Audi prices monster RS Q8 SUV from $208,500

AUDI Australia has announced pricing and specification for its most potent SUV to date, the RS Q8, with the manic twin-turbocharged V8 touching down in October priced from $208,500 plus on-road costs.

Only the second fully-fledged RS SUV in Audi’s range after the RS Q3 pocket rocket, the RS Q8 represents the flagship of the German brand’s SUV portfolio and comes with an engine to match – a 4.0-litre twin-turbo petrol V8 borrowed from the RS6 and RS7 pair, tuned to produce a hefty 441kW of power and 800Nm of torque.

This is enough to see it comfortably positioned as the most powerful SUV in Audi’s local portfolio, ahead of the 320kW SQ7/SQ8 diesel, and places it squarely in the sights of the BMW X6 M Competition (460kW/750Nm) and Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S Coupe (450kW/850Nm).

The engine also features 48V mild-hybrid technology and cylinder deactivation that can help reduce fuel consumption by as much as 0.8 litres per 100km.

With the V8 under the hood driving all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, the burly SUV can rocket from standstill to 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds, on to 200km/h in 13.7s and to an electronically limited top speed of 250km/h.

Despite its heft, the RS Q8 is still nimble through corners, as evidenced by its record-setting lap of the Nurburgring for a production SUV, achieved in just 7:42.253 minutes.

Like all Audi Sport offerings, the RS Q8 comes with standard quattro all-wheel drive that in this case has a 40:60 front/rear torque bias which can be altered to send up to 85 per cent to the rear wheels for optimised sporty driving.

The quattro sport differential mounted on the rear axle helps channel the power accurately to the rear wheels, while dynamics are further aided by the fitment of all-wheel steering, which is designed to make the RS Q8 nimbler at low speeds and stabler at high velocity.

Leveraging the 48V mild-hybrid system, electromechanical active roll stabilisation comes as standard, which works with the adaptive air suspension to smooth out road imperfections and keep the SUV low and flat through corners.

Stopping power comes courtesy of beefy 10-piston callipers grabbing 420mm front and 370mm rear discs, with carbon-ceramic stoppers available as an optional extra.

All of the vehicle’s onboard stability and dynamics systems can be accessed via the steering-wheel-mounted button which allows for two hi-po driving modes.

The RS Q8 is visually distinguishable by its blacked-out honeycomb grille and surrounds, Matrix LED headlights, signature oval-shaped tailpipes and massive 23-inch alloy wheels, a first for an Audi production vehicle.

Other standard kit includes an electric tailgate, soft-close doors, privacy glass, panoramic glass sunroof, convenience key, metallic paint, and heated, folding and dimming exterior mirrors.

The RS Q8’s interior is upholstered in Valcona leather with honeycomb stitching, and the front sports seats add heating and ventilation, and four-way lumbar support.

The now-familiar twin-screen multimedia set-up (10.1-inch and 8.6-inch displays) features in the RS Q8, complemented by the 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit digital instrument cluster, a head-up display, 17-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system, wireless charging, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility.

A full suite of active safety equipment is included, with adaptive cruise control with traffic-jam assist, autonomous emergency braking front and rear, active lane guidance, side assist, rear cross-traffic assist, collision avoidance, surround-view monitor and tyre pressure monitor.

A number of equipment packages will also be available, including two exterior packages, the Sensory package and a package that includes carbon-ceramic brakes and allows for a 305km/h top speed.

Through the first half of the year, Audi has sold 109 examples of the Q8, marking a 50.7 per cent dip over the 221 managed to the same point last year.

2020 Audi Q8 pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs