A fresh report out of the United Kingdom suggests that the upcoming Audi RS Q8 could churn out a whopping 500 kW and 850 N.m, which would make it not only the most powerful production model in the Ingolstadt-based automaker’s storied history, but also lend it more punch than its Lamborghini Urus stablemate.
According to the folks over at Autocar, the RS Q8 is set to be unveiled in 2019, and will be powered by the electrified twin-turbo 4,0-litre V8 petrol engine already used in the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid (although Audi’s SUV will, of course, be somewhat heavier).
If the hottest version of Audi’s recently revealed Q8 does indeed inherit the full-fat output of the hybridised Porsche, it’ll outpunch the R8 V10 Plus by some 51 kW and the Urus by 22 kW (although the Audi will only match the Lamborghini’s peak torque figure). The British publication speculates that the newcomer should hit 100 km/h from standstill in around 4,0 seconds.
If that does indeed turn out to be the case, the RS Q8 will be quicker to three figures than the likes of the Mercedes-AMG GLE63 and the BMW X6 M. Still, Autocar does point out that high-performance hybrid versions of both the Porsche Cayenne and Urus are expected to follow the RS Q8, and likely outpower it…