2021 Audi RS Q8: Review, Specs and Price in UAE

Audi RS Q8 is the most powerful SUV Audi has ever built and it is the top model in the Q product line. It combines the power of an RS model with the elegance of a premium coupe and the flexibility of an SUV. It has high performance, variability and every day usability.

Acceleration and Top Speed

Powering the Audi RS Q8 is a 4.0 Liter V8 engine that  delivers impressive RS performance. The turbocharged gasoline engine with direct injection accelerates the large SUV coupe from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds and to 200 km/h in 13.7 seconds. The 250 km/h top speed is electronically limited and with the optional dynamic package, top speed has been limited to 305 km/h.

Engine

The 4.0 L engine has a sportily voluminous sound. As is typical for the RS models, the dual exhaust system features an impressive oval tailpipe on each side. The driver can influence the engine’s sound via the Audi drive select system. The optional RS sport exhaust system with black tailpipe trims offers an even sportier sound. The power flows to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system via the standard eight-speed tiptronic. Configured as a planetary gear, the purely mechanical center differential typically distributes the drive power in a 40:60 ratio to the front and rear axles. In the event of slip, more drive torque automatically goes to the axle with the better traction. Up to 70 percent can be directed to the front wheels and up to 85 percent to the rear wheels.

Suspension and driving dynamics

The five-link construction at the front and rear axles handle longitudinal and lateral forces separately. The linkages and the subframes are made largely of aluminum. The SUV coupe has a track of 1,692 millimeters up front and 1,696 millimeters at the rear. The standard adaptive air suspension sport with controlled damping means the new RS Q8 is equally at home on the racetrack or an offroad trail. Its RS-specific damper tuning allows for a particularly broad spread between a setup biased toward comfort and an extremely sporty setup. Depending on driving situation and the driver’s wishes, the body’s ride height varies by up to 90 millimeters.

Audi RS Q8 Specs:

Engine: 4.0 Liter – V8 Horsepower: 600 Bhp Torque: 800 Nm Drive System: All Wheel Drive Transmission: 8 Speed Automatic triptronic

Exterior:

With its imposing octagonal Singleframe, the RS-specific radiator grille in high gloss black and the gloss black RS honeycomb grille, the new Audi RS Q8 sports a strikingly self-confident face. This combined with the solid side air inlets and the blade in high gloss black perfectly highlights the athletic character of the large SUV coupe.

The sloping roofline flows into the forward-canted D-pillars and rests against the quattro blisters above the wheel arches. RS-specific trim strips in the body color widen the body by 10 millimeters up front and 5 millimeters in the rear, providing space for the more generous track. Optional 23-inch wheels underscore the powerful appearance of the RS Q8. The continuous RS sills come standard in Manhattan gray, which makes the body appear even more athletic. An RS roof edge spoiler provides a striking finish at the top; design highlights closer to the road are the RS-specific rear skirt with a diffuser clip in high gloss black and the RS-typical oval tailpipes. The RS roof edge spoiler provides downforce on the rear axle for even balance at high speeds. The new Audi RS Q8 is available in a choice of nine colors: one solid paint finish and eight metallic or pearl effect shades. The exterior mirror housings come standard in black, with body color, aluminum or carbon available as options. The aluminum and carbon styling packages set precise accents at the radiator grille, blades, diffuser clip and rear light strip (carbon only). In combination with the styling packages black and carbon, the Audi rings and RS logos at the front and rear are optionally available in black. The Audi exclusive program offers numerous additional customization options.

Audi RS Q8 Interior:

The interior of the new RS Q8 features a deliberately clean design. All elements beneath the black cloth headlining have a logical connection and harmonize with one another. The headlining is optionally available in lunar silver cloth, Alcantara lunar silver or Alcantara black. The slim instrument panel and the strongly horizontal lines 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. Another primary design element is the wide, symmetrical console of the center tunnel. Framing it are design elements in Aluminum Race, anthracite, which underscore the sporty character of the large SUV coupe. Special RS displays in the Audi virtual cockpit and MMI display provide information on such things as tire pressure, torque, output, temperature, lap times and g-forces. The shift light display prompts the driver to upshift when the rev limit is reached. The optional head-up display also offers several RS-specific graphics. The sport seats in black pearl Nappa leather/Alcantara with RS embossing fit perfectly into the athletic ambiance of the large SUV coupe. An even more luxurious option are the RS sport seats in Valcona leather with a honeycomb pattern and RS embossing. In addition to a massage function, the RS sport seats are perforated to also provide ventilation. They come standard in black, with options for cognac and granite gray. The two RS design packages include red or gray contrasting stitching on the knee pads, steering wheel rim, floor mats, selector lever and the edges of the seat belts. With both packages, the center console, selector lever and steering wheel are covered in Alcantara. Additional choices include inlays in carbon matt, gray oak or Aluminum Spectrum. The extended leather package also includes the upper door panels and takes the ambiance even further upscale. There is an RS logo on the steering wheel. The illuminated front door sill trims sport an RS Q8 logo. 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. RS-specific displays then open automatically in the Audi virtual cockpit. With the seat backrests folded down, the luggage compartment under the power rear hatch holds up to 1,755 liters.

Infotainment

The new Audi RS Q8 supports the driver in many situations. The comprehensive range of over 30 assist systems includes such things as the adaptive cruise assist, efficiency assist, intersection assist, lane change warning and 360 degree cameras. The navigation system learns the driver’s preferences from the routes driven and can therefore make intelligent suggestions. The online services from Audi connect add predictive features to the route planning process.

2021 Audi RS Q8 price in UAE: Starting from AED 549,500

The top trim we tested is priced at AED 685,600 and is available in the UAE at Audi Al Nabooda.