MUNICH—Later this summer, Audi will unveil its new flagship model. In the past, that role had been filled by the A8 , but that was before SUVs found so much favor; even in Europe, a majority of car buyers now swing that way. But forget Europe for a moment. The new Q9 is Audi’s first full-size SUV, underscoring the importance of the North American market. Late in development, the company even redesigned the cupholders to fit those giant insulated mugs that briefly became a retail obsession.

We can only show this exterior-camouflaged Q9 for now, but the photos show the production interior. Or at least that’s one of the possible trims; if you want the interior to evoke more of an Endor or Tatooine feel rather than Mustafar, there are beiges and browns, including an interesting open-grain olive wood alternative to the coarse carbon fiber you see here.…