2020 Audi RS Q8 Unveiled with 590 Hp and Wicked Looks

With the Audi Q8 now positioned as the brand’s flagship SUV, it was only natural that a high-performance RS variant would follow. The world premiere of the new 2020 Audi RS Q8 took place today at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show.

This wicked, coupe-style SUV shares its twin-turbocharged V8 engine with the RS 7 and RS 6 Avant. It produces 590 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque, accelerating from 0-100 km/h in 3.8 seconds on its way to a top speed of 305 km/h. Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system has been specifically tuned for the RS Q8 and mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Similar to the RS 7 and RS 6 Avant, there is a mild hybrid system featuring a 48-volt battery. This allows the vehicle to coast with the engine turned off at speeds between 55-160 km/h for about 40 seconds. It improves fuel economy on the highway, much like the cylinder deactivation technology that shuts off four of the eight cylinders when cruising under light load.

Photo: Tobias Sagmeister

Performance and driving dynamics are further enhanced with four-wheel steering as standard equipment. The brakes use 420-millimetre discs with 10-piston callipers up front and 370-millimetre discs in the rear. Optionally, Audi offers 440-millimetre ceramic disc brakes.

“Hulk”

That’s the nickname designers gave to the Java Green 2020 Audi RS Q8 you see here. It certainly looks like a monster with 20 millimetres of extra body width in front and another 10 millimetres in the rear, plus a honeycomb grille, new rocker panels, a rear spoiler, available 23-inch wheels and large tailpipes.

Photo: Tobias Sagmeister

Inside, the first thing that catches the eye are the RS sport seats with heating, ventilation and massage. The Alcantara-trimmed multi-function steering wheel features a new RS Mode button that activates either the RS 1 or RS 2 driver profile.

For example, you can dedicate RS 1 to softer settings that maximize passenger comfort and reserve RS 2 for more dynamic settings that increase performance in solo driving. As a result, the RS Q8 can go from docile and forgiving to furiously aggressive on demand.

We had the opportunity to ride in an Audi RS Q8 driven by Frank Stippler, the most recent winner of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring, and it was quite an exhilarating experience, as you can imagine.

Pretty soon it will be our turn to spend time behind the wheel, so keep an eye out for our review on The Car Guide.

Share on Facebook

More on the subject

First Drives2020 Audi RS Q8: Green Hell’s Fastest SUV
Nürburgring Nordschleife, Germany— Somewhere between the famous Pflanzgarten and Schwalbenschwanz bends, the new Audi RS Q8 goes up in the air as Frank Stippler jumps the rumble strip at the apex of a left turn sitting on a ridge. Strapped to the passenger seat next to him, I’m extremely impressed …
NewsThe Car Guide’s 2019 Best Buys: Audi Q7 and Q8
The midsize luxury SUV segment is filled with models that serve up performance, opulence and style, to the point where it’s hard for consumers to make a sound purchase decision. The Car Guide makes the process easier with its annual Best Buys in this market segment, in addition to all …
First Drives2019 Audi Q8: The New Face of Audi SUVs
BMW has the X6, Mercedes-Benz has the GLE Coupe, and now Audi will introduce its Q8 to Canada in the first quarter of 2019. Foreshadowed by the Q8 sport concept unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show in March 2017, the new Q8 borrows several features from the recent A6, A7 …
News2020 Audi SQ7 and SQ8 Coming This Spring With 500 Hp
The 2020 model year is a big one for Audi’s large SUVs. We’ve already told you about the changes being made to the Q7 and the addition of the super-sporty RS Q8 , but there’s more on the way. Set to go on sale in late spring, the new 2020 …
NewsThe Car Guide’s 2020 Best Buys: Audi Q7 and Q8
Every year, The Car Guide publishes its Best Buys in nearly 30 different vehicle categories. Today we continue our review of the 2020 winners with a look at midsize luxury SUVs . And believe it or not, the four-ring brand comes out on top yet again. After dominating our Sub-compact …
News2021 Audi RS 6 Avant Has a Price to Match its Madness
Ever since we tested the wicked midsize luxury wagon from Ingolstadt last year and learned that it would be sold in Canada, there was just one thing left to know: the price. We now have the answer on Audi ’s Canadian website. The 2021 RS 6 Avant (not 2020 as …
NewsAudi Leaves Door Open for RS Q5
Is something missing with the Audi Q5 ? Not really. In fact, it’s the reason why this model is The Car Guide ’s Best Buy among compact luxury SUVs for the third consecutive year. However, if you’re one of those who answered an RS Q5 variant, you might have a …
New Models2022 Audi RS 3 Coming to Canada With Drift Mode
The upcoming 2022 Audi RS 3 will be available in five-door Sportback and four-door sedan configurations when it goes on sale in Europe this fall. In Canada, only the sedan will be offered starting in the second quarter of next year. The Car Guide took part in a virtual presentation …