Audi has unveiled the RS Q8 Performance, an all-new flagship Q8 with the most powerful series-production combustion engine ever made by the brand with the four rings.
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To boost the performance of the RS Q8, Audi has given the 4.0-litre V8 under the bonnet an injection of 30 kW and 50 Nm of torque, bringing peak power and torque to 471 kW and 850 Nm. The twin-turbo engine is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, packed with faster shift times.
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According to the Ingolstadt-based brand, the improved figures allow the all-wheel-drive SUV to complete the mandatory 0-100 km/h sprint in 3.6 seconds. That’s two tenths of a second faster than the standard RS Q8’s 0-100 km/h sprint time of 3.8 seconds. Top speed is set at 280 km/h. Stopping power is provided by an RS brake system, which consists of 420 mm front and 370 mm ventilated composite discs. At the front, there are 10-piston brake calipers.
But not only the drivetrain has been renewed. The RS Q8 Performance has received a ‘newly developed’ RS sports exhaust system, which, by reducing back pressure, has not only increased output but also creates a ‘sportier’ soundtrack. In addition, the top model and the standard RS Q8 have adaptive air suspension, complete with controlled damping. The latter is ‘specifically’ tailored to the RS models. Electromechanical active roll stabilization is also included in the package, as is four-wheel steering.
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“With the new RS Q8 and RS Q8 Performance, Audi Sport combines a passion for performance with prestige and suitability for everyday use to create an exciting experience,” said Rolf Michl, Managing Director at Audi Sport GmbH.
To prove its capabilities, Audi drove the large model to the Nordschleife of the Nürburgring. Driver Frank Stippler completed the lap in a time of 7:36.998 minutes. In doing so, he improved the previous lap time record for SUVs, off-road vehicles and bakkies by 2 seconds.
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