2021 AUDI Q8 trailer

4M8012721BF
Table of contents


All wheel drive (quattro).............. 115
Electronic Stabilization Control......... 116
TrailersQow tigi cece a 6 eens 4 o eaees 118
Driving with atrailer................. 118
Assist systems................... 1241
Assist systems................... 121
General information. . 121
Surrounding area detection............ 122
Switching the systems on and off....... 124
Driving information.............. 126
Speed warning system................ 126
Camera-based traffic sign recognition... 126
Traffic light information.............. 128
Lapetime rion + 3 scans oo sess a ¥ soweene 6 stain 129
Acceleration measurement............ 130
Nightivision aSSisti=x = «wm : > ase e s eon 131
Integrated Toll Module............... 132
Driver assistance................. 134
Cruise control system............00-5 134
Efficiency assist.............02.-000. 135
Adaptive cruise assist................ 137
Distance warning ..............00005. 146
Lane departure warning............... 147
Audi presense...........0 cece eee 149
Sid@vassist sews: = s sexs = 2 sews & e Ae & ne 153
EXE Warning sowsea so ccvena vo aseoa wo eons ao 155
Intersection assistant................ 156
EMiergency assists: « eswy wave a ¥ ware a Fi 157
Parking and maneuvering....... 159
ThitrOdUCtiON « s sees ¢ = sees 5 ¢ sere ge ees 159
Parking‘aid plus « sissies avis oe aretes so aoe 159
Rearview camera and peripheral cameras. 162
Rear cross-traffic assist............... 166
Assisted
parking..............---00 ee 167
Park assist plus..............000000- 170
Remote controlled parking............ 173
ManetVEraSSistt: « + aswu sx nowy ¢ wasn a ¢ g 178
Infotainment system............ 181
Telephone.............. cece eee 181
TMEROGUCTION « & cess wo wcinase we a oraeni ow awenaie 181
Setup... 2.2... cee eee eee eee 181
Using the Audi phone box............. 183

Using the telephone.................. 185
SettingS 00... . cece cee eee eee eee 188
MOSSAGES cours « s eauu § 2 eueeS Fo EGE FE BS 189
Troubleshooting sic ss wes oe ween es owe 191
Audi CONNECE : «6: = i e665 st ees so 192
General information................. 192
Audi connect Infotainment............ 192
Using a Wi-Fi hotspot 193
Audi connect Infotainment services..... 193
Functions on demand................ 194
Audi connect vehicle control services.... 194
SOttingS sews + 9 cae ¥ eee ¥ perms we pee 195
Troubleshooting..............--.0005 196
Emergency call................... 197
OVERVIEW. secs. 6 x sxcvers 6 emutes @ a eavaens vw ame
Emergency call
Online roadside assistance............ 198
Navigation.....................05. 200
Opening navigation.................. 200
myAudi navigation................00. 200
Entering adestination..............0- 201
Stopping route guidance.............. 204
Mapes & 5 saves © 2 saws yo sme @ & Hew 2 2 Be 204
Alternative routes................04. 206
Additional functions...............0-- 206
Satellite Map’s + 6 gare = cama a e weep os oe 207
Mapreipdates » cmos + x sre: «2 anes aw onnens 208
Traffic incidents.............. 000 eee 209
SOtuiNGS wows ¢ « eeen ¢ nae 2 Bees doe 210
Radio........ 0... eee eee ee 212
Generalinformation................. 212
Radio functions sss < eins 2 + wen 3 6 eacern 213
Online radio... .... eee eee eee 216
Options and settings................. 217
Troubleshooting wisi « s wen» 6 eae o + wae 218
Media................. 0c cece eee 220
General information................. 220
DVD drive...... 0... eee eee eee 220
Bluetooth audio player............... 221
Amazon Alexa..........-.:se eee ee eee 221
Multimedia connections.............. 222
Playing media..............00. 0.0 ee 223
Options and settings................. 227

4M8012721BF
Storage and convenience

> To pull the luggage compartment cover out,
hold the handle @ on the cover and pull it to-
ward the rear of the vehicle until it locks into
place audibly at the ends of the guide rails 2).
> To retract the luggage compartment cover, lift
it lightly and guide it slowly by hand toward the
front of the vehicle without letting it retract
quickly.
> To remove the luggage compartment cover,
pull both levers (3) firmly in the direction of the
arrow and remove the cover upward.
> To install the luggage compartment cover,
place the cover in the mounts on the side trim
panels on the left and right side.
> Push the cover downward until it clicks into
place.

lg gage compartment [coy ees
Applies to: vehicles with power luggage compartment cover
Qs
Z
Fig. 71 Luggage compartment: retracted cover (power)

Observe the safety precautions > page 83.
If you open the luggage compartment lid, the
power luggage compartment cover will move in-
to position @ or Q).
> You can also operate the power luggage com-
partment cover manually. To do this, slowly
guide the cover by hand into position @ or 2)
without letting it move quickly.
> To remove the luggage compartment cover,
bring it into position @, pull the lever @)
=> page 84, fig. 70 firmly in the direction of the
arrow, and remove the cover upward.
> To install the luggage compartment cover,
place the cover in the mounts on the side trim
panels on the Left and right side.

D In certain countries.
> Push the cover downward until it clicks into
place.

Applies to: vehicles with air suspension

Fig. 72 Left side of the luggage compartment: rear lower-
ing button
The rear of the vehicle can be lowered to make
loading and unloading easier.
Requirement: all vehicle doors must be closed.
The trailer mode for air suspension is switched
off.
> Open the luggage compartment lid.
> To lower the rear of the vehicle, press on the
lower section of the button @).
> To raise the rear of the vehicle, press on the up-
per section of the button @).
The LED in the button will turn on while the vehi-
cle is lowering. When the loading level has been
reached, the LED will stay on as long as the rear
of the vehicle is in the lowered position. The LED
turns off when the vehicle returns to the original
level.
The rear of the vehicle will be automatically
raised when you select another mode or start to
drive.
©) Note
— Do not park the vehicle in a lowered loading
level.
— Also refer to the information about ground
clearance > page 113.

8s

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

4M8012721BF
Driving

Brake pads
New brake pads do not achieve their full braking
effect during the first 250 miles (400 km). They
must be “broken in” first. However, you can com-
pensate for the slightly reduced braking force by
pressing firmly on the brake pedal. Avoid heavy
braking during the break-in period.
Brake pad wear depends largely on the way the
vehicle is driven and on operating conditions.
Brake pad wear increases when driving frequently
in the city or short distances or when using a very
sporty driving style.
Ceramic brakes
Applies to: vehicles with ceramic brakes
Ceramic brakes provide excellent deceleration
rates.
The break-in period for new ceramic brakes may
be significantly longer than for standard brake
rotors. Due to the properties of the material,
they may cause noises at lower speeds. Ceramic
brakes also absorb more moisture in wet condi-
tions. Therefore, there will temporarily be less
braking force than when the brakes are dry. You
can compensate for this by pressing the brake
pedal harder.
Automatic post-collision braking system
The automatic post-collision braking system can
help to reduce the risk of sliding and of addition-
al collisions after an accident. If the airbag con-
trol module detects a collision, the vehicle is
braked by the ESC.
The vehicle does not brake automatically if one of
the following occurs:
— The driver presses the accelerator pedal, or
— The braking force generated by the pressed
brake pedal is greater than the braking force
that
would be initiated by the system
— The ESC, the brake system, or the vehicle elec-
trical system is not functioning

ZX WARNING
— Only apply the brakes for the purpose of
cleaning the brake system when road and
traffic conditions permit. You must not en-

danger other road users and increase the
risk of an accident.
— Due to the risk of injury, only have an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility work on the brake system.
Incorrect repairs could impair the function.
— Never let the vehicle roll while the engine is
stopped because this increases the risk of an
accident.
— During automatic braking maneuvers, the
brake pedal may move downward automati-
cally. To reduce the risk of injury, do not
place your foot under the brake pedal.
() Note
— Never let the brakes “rub” by pressing the
pedal lightly when braking is not actually
necessary. This can cause the brakes to over-
heat and increases braking distance and
causes wear.


— Observe the important information for driv-
ing downhill > page 108. This especially ap-
plies when towing a trailer.
(i) Tips
— If you retrofit your vehicle with a front spoil-
er, wheel covers or similar items, make sure
that
the air flow to the brakes is not ob-
structed. Otherwise the brake system can
overheat.
— Also refer to the information about brake
fluid > page 250.
Messages
EG if © Brakes: malfunction! Stop vehicle
safely
There is a malfunction in the brake system. If
ES/ Gana B also turn on, there is a malfunc-
tion in the ABS, ESC, and braking distribution. If
the brake booster is not working, you have to use
much more force when braking the vehicle.
Do not continue driving. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance. Read and follow the other safety pre-
cautions > A\.
105

4M8012721BF
Driving


rolling before exiting the vehicle > page 96.
See an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility for assistance.

G) Tips
— On steep inclines, especially when in trailer
mode, the vehicle may roll backwards unin-
tentionally when starting to drive. To reduce
the risk of this happening, pull and hold the
switch while pressing the accelerator
pedal. If enough drive power has built up at
the wheels and the vehicle does not roll
backwards, then release the switch to start
to drive.
— If you leave the vehicle when “D” or “R” are
engaged, the parking brake will be set auto-
matically.
— Noises when the parking brake is set and re-
leased are normal and are not a cause for
concern.
— The parking brake goes through a self-test
cycle at regular intervals when the vehicle is
stopped. Any noises associated with this are
normal.
Emergency braking function
Emergency braking should only be used in an
emergency, if the standard brake pedal is mal-
functioning or obstructed. When the emergency
braking function is activated, the braking effect is
similar to a heavy braking maneuver.
> Pull and hold the ©) switch while driving.
> An audio warning signal will sound and emer-
gency braking will begin.
> If you press the accelerator pedal, emergency
braking will be canceled.

ZA WARNING
Heavy braking while driving through curves or
in poor road or weather conditions can cause
the vehicle to slide or the rear of the vehicle to
swerve, which increases the risk of an acci-

dent.

Messages
ii) B) Parking brake: malfunction! Safely
stop vehicle. See owner's manual
GG / © Parking brake: malfunction! Please
release parking brake
If one of the two messages appears, there is a
malfunction in the parking brake. If the message
appears while stationary, check if the parking
brake is released and can be reset. If this is the
case,
switch the ignition off and back on.
If the message stays on, if the parking brake can-
not be released, or if the message appears while
driving, do not continue driving. Secure the vehi-
cle against rolling before exiting the vehicle
= page 96. See an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility for assistance.
ww Parking brake: malfunction! Please contact
Service
There is a malfunction in the parking brake. Drive
to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi
Service Facility immediately to have the malfunc-
tion corrected. Do not park the vehicle on inclines
and shift to “P”.
x | / Parking brake: warning! Vehicle parked
too steep
The braking force may not be enough to secure
the vehicle from rolling away. Park the vehicle in
a place with less of an incline.
& / {Q) Parking brake: applied
The parking brake is set. Press and hold the brake
pedal to release the parking brake.
Special driving situations
Sporty driving
Applies to: RS models
When driving in a sporty style, the wear on all ve-
hicle components is greatly increased, especially
on the engine, transmission, tires, brakes, and
suspension. This can result in increased wear. Al-
so note the following points:
107
>

Driving

— Make sure the vehicle is in good condition.
Make sure to check the brake pads, tire tread,
and tire pressure (when tires are warm).
— Beforehand, warm up the engine by driving no
higher than two-thirds of the maximum permit-
ted engine RPM. The engine oil must be
brought to a minimum temperature of 158 °F
(70°C).
— Before stopping the vehicle, allow the engine
and brakes to cool back down to a regular oper-
ating temperature by driving normally.
If necessary, use the following functions:
— dynamic Audi drive select mode* > page 111
— Limit ESC > page 116
@) Tips
Wear caused by load does not constitute a ve-
hicle fault as defined by the terms of the war-
ranty.
Driving uphill and downhill
When driving uphill, downhill, or at high alti-
tudes, note the following information:
— Drive slowly and carefully.
— Do not try to turn around if you cannot safely
drive on an incline or hill. Instead, drive in re-
verse.
— When driving down hills, you can activate the
hill descent control if you press the brake pedal
while driving in “D” gear. The automatic trans-
mission will select a gear suitable for driving
down the hill and will attempt to maintain the
speed at which the vehicle was traveling at the
time the brake pedal was pressed. Press the
brake pedal if necessary. The hill descent con-
trol will switch off once the hill levels out or
you press the accelerator pedal.
— Utilize the engine braking effect when driving
downhill by selecting the “S” driving program
=> page 98. This especially applies when towing
a trailer. This reduces the load on the brakes.
— Apply the brakes in intervals and do not press
the brake pedal continuously.
— Use the hill descent assist if necessary
=> page 109
108
Inclinometer
Applies to: vehicles with a tilt angle display
You can display the vehicle's sideways angle and
lengthwise angle in relation to the horizon.
— Applies to: MMI: Select on the home screen:
VEHICLE > Vehicle data.
— You may need to scroll down to the Inclinome-
ter display.
The sideways angle of your vehicle should not ex-
ceed the yellow range in the gauge. If it reaches
the red range, there is a risk that the vehicle
might tip.
The steering wheel angle, the elevation, the com-
pass direction, and the geo-coordinates of the
current vehicle position are displayed in addition
to the current vehicle angle. You will also receive
information about the maximum sideways and
lengthwise angle that was reached in the current
driving cycle. These values are reset when the ig-
nition is switched off.
Note that the accuracy of the display depends on
the driving situation.

ZA\ WARNING
— Only drive on inclines that your vehicle is de-
signed to handle. Do not exceed the hill
climbing ability of your vehicle. Your vehicle
could tip or slide.
— Do not drive at an angle on steep inclines
and hills. If your vehicle is about to tip, you
must immediately start steering in the di-
rection of the downward slope to reduce the
risk of an accident.
— Always be ready to brake when using the hill
descent control function.
— Applies to: vehicles with an inclinometer: Do
not rely only on the inclinometer when as-
sessing the driving situation.
ier A dials)
Your vehicle is not an offroad vehicle. Note the
following points when driving offroad:

— Drive slowly and carefully.
—To reduce the risk of underbody damage, pay
attention to the vehicle's ground clearance and >

Trailer towing

Trailer towing
Driving with a trailer
er else)
Your vehicle is primarily intended for transport-
ing people and luggage. However, if you drive
with a trailer, follow the technical requirements,
the operation and driving tips, and the legal reg-
ulations.
Driving with a trailer affects the vehicle's energy
usage, performance, and wear. It also requires
higher concentration from the driver.

ZA\ WARNING
Do not transport any people in a trailer due to
the risk of fatal injury.
Technical requirements
Trailer hitch

Only use a trailer hitch with a removable ball
hitch mount and ball hitch. The trailer hitch must
be permitted for the vehicle, the trailer and the
permitted total weight of the trailer being
pulled. Above all, it must be securely and safely
attached to the vehicle trailer.
Never mount a trailer hitch on the bumper. The
trailer hitch must be mounted in a way that does
not impair the function of the bumper. Do not
make any changes to the exhaust system and the
brake system.
Check regularly if the trailer hitch is securely
mounted. Always follow the instructions given by
the trailer hitch manufacturer.
Trailer brakes
If the trailer has its own brake system, then fol-
low the manufacturer specifications. However,
the brake system on the trailer must never be
connected to the vehicle brake system.
Engine cooling system
Driving with a trailer means a higher load on the
engine and the cooling system. The cooling sys-
tem must be designed for additional load and
contain enough coolant > @.
118

ZA\ WARNING
— Never mount a "weight-distributing" or
"load-balancing" trailer coupler as the trailer
hitch. The vehicle was not designed for
these types of trailer hitches. The trailer
hitch can malfunction and the trailer can
break off from the vehicle.
— If the trailer is equipped with electronic
brakes, these brakes cannot be activated by
a factory-installed control system, which in-
creases the risk of an accident.
—To reduce the risk of injury, always remove
the ball hitch mount if no trailer is mount-
ed
@) Note
Longer inclines cannot be driven without a
suitable cooling system, especially if the out-
side temperatures are high. Otherwise, this
increases the risk of engine damage.
ey emia aCe
Towing capacity

The permitted towing capacity must not be ex-
ceeded under any circumstances > page 314.
You can drive up larger inclines if you are not us-
ing the maximum towing capacity.
The specified towing weights only apply at eleva-
tions up to 3,200 feet (1,000 m) above sea level.
As the elevation increases, the engine power de-
creases due to the decreasing air pressure. This
reduces the hill climbing ability and towing ca-
pacity. For every additional 3,200 feet (1,000 m),
the maximum permitted towing weight must be
reduced by approximately 10%. The permitted
towing weight is the combined weight of the
(loaded) vehicle and the (loaded) trailer.
Tongue weight
The maximum permitted tongue weight of the
trailer drawbar on the trailer hitch ball head must
not be exceeded.
For driving safety, Audi recommends always us-
ing
the maximum permitted tongue weight, but
do not exceed this weight. Distributing the cargo >

4M8012721BF
Trailer towing

in the trailer correctly will help to achieve this
weight. Having the tongue weight too low affects
the vehicle's handling.
You can determine the tongue weight using a
tongue weight scale, a bathroom scale, or a pub-
lic weigh station, for example.
The permitted tongue weight of your vehicle can
be found in the vehicle documentation or in
=> page 314.
Load distribution
Poor cargo load and distribution can negatively
impact vehicle handling. Load the trailer based
on the following criteria as much as possible:
— Store objects in the vehicle luggage compart-
ment, if possible. The vehicle should always
carry the heaviest possible load and the trailer
should have the lightest possible load.
— Distribute the load in the trailer so that the
heavy objects are as close to the axle as possi-
ble.
— Secure objects so that they do not slide.
— Utilize the maximum permitted tongue weight
if possible.
Tires
Set the tire pressure on your vehicle for a “full
load”; see the tire pressure sticker > page 266. If
necessary, also adjust the tire pressure on the
trailer according to the manufacturer's specifica-
tions.
The trailer and the vehicle should be equipped
with winter tires when driving in winter tempera-
tures.
Outside mirrors
If you cannot see the traffic behind the trailer
with the standard exterior mirrors, then you
must attach additional exterior mirrors. Adjust
them so you have a sufficient visibility behind
you.
Exterior lighting
Follow the legal regulations for lighting on your
trailer that are applicable in the country where
you are operating the vehicle. Contact an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty for more information.
Before you start driving, check all lighting equip-
ment on the trailer while it is hitched to the vehi-
cle.
The headlight range control automatically ad-
justs the light range of the headlights.
Safety chains
Make sure the safety chains are correctly applied
when pulling a trailer. The chains should hang
enough so that the trailer can drive around
curves. However, they must not touch the
ground.
Air suspension
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
The Audi drive select* comfort mode > page 111
must be selected before you adjust the tongue
weight on the trailer and hitch the trailer >,
> page 113.
The air suspension trailer mode must be switched
on.
Applies to MMI: select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Settings & Service > Air suspension:
trailer.
Switch trailer mode off again when you are no
longer towing a trailer.
For vehicles with a factory-installed trailer hitch,
the air suspension trailer mode will automatically
switch on if you connect the trailer connector to
the socket.
When using rear carrier systems that are mount-
ed directly on the trailer hitch ball head, you can
also switch trailer mode off manually.
If you must drive on roads that are in poor condi-
tion, you can raise the vehicle again after hitching
the trailer or after adjusting the tongue weight
> page 113.
You can also increase ground clearance by select-
ing the Audi drive select* offroad or allroad
modes > page 111.
119