441 kW Audi RS Q8 confirmed for South Africa … with top speed of 305 km/h!

By: CAR magazine

The new Audi RS Q8 has finally been revealed, powered by a twin-turbo 4,0-litre V8 delivering 441 kW and 800 N.m (yes, the same peak outputs as the RS6 Avant).

That’s enough, says the Ingolstadt-based firm, for the big SUV to blast from zero to 100 km/h in just 3,8 seconds (or a mere two-tenths slower than the related 478 kW Lamborghini Urus), with 200 km/h clocked in 13,7 seconds.

The RS Q8 is electronically limited to 250 km/h … or 305 km/h if you tick the right box. The latter figure, of course, matches the top speed of the Urus and is just one unit behind the Bentley Bentayga Speed. Audi says its new RS Q8 is the fastest production SUV to lap the Nürburgring Nordschleife with an official time of 7 minutes and 42,2 seconds.

The TFSI engine’s considerable grunt is directed to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. An adaptive air suspension with controlled damping ships standard, offering RS-specific damper tuning. There’s also an electromechanical active roll stabilisation system as well as all-wheel steering. A set of 22-inch alloys wrapped in 295/40 rubber ships standard, although optional 23-inch items will also be offered.

The Audi drive select system features seven different profiles (including “allroad” and “offroad”), while individually configurable RS-specific modes (RS1 and RS2) can be activated via a dedicated button on the steering wheel.

Inside, you’ll find special RS displays in the Audi virtual cockpit and MMI display, providing information such as g-force, lap times, temperature, torque and tyre pressure. The shift light prompts the driver to upshift when the rev limit is reached, while an optional head-up display also offers various RS-specific graphics.

Audi South Africa tells CARmag.co.za it plans to launch the RS Q8 in the second quarter of 2020.

See Full Audi Q8 price and specs here

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