Kumbi-M on Cars

Quick Facts

• Price: R2 354 500
• Engine: 4.0-litre turbocharged petrol V8
• Power/Torque: 441kW/800nm
• 0-100: 3.8s

The most powerful SUV coupe at Audi has finally graced our shores. The big growling RSQ8 is the top model in the Q SUV product line. It combines the power of an RS model with the elegance of a premium coupé and the flexibility of an SUV. 

Exterior Design

The RSQ8 features an octagonal Singleframe, the RS-specific radiator grille in high gloss black and the gloss black RS honeycomb grille, the new Audi RS Q8 sports a strikingly self-confident face. This combined with the solid side air inlets and the blade in high gloss black perfectly highlights the athletic character of the large SUV coupé from Audi. 

The sloping roofline flows into the forward-canted D-pillars and rests against the Quattro blisters above the wheel arches. RS-specific trim strips in the body colour widen the body by 10 millimetres upfront and 5 millimetres in the rear, providing space for the more generous track. The continuous RS sills come standard in Manhattan grey, which makes the body appear even more athletic. An RS roof edge spoiler provides a striking finish at the top; design highlights closer to the road are the RS-specific rear skirt with a diffuser clip in high gloss black and the RS-typical oval tailpipes. The RS roof edge spoiler provides downforce on the rear axle for even balance at high speeds.

The new Audi RS Q8 is available in a choice of nine colours: one solid paint finish and eight metallic or pearl effect shades. The exterior mirror housings come standard with the aluminium look and include black or carbon available as options. The aluminium and carbon styling packages set precise accents at the radiator grille, blades, diffuser clip and rear light strip (carbon only). In combination with the styling packages black and carbon, the Audi rings and RS logos at the front and rear are optionally available in black. 

Let us get straight into power, 441 kW, a whooping 800 Nm of torque, 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds and to 200 km/h in 13.7 seconds. These are the brilliant figures that are produced by the big SUV which uses a 4.0-litre turbocharged petrol V8 engine. The big coupe SUV is not silent while delivering its power either, the 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 ignition sequence gives the 4.0 TFSI a sportily voluminous sound. As is typical for the Audi RS models, the dual exhaust system features an impressive oval tailpipe on each side. Drivers can influence the engine’s sound via the Audi drive select system. The standard RS sport exhaust system with black tailpipe trims offers an even sportier sound. 

My Favourite Features. 

1. The Adaptive Air Suspension  - The standard adaptive air suspension sport with controlled damping means the new RS Q8 is equally at home on the racetrack or an offroad trail. Its RS-specific damper tuning allows for a particularly broad spread between a setup biased toward comfort and an extremely sporty setup. Depending on the driving situation and the driver’s wishes, the body’s ride height varies by up to 90 millimetres.
2. The All-Wheel Steering - At low speeds, the rear wheels turn up to 5 degrees opposite the direction of the front wheels for greater agility. At high speeds, they turn up to 1.5 degrees in the same direction as the front wheels to improve stability during fast lane changes.
3. The Wheels - The new RS Q8 comes standard with 23-inch aluminium wheels in a 5 Y-spoke rotor design with 295/35-series tyres. Behind the large wheels is an RS brake system with internally vented composite disks (420 millimetres) upfront, 370 millimetres at the rear. Their 10-inch piston callipers are painted red as standard. The callipers of the optional RS ceramic brakes are available in blue and measure 440 millimetres upfront and 370 millimetres at the rear.
4. Lights - The standard tinted HD Matrix LED headlights have a three-dimensional daytime running lights signature with a digital character, similar to the LED taillights. A light strip backed by a high-gloss black surface joins the rear lights, further emphasizing the wide stance. The HD Matrix LED headlights and the rear lights include dynamic turn signals and are showcased by an expressive RS-specific animation when the car is locked or unlocked.
5. Virtual Cockpit -  Special RS displays in the Audi virtual cockpit and MMI display provide information on such things as tyre pressure, torque, output, temperature, lap times and g-forces. The shift light display prompts the driver to upshift when the rev limit is reached. The standard head-up display also offers several RS-specific graphics.

Audi RS Q8 TFSI quattro R2,354,500