The Most Powerful Audi SUV Goes On Sale In India

If you’re the sort of person who wants a commanding driving position, a V8 under the bonnet and enough oomph to post a sub-4-second sprint time, Audi India’s latest offering should be on your shortlist. Meet the RS Q8 Performance. Put simply, it’s the most powerful SUV with the German four-rings logo on sale today. It lands on Indian soil as a CBU (Completely Built Unit), attracting mammoth import taxes. As a result, the ex-showroom sticker price is INR 2.49 crore.

The Audi RS Q8 Performance packs a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre engine with eight cylinders aligned in a V form. It produces 640hp/850Nm, enough to clock 100kmph from a standstill in 3.6 seconds. Unlike most of its stablemates, which are restricted to 250kmph, the newcomer can hit 305kmph. A slick 8-speed automatic transmission, a sport differential, adaptive air suspension, RS ceramic brakes, all-wheel steering and the legendary Quattro all-wheel-drive system ensure that driving dynamics more than match those sporty looks.

As you’d expect, the Audi RS Q8 Performance comes with a handsome list of features. On the outside, it sports HD Matrix LED headlights with Audi laser light technology, RS-specific styling, 23-inch alloy wheels (multiple designs available), heated and electrically operated ORVMs with auto-dimming, and a range of colours from the standard and exclusive collection. The interior aura depends on what colour theme one selects (five available). As far as the creature comforts are concerned, the list includes four-zone climate control, powered front seats with memory, ventilation and massage functions, Audi’s virtual cockpit with RS-specific graphics, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, 30-colour ambient lighting system and two options for sporty trim elements (Aluminium Race and Anthracite).

On the safety and driver assistance fronts, the Audi RS Q8 Performance doesn’t go light either. The list comprises a Lane Departure Warning system, six airbags, electronic stability control and cruise control with a speed limiter. Audi India has packed a complementary 10-year roadside assistance membership. For that extra piece of mind, buyers can check out the options list for maintenance and service packages.