The Audi RS Q8 is the world’s quickest manufacturing SUV to go across the Nurburgring. It boasts of some unbelievable efficiency figures. It may possibly problem supercars with its sheer energy whereas the mammoth dimension makes it a sensible day by day automobile. We appreciated driving the German providing in Tenerife in Spain final 12 months. Keep in mind we went throughout two continents to let you know the distinction between the usual Q8 and the ₹ And now, the efficiency SUV is on sale in India and its time to place that V8 turbocharged engine by means of its paces on Indian roads.
Additionally Learn: 2020 Audi RS Q8 Coupe SUV Launched In India
WATCH: Audi RS Q8 India Evaluation: A Blast Of An SUV
Design
To handle the bull within the room, the Audi RS Q8 is a sibling of the Lamborghini Urus. Whereas the engine and underpinnings are shared, the RS Q8 has a personality of its personal. It is extra curved than the Italian whereas sporting razor-sharp strains. It packs extra muscle than the usual Q8 and that makes for a particular understated stance. There may be the RS therapy prolonged to the grille, bumper and a splitter, all of that are new, whereas the gothic look replaces the chrome with a gloss black end to the outside.
India will get the huge 23-inch alloy wheels operating on 295/35 part tyres which are laborious to disregard even on this stealth look. Globally, the RS Q8 comes with 22-inches as commonplace, that are bigger than the 21-inch wheels supplied on the Urus. The skinny sidewalls subsequently are weak to break and you’ll have to be extraordinarily mild although otherwise you’ll threat scratching them on a nasty part of the street. We would definitely not suggest them when going off-road however if you happen to do really feel adventurous, tread fastidiously. Regardless of being a coupe-SUV, Audi has not gone overboard with the roofline. The mild curve helps masks the huge proportions however not at the price of headroom. It additionally blends extra seamlessly with the sharply styled rear with the huge LED brake gentle operating from side-to-side. Do not be fooled by the twin gloss black exhaust ideas, the RS Q8 truly will get quad exhausts hiding beneath these.
WATCH: Audi Q8 & RS Q8 – Unique Evaluation Throughout Two Continents
Inside
A lot of the cabin and options have been carried over from the Q8, but it surely does get the RS therapy with the gloss black end on the dashboard and a touch of carbon fibre in addition to brushed aluminium. There is a new RS multi-functional, flat-bottom steering wheel for extra responsive efficiency. The steering and gearshift knob get the perforated leather-based therapy whereas the seats are coated in Alcantara. Audi gives a mess of non-obligatory extras on the RS Q8 together with the Matrix LED headlamps, whereas our take a look at automobile additionally received the Bang & Olufsen audio system, panoramic sunroof, and soft-close doorways. The sports activities seats are non-obligatory too and we extremely suggest them for the consolation it gives together with options like air flow, therapeutic massage operate and extra bolstering on the sides.
Additionally Learn: Audi RS Q8 Bookings Begin In India
The RS Q8’s cabin will get not less than three large screens together with the Digital Cockpit and the twin infotainment show. The Digital Cockpit works flawlessly and is simply sensible in placing down all the data with out having to look elsewhere. The twin touchscreens are large that change many of the buttons and dials on the centre console. Whereas it does get the haptic contact to really feel extra button-like, it takes some time getting used to. That mentioned, we do miss the dials and switches for sure capabilities. The RS Q8 comes with the 360-degree digicam and has as many as eight driving modes. Fortunately, there’s a quick-access ‘RS’ button on the steering wheel that saves you a number of time and shortly places you into the sportiest setting.
Regardless of its efficiency credentials, the RS Q8 could be very a lot sensible and house is aplenty within the second row. The seats are snug and adjustable for extra legroom. The tall experience gives a very good view of the surface world and also you get four-zone local weather management that enables particular person settings for every passenger. To make ingress and egress simple, the RS Q8 can decrease itself by 65 mm.
Additionally Learn: Every Audi Q8 Sold In India Will Be Unique: Audi India Head
Efficiency
Thoughts-boggling! Slot the efficiency SUV within the RS mode and the automobile units itself up within the sportiest setting Faucet on the accelerator and off you go capturing into the celebs. The non-obligatory head-up show ensures a distraction-free drive and you may see the tachometer swap to purple. Fortunately, the sports activities seats are bolstered effectively and maintain you in place because the G-forces push you again as you step on the pedal. Your heartbeat and the speedometer are doing triple-digit numbers very quickly and also you need to come again to that adrenaline-inducing feeling once more, and many times. However there is a reassuring security web with the excessive using place and the huge proportions, to not neglect the slew of entrance, facet and rear airbags and several other digital security aids.
At a bit of over 2300 kg, this efficiency SUV is hardly light-weight however there are almost 600 thoroughbred horses and a whopping 800 Nm of peak torque beneath that muscular bonnet from the four.Zero-litre bi-turbo V8. Torque kicks in from as little as 2200 rpm and the motor growls, rumbles and is able to roar.
Audi says that Zero-100 kmph comes up in three.Eight seconds, and the non-obligatory rear sport differential outfitted on our take a look at automobile did carry us near that determine. To provide you perspective, the Porsche Cayenne Turbo with the Sport Chrono package deal hits the Zero-100 kmph dash in three.9 seconds, whereas the BMW X6 M does the identical in four.2 seconds. The Mercedes-AMG GLE 63 S does an equivalent three.Eight seconds (four seconds on the usual model). The highest velocity is electronically restricted to 250 kmph however add that RS dynamic package deal and the engine unlocks a prime velocity of 305 kmph.
Energy on the RS Q8 is transferred to the wheels from the Eight-speed torque convertor through the Quattro drivetrain. The transmission is a stunning selection contemplating that is Audi’s flagship SUV however manages to do the job it’s designed for. Nonetheless, there’s a slight delay in shifting cogs than you’ll need. That is extra obvious when you find yourself driving it within the consolation or effectivity mode when the delay, solely by a millisecond, is most felt when making an attempt to overhaul. In fact, the shifts are for extra fast within the dynamic and RS mode, when you can take issues into your individual arms with the paddle shifters. The primary six gears are short-spaced for extra responsive acceleration and the engine simply loves being revved at excessive rpms.
That being mentioned, the Audi RS Q8 is equally civilised while you need half of the ability obtainable. Greater than its outrageous efficiency at excessive speeds, it’s the ease to drive it inside metropolis limits that shocked me essentially the most. The SUV will really feel proper at house on an workplace commute, particularly within the consolation or effectivity mode and you could possibly take it to a race monitor over the weekend. In truth, a little bit of sedate driving coupled with a 48-volt mild-hybrid and cylinder deactivation know-how will aid you obtain nearly 9 kmpl; if effectivity issues you that’s.
Journey and Dealing with
The RS Q8 is massive and there is not any manner you possibly can downplay this at 5 metres in size and two metres vast. Nonetheless, what surprises you is how nimble it truly is. The SUV cocoons itself across the driver and that’s confidence-inspired permitting you to push tougher. The flat-bottom steering wheel weighs up excellently and is extraordinarily conscious of suggestions. This is not only a straight-line king, the RS Q8 is equally enjoyable across the corners and the non-obligatory lively anti-roll bars assist keep agility. The game differential additionally optimises energy to the rear wheels to get you out and in of the bend with out a lot drama. Due should be given to the rear-wheel steering that steers the wheels as much as 5 levels, complemented by the vast low-profile tyres that provide unbelievable grip.
Regardless of the big, low-profile rubber, the RS Q8 is a reasonably snug automobile to be in. In fact, you simply cannot go flat-out over a pothole-ridden street except you need to injury these super-expensive wheels, however on the entire, the air suspension works laborious with the remainder of the electronics to minimise street undulations creeping into the cabin. The SUV additionally will get a number of the greatest brakes we have seen on automobiles from Audi with a 440 mm unit on the entrance and a 370 mm disc on the rear. The brakes are extraordinarily conscious of the enter and the SUV simply stops in its tracks very quickly. It permits you to brake later and tougher than you’ll initially anticipate.
Value and Verdict
The Audi RS Q8 carries a price ticket of ₹ 2.07 crore (ex-showroom) and that is only for the usual model. There are many non-obligatory extras just like the RS dynamic package deal, ceramic brakes, rear sport differential, sports activities seats and much extra that we expect you’ll need to spend on. It definitely provides a lot extra to the driving expertise and even at an on-road value effectively over the ₹ three crore mark, it’s cash effectively spent. In comparison with the Urus, Audi’s flagship is extra reasonably priced by ₹ 1 crore and fewer ostentatious too. The RS Q8 is elegant, suave, outrageously quick and each bit fascinating. It’s on par with the modern-day supercars however pushes the envelope with its practicality. It is without doubt one of the greatest issues to reach on Indian shores from international soil and fairly the silver lining in 2020. Are Tremendous SUVs the brand new regular? If sure, then signal us up, please!
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