In the world of motoring, the eternal struggle between practicality and performance rages on. You want a family-friendly SUV, but you also crave a car that will pin you to your seat with every enthusiastic prod of the throttle. Fortunately, Audi understands your dilemma and has answered with the new RS Q8 performance – a fire-breathing, road-hugging beast that also happens to be a perfectly sensible daily driver. Who says you can’t have your bread buttered on both sides?
This latest addition to Audi’s performance SUV stable isn’t just another fast family wagon – it’s the most powerful series-production combustion model in the history of Audi Sport GmbH. That’s right, with a mighty 471kW and 850Nm on tap, the RS Q8 performance is no slouch. It catapults itself from 0-100km/h in just 3.6 seconds, which means that should you find yourself in a bit of a hurry, you won’t be left wanting. In fact, you might want to warn your passengers before take-off – or at least secure their coffee cups.
But Audi hasn’t just crammed a monstrous V8 under the bonnet and called it a day. The RS Q8 performance boasts a self-locking centre differential that keeps all that power in check, ensuring that this high-riding powerhouse corners with the kind of precision you’d expect from something far smaller and lighter. Whether you’re tackling the school run or carving through a mountain pass, this SUV is ready for action. It’s got the soul of a sports car but still has space for your gym bag, groceries, and possibly even the family dog – if it can handle the G-forces!
Of course, an Audi Sport model needs to look the part, and the RS Q8 performance does not disappoint. Its aggressive front apron, complete with massive air intakes and a reinterpreted honeycomb grille, makes it clear that this is no ordinary Q8. At the rear, the signature RS oval tailpipes sit proudly on either side of a sporty diffuser, ensuring that even those you leave in your dust get a proper view of its high-performance credentials. If that’s not enough, you can opt for an RS sport exhaust system that further amplifies the V8’s growl – because if you’ve got it, you might as well flaunt it.
Handling is another area where the RS Q8 performance defies expectations. Standard adaptive air suspension with controlled damping provides the perfect balance between comfort and sharp responsiveness, and the all-wheel steering makes it feel far more agile than something of its size should. Need even more precision? Opt for the dynamic package plus, which adds electromechanical active roll stabilisation, a quattro sport differential, and an RS ceramic braking system. And just in case you were worried about top speed, this package also unlocks a blistering 305km/h … just in case you’re running really late …
Inside, Audi has ensured that the RS Q8 performance feels as premium as it is potent. High-quality materials, RS-specific design elements, and customisable interior packages in red, grey, or blue ensure that you feel cocooned in luxury, even when you’re testing the limits of its Nürburgring-conquering abilities. And yes, it has earned its bragging rights on the legendary German circuit, clocking in as the fastest SUV to ever lap the Nordschleife. Practicality meets pace, and the result is record-breaking.
To add the finishing touch, Audi has thrown in cutting-edge lighting technology, because nothing says “get out of my way” quite like digital OLED taillights with customisable light signatures. You can even select a checkered flag pattern to remind everyone that this SUV means business.
With the launch of the RS Q8 performance, Audi has completed the refreshed Q8 range in South Africa. If you’re after something slightly less ferocious but still luxurious, there are more sensible options available, with the standard Q8 models offering a touch of elegance without the warp-speed acceleration. But if you want the best of both worlds – an SUV that can keep up with supercars while still comfortably handling the daily grind – the RS Q8 performance is the answer.
Yes, it comes at a price. But let’s be honest – if you’re looking at this, you’re not shopping with your sensible hat on. You’re here for speed, style, and a touch of lunacy wrapped in premium German engineering. And for that, the RS Q8 performance delivers in spades.
Model line-up & pricing:
- Q8 45 TDI quattro Tiptronic Platinum Edition: R1 968 700
- Q8 45 TDI quattro Tiptronic Black Edition: R2 015 400
- Q8 55 TFSI quattro Tiptronic Platinum Edition: R2 011 700
- Q8 55 TFSI quattro Tiptronic Black Edition: R2 058 400
- RS Q8 performance quattro Tiptronic: R2 676 500
* The Q8 range is sold with a comprehensive 5-year/100 000km service and maintenance plan as standard.
