?The Unqualified Pinnacle Of High-Performance SUVs: The RS Q8

 

You all might have noticed that Audi and its high-performance branch, Audi Sport, are on absolute fire these days. For far too long, Audi Sport only occasionally introduced one of its products to the Canadian market. Each and every one of them, from the 2007 RS 4 sedan to the latest Audi RS 5, have been met with praise and enormous enthusiasm.

 

Soon however, everything we all thought we knew about Audi Sport will be turned on its ear. As you may know, the very cool Audi RS 6 Avant is on its way and as excited as we are about the super-wagon, it’s the Audi RS Q8 that will serve as the flagship Audi Sport vehicle.

 

Calling the 2021 Audi RS Q8 the flagship of all Audi Sport vehicles requires some serious firepower, performance, and everything else one would expect from such a vehicle. This is why Audi Sport headed out to the famed Nürburgring and laid down a one lap record time of 7min 42.253sec. This is less time spent around the Green Hell than the average amount of commercials we ingest while we watch our favorite 30-minute sitcom.

 

In order to achieve these incredible results, the 2021 Audi RS Q8 simply holds everything that Audi Sport does best. The performance is made possible thanks to a 4.0-litre TFSI twin-turbocharged V8. With its associated 48-volt mild hybrid technology, the RS Q8’s output is a staggering 592-horsepower and an Earth-shattering 590 lb.-ft. of torque.

 

The V8 is mated to a potent 8-speed automatic and the brand’s legendary quattro AWD system. The RS Q8’s quattro layout sees torque split 40:60 front/rear but, through the Dynamic Drive Mode select, up to 70% of the power can be diverted to the front or up to 85% to the rear for some exciting RWD-like driving dynamics. And putting the power to maximum good use are the wheel-selective torque control and quattro sport differential.

 

Clearly, the Audi RS Q8 can handle as it crushed the ‘Ring’s 73 official corners with desperate ease. It’s also fast in a straight line as it’ll cover the 0-100 km/h sprint in only 3.8 seconds and on to an electronically limited top speed of 305 km/h.

 

Finally, and despite the 2021 Audi RS Q8’s hungry-for-speed nature, it still meets Audi Sport’s philosophy which is, simply enough: “Performance, prestige and exclusiveness with full everyday practicality.” This SUV can carry up to five passengers and loads of gear with ease. And should your cottage be off the beaten path, no worries as the standard air suspension allows for up to a total of 90mm of travel.

 

The all-new 2021 Audi RS Q8 is the ultimate super-SUV. Period.