Arriving at mid-life, the RS models in the Audi range traditionally draw a variant called performance which, as its name suggests, raises the tone when it comes to power and torque value. Count on 640 hp and 850 Nm.
At the top of the Audi range, the Q8 coupe SUV is available in the form of a sporty SQ8 version with a 507 hp 4.0 V8 TFSI engine as well as an RS Q8 with the block engine pushed to 600 hp. The restyling of this technical cousin of the Lamborghini Urus is accompanied by a now traditional RS Q8 performance version. An even more exclusive variant which will be appreciated for its 640 hp and its torque value of 850 Nm (50 Nm better than the RS Q8 in short).
The engineers of the brand with the rings were careful not to place the cursor above the Urus. The latter retains a power of 650 hp in its basic version and reaches 666 hp in the Urus Performante version, so there is no crime of lèse majesté in the ranks of the VW group.
RS Q8, the strongest of Audi’s thermal models
The technical sheet of the Audi RS Q8 performance indicates a 0 to 100 km/h achieved in 3.6 seconds (this is two tenths better than the RS Q8 version) and a top speed of 250 km/h as standard which can be increased to 280 km/h (dynamic pack) or 305 km/h as an option (dynamic plus pack). Audi specifies that this version receives the RS sports exhaust system as standard, which according to the brand “further intensifies the sound experience”.
For the record, the Audi RS6 Avant Performance and RS6 Avant GT make do with 630 hp, which makes the Audi RS Q8 performance the most powerful thermal model in the manufacturer’s range.
No RS Q8 on the French market
Moreover, the latter will be the only one that will remain in the catalog on the French market, it will be invoiced there when orders open on June 27 at a price of €184,800 excluding ecological penalty. With CO2 emissions between 296 and 304 g/km, i.e. in the maximum range of the scale (above 226 g/km), the acquisition of the car will require an additional €60,000 from you. Or a final addition of €244,800.
In fact, the restyling of the Audi RS Q8 results in a redesigned front bumper with a large number of grilles in a honeycomb structure. At the rear, the diffuser which still highlights the double oval exhaust outlets is shared in the middle by a reflector, a retro-reflector which adds a little racing touch.
And in detail, the Audi RS Q8 uses extensively digitized OLED rear lights, equipped with five digital light signatures. The Audi RS Q8 performance can optionally receive 23-inch rims, each reducing the unsprung mass by 5 kg per wheel. They can be wrapped with Pirelli P Zero tires in 295/35 R23. In the cabin of the RS packs, red, gray or blue, the latter being the prerogative of the RS Q8 Performance.
