This is the new Audi RS Q8 Performance - and it’s the most powerful production car with a combustion engine ever to throttle out of the Audi Sport factory.
Audi has gone performance potty in the last few weeks.
First we had the electric RS e-tron GT Performance - the most powerful series-production Audi of all time, with an oomph of 925 PS.
Now it’s the turn of the RS Q8 Performance, which takes its place at the top of the RS Q8 tree with power of 640 PS and 850 Nm of torque.
It’s slightly more potent than either the RS 6 estate or RS 7 coupe, both of which get 630 PS, and it trumps the ‘regular’ 600 PS RS Q8, which has also been given a facelift.
The freshened-up RS Q8 SUV, and the new RS Q8 SUV Performance, take their cues from the recently upgraded Q8 SUV.
There’s a new front apron and air intakes alongside an uprated honeycomb front grille. And at the back there’s a rear diffuser sandwiched between two massive oval tailpipes.
Underpinning the lot is a stonking-great 4.0-litre V8 petrol engine. The standard RS Q8 accelerates from 0-62 mph in just 3.8 seconds while the top speed is limited to 155 mph.
The Audi RS Q8 SUV Performance, meanwhile, reduces that 0-62 mph sprint down to just 3.6 seconds while the top speed increases to 174 mph.
An Audi spokesperson tells us: “It is the most powerful series-produced combustion engine in Audi Sport GmbH’s history. By reducing back pressure, the newly developed, lighter RS sport exhaust system increases the output of the RS Q8 SUV Performance while creating a sportier, more evocative sound.”
Both versions of the new RS Q8 SUV come as standard with permanent quattro all-wheel drive, an eight-speed tiptronic gearbox, all-wheel steering, and a mechanical centre differential which distributes engine power to the front and rear axles at a ratio of 40:60. All of that means more precise cornering and less understeer.
Meanwhile the adaptive air suspension, fitted as standard, has been set up to find the balance between comfort and fun.
Besides more power, the RS Q8 Performance also gets unique exterior styling, with matt carbon flourishes replacing the black elements on the regular RS Q8 SUV.
Both versions come as standard with 22-inch 10-spoke light-alloy wheels.
And in the cabin, the Performance variant enjoys a virtual cockpit that displays a shift light indicator in manual mode - which changes the rpm display from green to yellow to red, ‘flashing in a manner identical to that used in motorsports to indicate the optimal time to change gears’, says Audi.
UK prices will be announced in the coming weeks.
Rivals to the new Audi RS Q8 Performance will include the BMW X5 M, Porsche Cayenne, and the Range Rover Sport.
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