2021 Audi RS Q8 Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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With a powertrain shared by automotive outliers like the Lamborghini Urus and the Bentley Flying Spur, the Audi RS Q8 sits on a unique perch in the automotive tree. It’s not often you can roll down the road with more than 60 cubic feet of storage behind you, toss a casual 7:42 lap time at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, and do it all while sitting in massaging leather seats. But that’s the experience the RS Q8 offers. If there’s such a thing as a super crossover, this is it.
Based on Audi’s flagship Q8 crossover (which launched in 2018), the RS Q8 followed just a year later when it was revealed at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show. A twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 sends 591 horsepower to all four 22-inch wheels through an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. The trip from zero to 60 mph will take 3.7 seconds, according to Audi (you can expect the conservative Germans to have padded that number by at least a few tenths, however).
The list of standard features is long—and it’s not all performance-related. There’s plenty of luxury to be had with the RS Q8 as well, with standard adaptive air suspension, heated and ventilated front seats, and Audi’s Virtual Cockpit driver display, which has to be seen to be believed. A 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo handles audio duty and standard blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors front and back, and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection adds a bit of safety, although, given the RS Q8’s six-figure price tag, it’s frustrating to see features like adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning/lane-keep assist on the "available” list. Still, a standard panoramic sunroof, LEDs front and rear, all-wheel steering, and quad-zone auto climate control might take a bit of the sting out of that particular bite.
But let’s be honest, if you’re looking at the RS Q8, you’re interested in performance, and the key here goes well beyond power, though that is substantial. Dual twin-scroll turbos push the 4.0-liter V8 to produce the aforementioned 591 hp, plus 590 pound-feet of torque, with the Quattro all-wheel drive (AWD) system allowing the standard 40/60 front/rear power split to vary anywhere between 70/30 and 20/80. The all-wheel steering offers an impressive five degrees of variation on the rear axle and a sport differential handles torque distribution between wheels on that axle. An electromechanical roll bar that comes with the Dynamics Package means active roll stabilization and if you move up to the Dynamics Package Plus with the upgraded 23-inch wheels, the governed top speed goes from 155 mph to 190 mph!
So what about efficiency? With nearly 600 hp and torque and 5300 lbs of weight, don’t expect anything impressive. Even with that eight-speed automatic, cylinder deactivation, and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system that allows the RS Q8 to coast at speeds between 30 mph and 100 mph, you’re still only looking at 13 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and 15 mpg combined. Physics is physics, after all.
If the RS Q8 seems like a bit too much for you, the Audi RS 6 Avant puts the same drivetrain into a wagon for less weight, a lower center of gravity, and a lot more storage capacity. The price tag is a lot friendlier too. Either way, if you’re considering a tire-shredding, road-ripping, grocery-getter, Audi’s got the goods.
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2021 Audi RS Q8 Pricing
Trims & specs
Air Conditioning
Automatic climate control front air conditioning · Dual front air conditioning zones · Automatic climate control rear air conditioning · Dual rear air conditioning zones
Airbags
Dual front airbags · Passenger airbag deactivation: occupant sensing deactivation · Front side airbags · Rear side curtain airbags
Audio System
Antenna Type: diversity · Voice recognition audio system · Auxiliary audio input: iPod/iPhone integration · IHeartRadio internet radio · Premium Brand: Bang & Olufsen · AM/FM radio · Satellite Radio: SiriusXM · 1 subwoofer · Surround audio: 5.1 · Total Number of Speakers: 16 · Watts: 730
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel · Braking assist: hill start assist · Electronic parking brake: auto off · Front brake diameter: 16.5 · Front brakes: ventilated disc · Rear brake diameter: 14.6 · Rear brakes: ventilated disc
Comfort Features
Armrests: rear center folding with pass-thru · Cargo area floor mat material: carpet · Center console trim: carbon · Dash trim: carbon · Door sill trim: illuminated scuff plate · Door trim: carbon · Floor Mat Material: carpet · Floor Material: carpet · Floor Mats: front · Foot pedal trim: stainless steel · Shift knob trim: leather · Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Ambient lighting: color-adjustable · Assist handle: rear · Cargo area power outlet: 12V · Cargo cover: retractable · Center console: front console with armrest and storage · Cupholders: front · Dimming rearview mirror: auto-dimming · Easy entry: power driver seat · Footwell lights: color-adjustable · Memorized settings: 2 driver · Multi-function remote: keyless entry with panic alarm · One-touch windows: 4 · Power outlet(s): 12V front · Power steering: speed-proportional · Power windows: lockout button · Reading lights: rear · Rear power outlet: 12V · Steering wheel: power tilt and telescopic · Steering wheel mounted controls: audio · Storage: cargo tie-down anchors and hooks · Universal garage door opener: Homelink · Vanity mirrors: dual illuminating
Driver Seat
Adjustable lumbar support: 4-way power · Power adjustments: 14
Drivetrain
4WD Type: full time · Limited slip differential: rear
Engine
Battery: lithium ion · Battery rating: 380 CCA · Hybrid Gas Engine HP: 591 · Hybrid Gas Engine HP@RPM: 6000 · Hybrid Gas Engine Torque: 590 · Hybrid gas Engine Torque@RPM: 2200
Exterior Features
Door handle color: body-color · Exhaust: dual exhaust tips · Exhaust tip color: chrome · Fender lip moldings: body-color · Front bumper color: body-color · Grille color: black · Mirror color: aluminum · Rear bumper color: body-color · Rear spoiler: roofline spoiler · Rear spoiler color: body-color · Rear trunk/liftgate: liftgate · Window trim: aluminum
Headrests
Front headrests: adjustable · Number of front headrests: 2 · Number of rear headrests: 3
Hybrid
Starter Type: starter/belt alternator
In Car Entertainment
Connected in-car apps: Amazon Alexa · Infotainment: Android Auto ready · Infotainment screen size: 8.6 in. and 10.1 in. (dual) · Smartphone integration: wireless Apple CarPlay
Instrumentation
Fuel economy display: MPG · Instrument cluster screen size: 12.3 in. · Warnings and reminders: coolant temperature warning
Lights
Daytime running lights: LED · Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: LED · Tail and brake lights: LED
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Passenger Seat
Power adjustments: 14
Rear Seats
Type: 40-20-40 split bench
Roof
Moonroof: tilt/slide · Moonroof / Sunroof: power sunshade · Roof rails: aluminum
Safety
Automatic emergency braking: front · Camera system: surround view · Child seat anchors: LATCH system · Cross Traffic Alert: rear · Crumple zones: rear · Impact sensor: fuel cut-off · Parking sensors: front · Pre-Collision Warning System: audible warning · Pre-collision warning system: pedestrian detection · Rearview monitor: in dash
Seatbelts
Emergency locking retractors: front and rear · Front seatbelts: 3-point · Seatbelt force limiters: front · Seatbelt pretensioners: front · Seatbelt warning sensor: driver and passenger · Second row seatbelts: 3-point
Seats
Driver seat power adjustments: reclining · Front seat type: sport bucket · Passenger seat power adjustments: reclining · Rear headrests: adjustable · Rear seat folding: split · Rear seat manual adjustments: reclining · Upholstery: premium leather
Security
Power door locks: anti-lockout
Spare Tire
Kit: inflator kit
Steering
Steering ratio: 14.6
Suspension
Driver Adjustable Suspension: height · Front Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Front Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Front Suspension Classification: independent · Front Suspension Type: strut · Leveling: self leveling suspension · Rear Shock Type: gas shock absorbers · Rear Spring Type: pneumatic springs · Rear Suspension Classification: independent · Rear Suspension Type: multi-link · Stabilizer bar(s): front · Suspension control: electronic
Telematics
Driver assistance app: roadside assistance · Electronic messaging assistance: with read function · Navigation app: INRIX Traffic · Navigation system: with voice recognition · Phone: voice activated · Phone wireless data link: Bluetooth · Smart device app compatibility: myAudi with Audi connect · Smart device app function: lock operation · Wifi: hotspot
Tires
Type: summer performance
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy
Towing and Hauling
Trailer hitch: ready
Wheels
Wheel spokes: 10
Windows
Front wipers: rain sensing · Liftgate window: fixed · Power windows: with safety reverse · Rear wiper: auto-on in reverse