Audi RS Q8

The 2025 Audi RS Q8 facelift is powered by a formidable 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, a true powerhouse that elevates its performance to supercar levels. This engine churns out 640 hp (640 PS) of power and 850 Nm of torque, paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and Audi's Quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system. This allows for a blistering 0-100 kmph acceleration in just 3.6 seconds. 

The RS Q8 boasts an electronically governed top speed of 250 kmph, which can be increased to 305 kmph with the optional RS dynamic package. The engine is also accompanied by a 48V mild-hybrid system, aiding in efficiency and providing smooth start-stop functionality.

 The V8 delivers immediate throttle response, a brawny and aggressive exhaust note (especially with the optional RS Sport exhaust), and sledgehammer-like power delivery that warps your sense of speed, making it an incredibly exhilarating SUV to drive. Fuel efficiency is around 8 kmpl (ARAI).

Ride and Handling

The 2025 Audi RS Q8 is engineered to deliver a dynamic and engaging ride and handling experience that perfectly balances its supercar-like performance with surprising everyday usability. It features a sophisticated adaptive air suspension system as standard, with RS-specific tuning that allows for a wide range of ride comfort and dynamic capabilities. 

This system minimizes body roll despite the vehicle's substantial size, ensuring a planted and composed feel, even during aggressive cornering.

The electric power steering is precise and offers excellent feedback, making the RS Q8 agile and confidence-inspiring through corners. The optional all-wheel steering system significantly enhances maneuverability at low speeds by turning the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front, reducing the turning radius.

 At higher speeds, the rear wheels turn in the same direction, improving stability. The Quattro sport differential and massive tires provide exceptional grip and traction, allowing the RS Q8 to carry higher speeds into corners and exit with full power and stability. 

While the ride can be firm in its sportiest dynamic settings, it remains remarkably composed and comfortable for daily driving and long journeys, showcasing its duality as both a performance beast and a luxurious cruiser.

The interior of the 2025 Audi RS Q8 is a masterclass in driver-focused luxury and advanced technology, meticulously crafted to complement its high-performance nature. The cabin features a clean, minimalist design with a strong emphasis on ergonomics. High-quality materials abound, including premium leather, Alcantara, and extensive use of piano black, carbon fibre, or aluminum accents, creating a sporty yet opulent ambiance.

The cockpit is designed to immerse the driver, with a low seating position and highly supportive RS sport seats that can be electrically adjustable and offer massage functions. The cabin offers comfortable seating for five occupants, with ample legroom and headroom, even with the sloping roofline. 

Key features include a 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit (digital instrument cluster) that offers RS-specific performance displays and customizable views. The dual-screen MMI setup comprises a 10.1-inch upper screen for infotainment and navigation, and an 8.6-inch lower screen dedicated to climate control and convenience functions, both featuring haptic and acoustic feedback. 

Creature comforts include four-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, ambient lighting, wireless charging, and a Bang & Olufsen advanced sound system. Boot space is a generous 605 litres.

Infotainment

The infotainment system in the 2025 Audi RS Q8 is cutting-edge, featuring Audi's advanced MMI touch response interface across a dual-screen setup. The main 10.1-inch touchscreen handles navigation, media, and phone functions, while the lower 8.6-inch screen is dedicated to climate control and convenience features. 

Both screens are highly responsive, with crisp graphics and intuitive menus, and provide haptic and acoustic feedback for a tactile experience.

The 12.3-inch Audi Virtual Cockpit serves as the digital instrument cluster, offering a wide array of customizable views, including full-screen navigation, performance meters, and RS-specific graphics that provide real-time data. The system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ensuring seamless smartphone integration.

 Audi's voice dialogue system allows for natural language commands to control various vehicle functions. A premium Bang & Olufsen advanced sound system with 17 speakers and 730W output delivers an immersive 3D audio experience, perfectly complementing the car's dynamic capabilities. Additional features include a head-up display (optional), wireless phone charging, and multiple charging ports.

The exterior design of the 2025 Audi RS Q8 is a visceral expression of its immense power and performance. It takes the sleek, coupe-like silhouette of the Q8 and injects it with a more aggressive, track-ready aesthetic. 

The front fascia features a distinctive, blacked-out honeycomb Singleframe grille, significantly larger air intakes, and sharp HD Matrix LED headlights with Audi laser light, giving it a menacing and commanding gaze. The overall stance is wider and more hunkered down, emphasizing its athletic capabilities.

Muscular wheel arches house large, performance-oriented alloy wheels, typically 23-inch, designed not just for aesthetics but also for optimal grip and brake cooling. Carbon-fibre wing mirrors add to the sporty appeal. 

The rear is equally dramatic, with customizable OLED taillights featuring C-shaped air outlets, an RS roof edge spoiler, and a redesigned bumper with a honeycomb pattern and large oval exhaust tips, clearly signaling its high-performance intent. Its dimensions are approximately 5022 mm in length, 2007 mm in width, and 1699 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2998 mm.

Safety is a paramount consideration in the 2025 Audi RS Q8, which is engineered with a robust platform and a comprehensive suite of active and passive safety features. It has received commendable safety ratings from international organizations, including a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) and the Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).

The RS Q8 is equipped with multiple airbags (driver, passenger, side, and curtain airbags) as standard, providing extensive passive protection. Active safety features include Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control (TC), Hill Assist, and Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). 

It also boasts an extensive suite of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a 360-degree camera system. Optional all-wheel steering further enhances safety and maneuverability. 

High-performance braking is ensured by large carbon ceramic brakes (optional) or substantial steel brakes, providing superb stopping power and fade resistance.

The 2025 Audi RS Q8 operates in an elite segment of high-performance luxury SUVs in India, facing off against a formidable lineup of rivals that blend extreme power with SUV practicality.

Its primary competitors include the Lamborghini Urus, Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT, and the BMW XM. While the Lamborghini Urus offers extreme supercar performance and exclusivity, and the Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT focuses on track prowess, the Audi RS Q8 aims to provide a compelling balance of immense power, luxurious comfort, and everyday usability at a relatively more accessible price point. 

It also competes with high-end variants of the Mercedes-AMG GLE Coupe and the Lexus LX. The RS Q8's unique blend of raw V8 power, sophisticated technology, aggressive styling, and Audi's renowned build quality makes it a highly formidable and desirable contender in this exclusive segment.

The 2025 Audi RS Q8 facelift is an electrifying tour de force, representing the pinnacle of Audi's performance and technological capabilities in the SUV segment. It successfully combines a breathtakingly powerful 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with an aggressive, visually arresting design and a state-of-the-art, luxurious interior. The RS Q8 delivers exhilarating performance, razor-sharp handling, and surprising everyday usability, making it a truly versatile super sports utility vehicle.

While its premium pricing reflects its bespoke engineering, high-performance components, and CBU import status, the RS Q8 justifies the investment with its uncompromised power, comprehensive safety features, and the undeniable prestige of the Audi RS brand. 

For those in India seeking a stylish, high-performance SUV that offers a thrilling driving experience without sacrificing luxury or practicality, the 2025 Audi RS Q8 is an exceptional and highly desirable choice, truly embodying the concept of a “practical supercar.”