Core summary
European RS Q8 and RS Q8 performance update, June 2024. Source-based specification and buying analysis.
Read the word performance carefully in an RS Q8 advertisement. Here it identifies a separate factory version, not merely a seller's description of any fast SUV.
History & generations
Audi announced the updated RS Q8 and new RS Q8 performance in June 2024. This guide uses that European specification.
Body, platform & design
Inspect the fitted wheel and brake combination before calculating replacement costs. The visual difference between advertisements may also represent a significant ownership-cost difference.
Engine & drivetrain
Both use a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. The regular version makes 600 PS and 800 Nm; performance raises those figures to 640 PS and 850 Nm.
Trim differences
Audi quotes 0–100 km/h in 3.8 seconds for RS Q8 and 3.6 for performance. These are manufacturer claims, not Cariary test results.
Interior & seating
Evaluate entry, rear seating and luggage space with your household aboard. Exceptional quoted acceleration cannot compensate for a daily packaging mismatch.
Efficiency & range
Use the correct European configuration's consumption data rather than a U.S. rating from another year. A record-setting headline is not an operating-cost estimate.
Safety & equipment
Investigate any modified suspension or engine software before purchase. A factory specification page cannot establish the behavior or suitability of altered hardware.
Strengths
The upgrade case for performance is strongest when you specifically value its factory package. If you only want the body and cabin, inspect lower-powered Q8 versions first.
The upgrade case for performance is strongest when you specifically value its factory package. If you only want the body and cabin, inspect lower-powered Q8 versions first.
Considerations
Do not treat a quoted maximum speed as usable with every configuration. Equipment, tire specification and manufacturer conditions must be checked together.
Recommended use
For frequent long journeys, spend more demonstration time on seating and road noise than launch acceleration. Those observations will affect more of your ownership hours.
Rivals & related
Compare RS Q8 with SQ8 at equivalent cabin equipment before considering unrelated performance SUVs. That reveals what you are paying specifically for the RS hardware.
FAQ
Is 640 PS the rating of every refreshed RS Q8? No; it belongs to RS Q8 performance in this announcement, while the regular model remains 600 PS.
What makes the Audi RS Q8 different?
The upgrade case for performance is strongest when you specifically value its factory package. If you only want the body and cabin, inspect lower-powered Q8 versions first.
Who should consider it?
High-performance luxury touring
Sources & updates
Reference scope: European RS Q8 and RS Q8 performance update, June 2024. Research-based guide; no hands-on road test is claimed. Manufacturer specifications are distinguished from Cariary buying interpretation. Text reviewed 15 October 2026. Sources for the revised text:
https://www.audi.com/en/press-releases/audi-sport-gmbhs-most-powerful-suvs-the-new-rs-q8-performance-and-the-updated-rs-q8-16058
- Manufacturer reference — European RS Q8 and RS Q8 performance update, June 2024 →Source used for the stated historical model-year specification; not a claim of a current range.
- Photo 1 — OWS Photography →Resized and encoded as WEBP; original composition retained. Rear exterior. Audi RS Q8 performance facelift photographed in Canada; rear exterior of the performance variant, not the standard-output RS Q8.
- Photo reuse terms — CC BY 4.0 →Applies to the photographs carrying this license above.
Last editorial review: October 15, 2026. Specifications remain market- and model-year-specific.