The high-performance SUV coupé by Audi Sport stands for outstanding driving performance, enormous variance with regard to design and driver experience, and unrestricted everyday usability.
Self-confident: the exterior design
The new RS Q8 impressively showcases its genes as a high-performance sports car. The numerous RS design details enhance the independent character of the new top model of the RS family. Its strikingly self-confident face exhibits an imposing octagonal Singleframe with a black, glossy RS honeycomb grille and large side air inlets.
As a unique selling point, the RS Q8 is 5,012 mm in length and carries a visually encircling RS sill edge in Manhattan gray as standard. RS-specific strips in the body color give the large SUV coupé a greater width – 10 mm at the front and 5 mm at the rear. It therefore has the space necessary for a more generous track width.
The RS roof edge spoiler provides a striking finish to the coupé-style, sloping roofline. The characteristic rear light strip and the RS-specific rear apron, including typical RS oval-shaped tailpipes, add a sporty touch for pure performance.
Standard LED headlights illuminate the road with dark-tinted RS Matrix LED headlights available as an option. Here, the three-dimensional signature of the daytime running lights has a digital character, similar to the rear lights.
Clear and fully digital: the interior
The interior of the new RS Q8 features a deliberately clean design; the slim instrument panel and the strongly horizontal body line convey a feeling of spaciousness. The central element in the cockpit is the top MMI touch response display. With its black-panel look, it almost dissolves into a large, black surface when switched off.
The driver always has relevant information in view – on the display of the standard Audi virtual cockpit and on the optional RS head-up display. Special RS displays provide additional trip and vehicle data. The shift light display prompts the driver to upshift when the rev limit is reached.
The fully perforated RS sport leather steering wheel flattened at the bottom with shift paddles also includes multifunction buttons. The driver can directly select the new Audi drive select modes RS1 and RS2 via the RS MODE button. This automatically opens the RS-specific displays in the Audi virtual cockpit.
The new RS Q8 successfully combines outstanding sportiness and maximum everyday usability – and the interior is no exception. There is ample space for five. A three-seat rear bench that slides up to 10 cm is standard. The luggage compartment of the RS Q8 holds 605 liters as standard, which increases to 1,755 liters with the rear backrests folded down. An electric tailgate is standard; foot-activated gesture control is available as an option.
Sportiness and luxury are not mutually exclusive. The sport seats with RS embossing fit perfectly into the athletic atmosphere of the RS Q8. Ventilated RS sport seats in Valcona leather with a honeycomb pattern and RS embossing are an even more luxurious option. The RS Q8 is top-notch with respect to voice and connection quality thanks to the Audi phone box and voice-over LTE. The same applies to the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with fascinating 3D sound.
Confident: the drive
441 kW (600 PS), 800 Nm torque between 2,200 and 4,500; 1 rpm; from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds (combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 12.1 (19.4 US mpg); combined CO2 emissions in g/km*: 277 - 276 (445.8 – 444.2 g/mi)) – the 4.0 TFSI in the new Audi RS Q8 delivers a superior RS performance. With the optional dynamic package plus, top speed has been raised to 305 km/h.
The turbocharged gasoline engine with direct injection produces a full-bodied and sporty V8 sound, which can be adjusted using the Audi drive select dynamic handling system. Thanks to its mild-hybrid system (MHEV) with a 48-volt main on-board electrical system, the V8 power unit combines maximum performance with high efficiency. The cylinder on demand (COD) system is also onboard as another efficiency component. A standard eight-speed tiptronic transfers power to the permanent all-wheel drive quattro.
Adaptable: the suspension
With variable ground clearance, short overhangs, the quattro permanent all-wheel drive and the hill descent control, the new Audi RS Q8 can carry on when paved roads end. The standard adaptive air suspension sport with controlled damping means it is equally at home on the racetrack or an off-road trail. The RS-specific damper tuning allows a particularly generous spread – from comfort-oriented to extremely sporty.
The standard all-wheel steering moves the rear wheels of the new RS Q8 via a high-torque electric spindle drive and two track rods. The steering is perceptibly and directly balanced. Even in the central position, it has a sporty ratio of 13.3:1. During quick cornering, the optional electromechanical roll stabilization (EAWS) minimizes the lateral movements of the body.
The driver can change the character of the high-performance SUV coupé via Audi drive select. There are eight profiles available, including off-road and the customizable RS-specific RS1 and RS2 modes. These can be enabled directly via the new additional RS MODE button on the steering wheel.
The Audi RS Q8 drives on 22-inch aluminum wheels in a 10-spoke star design with 295/40-series tires as standard – the largest ever to be factory-installed on an Audi production model. As an option, 23-inch wheels with an exclusive RS design are available for the RS Q8. The calipers of the RS brake system are painted black as standard but are available in red as an option. With the
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