the vehicle.
Daytime running lights
USA models: The daytime running lights can be
switched on and off.
Canada models: The daytime running lights can-
not be switched off. The lights activate automati-
cally each time the ignition is switched on.
Emergency flashers
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Fig. 35 Center console: emergency flashers
The emergency flashers help to make other driv-
ers aware of your vehicle in dangerous situations.
> Press the A @ button to switch the emergency
flashers on or off.
When the emergency flashers are turned on, the
a and By indicator lights will flash at the same
time.
You can indicate a lane change or a turn when the
emergency flashers are switched on by using the
turn signal lever. The emergency flashers stop
temporarily.
The emergency flashers also work when the igni-
tion is turned off.
G) Tips
You should switch the emergency flashers on
ite
53

Storage and convenience

Storage and convenience
Power sources
When the ignition is switched on, you may be
able to use multiple power sources for external
devices, depending on the vehicle equipment.
12 volt sockets
You can connect electrical accessories to the 12
volt sockets. The power usage from the sockets
must not exceed a total of 120 watts. Do not
connect multiple devices to the sockets in the ve-
hicle at the same time.
The 12 volt sockets are labeled with the 12V
symbol. They are located in the front center con-
sole, in the rear* and on the side trim panel in the
luggage compartment”*.
USB ports
Applies to: vehicles with USB port
You can charge mobile devices using the USB
ports. The USB ports are labeled with the «> or
[4 symbol or CHARGE ONLY.

Z\ WARNING
— To reduce the risk of fatal injury, store all
connected devices securely when driving so
that they do not move around inside the ve-
hicle when braking or in the event of an acci-
dent.
— Incorrect usage can lead to serious injuries
or burns. To reduce the risk of injuries, never
leave children unattended in the vehicle
with the vehicle key.

® Note
— Read the operating manuals for the con-
nected devices.
— To reduce the risk of damage to the vehicle
electrical system, never attempt to charge
the vehicle battery by connecting accesso-
ries that provide power to the power sour-
ces.
— Do not connect any device whose network
class (voltage) does not match the network
class designed for the socket.
82
— Disconnect the connectors from the power
sources carefully to reduce the risk of dam-
aging them.
@ Tips
Do not connect any other devices to the sock-
ets when using the compressor* provided by
the factory > page 286. The power consump-
tion in the sockets may be temporarily ex-
ceeded when using the compressor*.
Cup holders
Applies to: vehicles with cup holders




Fig. 68 Rear center armrest*: cup holders
Cup holders in the front center console
> The cup holder (2) may be under a cover. To
open the cup holder, tap on the strip on the
cover.
Cup holders in the rear center armrest*
> Fold the center armrest* downward.
> To open the cup holder, tap on the button @).
> To close the cup holder, fold the cover back un-
til it clicks into place.

Warm and cold

Warm and cold
Climate control system
One of the following options may be available,
depending on vehicle equipment:
— A deluxe automatic climate control system with
3 zones where the temperature, air distribu-
tion, and air supply can be set separately on the
left front side, the right front side, and in the
rear
— A deluxe automatic climate control system with
4 zones to individually adjust the temperature,
air distribution, and amount of ventilation at all
of the seats
The climate control system warms, cools, dehu-
midifies, and filters the air in the vehicle interior.
It is the most effective when the windows and
panoramic glass roof* are closed. If there is a
build-up of heat inside the vehicle, ventilation
can help to speed up the cooling process.
The deluxe climate control system automatically
maintains a temperature once it has been set. In
all heating mode functions except defrost, the
blower only switches to a higher speed once the
coolant has reached a certain temperature.
Pollutant filter
The pollutant filter removes pollutants such as
dust and pollen from the air.
@ For the sake of the environment
Energy can be saved by switching off the A/C
mode.
@ Tips
— To prevent interference with the heating or
cooling output and to prevent the windows
from fogging over, the air intake in front of
the windshield must be free of ice, snow,
and leaves.
— Condensation from the cooling system can
drip and form a puddle of water under the
vehicle. This is normal and does not mean
there is a leak.
90

— The energy management system may tem-
porarily switch off certain functions, such as
the seat heating” or rear window defogger.
These systems are available again as soon as
the energy supply has been restored.
[RAZ-0638


Fig. 82 Center console: lower display and switch panel
Settings are adjusted using both displays, the
switch panel in the center console, and the con-
trol panel in the rear. For information on how to
operate the touch displays, see > page 18, Touch
displays.
You can adjust all climate control system settings
in the front; only certain functions are available
in the rear.
Lower display
The lower display has two sections with controls:
You can regulate the blower and the air distribu-
tion automatically using AUTO in area @). You can
also apply individual settings here.
In area Q), you can switch individual climate con-
trol system functions on and off.
Switch panel in the center console
Both the & and & buttons to defog windows as
quickly as possible are located in area @).
Upper display
In the upper display, you can switch additional
functions on and off, display them, and adjust
settings.
> Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
VEHICLE > Air conditioning, or
> Press +++ on the lower display.

4M8012721BF
Driving

Driving
Starting the vehicle
pyr Told T ola (ela)



Fig. 83 Center console: starting the engine
Requirement: the key must be in the vehicle.
Starting the engine
> Press and hold the brake pedal.
> Press the [START ENGINE STOP] button. The
engine will start.


Equipment that uses a lot of electricity is switch-
ed off temporarily when you start the engine. If
the engine does not start immediately, the start-
ing procedure stops automatically after a short
time. If this is the case, repeat the starting pro-
cedure after approximately 30 seconds.
Stopping the engine
> Bring the vehicle to a full stop.
> Press the [START ENGINE STOP] button. The


engine will switch off.
Applies to: vehicles with steering lock: The steer-
ing is locked when you turn off the engine with
the selector lever in the “P” position and open
the driver's door. The steering lock helps prevent
vehicle theft.
Stopping the engine in an emergency
If necessary in an emergency, the engine can also
be stopped while driving using the emergency off
function*.

> Press the [START ENGINE STOP] button twice in
a row or press and hold it one time.

Switching on and off
If you would like to switch the ignition on or off
without starting the engine, follow these steps:

> Press the [START ENGINE STOP] button without
pressing the brake pedal.

Switching the ignition off automatically
To prevent the vehicle battery from draining, the
ignition and possibly the exterior lighting may
switch off automatically.
Requirements:
— The Start/Stop system must have stopped the
engine.
— You must have left the vehicle for longer than
30 seconds.
— The ignition must be switched on.
Among other indicators, the system detects that
you have left the vehicle based on the following
factors:
— The driver's door has been opened.
— The driver's safety belt has been unbuckled.
— The brake pedal is not being pressed.
The ignition will also be switched off after 30 mi-
nutes or if you lock the vehicle from the outside.

Z\ WARNING
—To reduce the risk of asphyxiation, never al-
low the engine to run in confined spaces.
— Never turn off the engine before the vehicle
has come to a complete stop. Switching it
off before the vehicle has stopped may im-
pair the function of the brake booster and
power steering. You would then need to use
more force to steer and brake the vehicle.
The fact that you cannot steer and brake as
usual may increase the risk of accidents and
serious injuries.
— Secure the vehicle against rolling before ex-
iting the vehicle > page 96.
CG) Note
— Avoid high engine speed, full throttle, and
heavy engine load if the engine has not
reached operating temperature yet. You
could damage the engine.


95

4M8012721BF
Driving


time. If the parking brake is not set, the ve-
hicle could roll away, increasing the risk of
an accident.
— Do not leave your vehicle unattended while
the engine is running, because this increases
the risk of an accident.
— If the parking brake is set, it can release au-
tomatically when the accelerator pedal is
pressed. To reduce the risk of an accident,
do not inadvertently press the accelerator
pedal and always shift into “P” when the ve-
hicle is stopped.
— If you leave the vehicle, switch the ignition
off and take the key with you. This is espe-
cially important when leaving persons or an-
imals in the vehicle. Otherwise, the vehicle
could start unintentionally, the parking
brake could release, or electronic equipment
could activate, which increases the risk of an
accident.
— No persons or animals should be left in a
locked vehicle. Locked doors make it more
difficult for emergency workers to enter the
vehicle, which puts lives at risk.
— If you do not begin driving immediately af-
ter releasing the brake pedal, your vehicle
may begin to roll backward. Press the brake
pedal
or set the parking brake immediately.
@) Note
If you have to stop on an incline, always press
the brake pedal to hold the vehicle in place to
reduce the risk of the vehicle rolling back-
ward. Do not try to hold the vehicle in place
by pressing and holding the accelerator pedal.
The transmission can overheat, which increas-
es the risk of damage.
Hill hold assist
If you take your foot off of the brake pedal when
driving on hills, the braking force will be held for
several seconds. At that time, you can start driv-
ing without the vehicle rolling backward.

Requirement: the driver's door must be closed,
the engine must be on, and the vehicle must be
traveling uphill.
> To activate hill hold assist, press and hold the
brake pedal for several seconds while the vehi-
cle is stationary.

ZA\ WARNING
— If you do not begin driving immediately af-
ter releasing the brake pedal, your vehicle
may begin to roll backward. Press the brake
pedal
or set the parking brake immediately.
— The hill hold assist cannot hold the vehicle
on inclines in every scenario (for example,
on slippery or icy ground).
Gears and driving programs
@
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[RAZ-0410)


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Fig. 84 Center console: selector lever



The automatic transmission shifts automatically
depending on the selected gear and the current
driving style. When driving with a moderate driv-
ing style, upshifting early and downshifting late
will help to improve fuel economy. When driving
with a sporty driving style, the transmission per-
mits higher RPMs.
The gears are displayed next to the selector lever.
—P (Park)
—R (Reverse): driving in reverse
—N (Neutral): idle
— D (Drive)
Selecting a gear
Requirement: the ignition must be switched on.
— Bring the vehicle to a full stop and press the
brake pedal.
— Press the release button @ on the selector lev-
er. >
97

4M8012721BF

Driving

Manual shi

RAZ-0411

Fig. 85 Center console: shifting manually with the selector
lever

RAZ-0003


——
Fig. 86 Steering wheel: shift paddles*
You can shift the gears manually when in “D”
mode. The transmission must be in tiptronic
mode.
Shifting with the selector lever
You can shift into manual shifting mode while the
vehicle is stationary or while driving.
> To switch to manual shifting mode, tilt the se-
lector lever toward the front passenger's side
> fig. 85. “M” will be displayed in the instru-
ment cluster.
> Upshifting: push the selector lever forward (@).
> Downshifting: push the selector lever toward
the rear ©).
> To switch back to automatic mode, tilt the se-
lector lever toward the driver's side.
Shifting with the shift paddles
Applies to: vehicles with shift paddles
> Upshifting: press the @) shift paddle > fig. 86.
> Downshifting: press the ©) shift paddle.
> To engage the lowest possible gear for maxi-
mum acceleration, press and hold the ©) shift
paddle.

> To switch back to automatic mode, press and
hold the @) shift paddle or push the selector
lever toward the rear.
If you stop using the shift paddles temporarily,
the transmission will switch back to automatic
mode. To keep shifting manually, tilt the selector
lever toward the front passenger's side.
@ Tips
— The transmission only allows manual shift-
ing when the engine speed is within the per-
mitted range.
— The transmission automatically shifts up or
down before critical engine speed is
reached.
— Applies to: RS models: When accelerating,
the transmission will not automatically shift
to the next gear shortly before the maxi-
mum permitted engine RPM is reached.
Shift to the next highest gear at the right
time.
Accelerator pedal
You can accelerate the vehicle using the accelera-
tor pedal.
Depending on the equipment, you may be able to
adjust the haptic feedback for the accelerator
pedal in the MMI.
— Select on the home screen: VEHICLE > (Charg-
ing & Efficiency) > Efficiency assist > (Interac-
tive accelerator).
Accelerator pedal feedback / predictive
messages
Haptic feedback in the accelerator pedal indi-
cates when you should take your foot off the ac-
celerator pedal to drive more efficiently.
Maximum acceleration
If you press the accelerator pedal all the way
down, the motor’s full power will be used and
you will reach maximum acceleration, also called
“kick-down”.
99
>

4M8012721BF
Driving

— The vehicle battery will gradually drain if
the vehicle is not driven for long periods of
time, or if electrical equipment is used
when the engine is not running. To ensure
that the vehicle can still be started, the
electrical equipment will be limited or
switched off.
IC Te lt
B Drive system: malfunction! Safely stop vehi-
cle
There is a malfunction in the drive system. The
brake booster and the power steering may stop
working. Stop the vehicle immediately or as soon
as possible and do not continue driving. Secure
the vehicle against rolling before exiting the vehi-
cle > page 96. Have the problem corrected by an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility.
B Drive system: malfunction! Please contact
Service
There is a malfunction in the drive system. Drive
slowly to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
Start/Stop system
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system
The Start/Stop system can help increase fuel
economy and reduce CO2 emissions.
In Start/Stop mode, the engine shuts off auto-
matically when stopped, for example at a traffic
light. If certain conditions are met, the engine
may stop before the vehicle has come to a com-
plete stop. If you press the accelerator pedal
when this happens, the engine will start and driv-
ing power will be transmitted.
The ignition and important assist systems such
as the brake booster will remain available during
the Stop phase. The engine will restart automati-
cally when needed.
The Start/Stop system is automatically activated
once
the ignition is switched on.
Switching the Start/Stop system off and on
The & button is located above the selector lever
in the center console. The LED in the button turns
on when the function is switched off.
> Press & to switch the system on or off.
If you switch the system off during a Stop phase,
the engine will start again automatically.
Basic requirements
— The driver's door and hood must be closed.
—"P","N", or "D" must be engaged.
— The steering wheel must not be turned far in ei-
ther direction.
— The vehicle must have driven faster than 2 mph
(3 km/h) since the last time it stopped.
— The vehicle is not in trailer mode.
@) Note
Always switch the Start/Stop system off when
driving through water > page 103.
G) Tips
— Depending on the driving situation, the en-
gine may already stop when coasting before
the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
— Ifyou select the "D" position after shifting
into reverse, the vehicle must be driven fast-
er than 6 mph (10 km/h) in order for the
Start/Stop system to become active again.
This makes it possible to maneuver without
stopping the engine.
Stopping and starting the engine
Applies to: vehicles with Start/Stop system
> Press and hold the brake pedal until the vehicle
has stopped. The @) indicator light appears in
the instrument cluster once the engine stops
automatically.
> The engine starts again when you remove your
foot from the brake pedal. The indicator light
turns off.
If the parking brake is set, the engine will only
start again when the accelerator pedal is pressed. >
103

Driving

Ga / @ Brake pads: wear limit reached. You
can continue driving. Please contact Service
The brake pads are worn. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility as
soon as possible to have the malfunction correct-
ed.
Brake booster: limited functionality. You can
continue driving. Please contact Service
There is a brake booster malfunction. The brake
booster is available, but its effectiveness is re-
duced. The braking performance may be different
compared to the usual performance. Drive to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
Brake booster: deactivated. See owner's manual
The brake booster remains active for a brief peri-
od of time after switching off the ignition. Secure
the vehicle against rolling > page 96.
Other indicator lights
When you switch the ignition on, the EG / @
indicator light turns on briefly to check the func-
tion. If the indicator light does not turn on, there
is a system malfunction.
1f EG / @ stays on, there is a malfunction in
the brake system.
©) - A high load was placed on the brakes from
driving downhill for a long period of time. Follow
the instructions in the message to utilize the en-
gine braking effect and to relieve the brakes.
Electromechanical
parking brake
Operating the parking brake
The electromechanical parking brake is used to
secure the vehicle from rolling away unintention-
ally.
The @) switch is located under the selector lever
in the center console. It turns on when the park-
ing brake is set. You can release the parking brake
manually or automatically when you start to
drive.
Setting and releasing the parking brake
> Setting: pull the ©) switch.
> 1f i ii ® appears, the parking brake is hold-
ing the vehicle. You can remove your foot from
the brake pedal.
> Releasing: when the ignition is switched on,
press and hold the brake pedal and press the
button.
If the red indicator light flashes, the braking
force has not built up enough or it has decreased.
You can also secure the vehicle by selecting the
“P” gear or pressing the brake pedal. Make sure
the indicator light is off before you start driving.
Automatically releasing the parking brake
when starting to drive
Requirement: the driver's door must be closed
and the driver’s safety belt must be fastened.
> Press the accelerator pedal to start to drive.

ZX WARNING
If a malfunction occurs in the ABS, ESC, and
braking distribution, interventions that stabi-
lize the vehicle will no longer be available.
This could cause the vehicle to swerve, which
increases the risk that the vehicle will slide.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility
for assistance.

106
ZA WARNING
—To reduce the risk of an accident, always
make sure the vehicle is situated safely
while stationary.
— If the parking brake is set, it can release au-
tomatically when the accelerator pedal is
pressed. To reduce the risk of an accident,
do not inadvertently press the accelerator
pedal and always shift into “P” when the ve-
hicle is stopped.
— If the power supply fails, you cannot set the
parking brake once it is released, or release
it if it is set. Secure the vehicle against >