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AUDI RS Q8 QUATTRO TIPTRONIC ETA: Q3 WHERE WE
Laws of physics? DROVE IT

Who cares... Tenerife, Spain

It laps the Nürburgring quicker than a Ferrari
yet has space for all your kids

By: Gautam Sharma
*Claimed figures

Price: TBA Engine: 4,0-litre, V8, twinturbo-petrol Transmission: 8-speed automatic Power: 441 kW @ 6 000-6 250 r/min Torque: 800 N.m @ 2 200-4 500 r/min
0-100 km/h: 3,8 seconds* Top speed: 305 km/h* Fuel cons: 12,1 L/100 km* CO : 277 g/km Rivals: BMW X6 M; Mercedes-AMG GLE63 S Coupé
2

+ incredible power; grip it’s still an inherently compromised performance SUV

f you’re old enough – or up crude workhorses by design. So, perilous 20,8 km Nürburgring than 1,6 metres tall could set
to speed on your automotive the notion of a high-sided SUV Nordschleife – the ultimate acid such a blistering benchmark but
I history – you’ll remember the that scorches from 0-100 km/h test for any performance vehicle – that’s what’s achievable when a
time when SUVs were slow, lum- in 3,8 seconds and is capable of which means the Audi is not only steroidal powertrain is married to
bering behemoths good at lugging hitting 305 km/h flat out – as is the fastest SUV in the world, but a well-sorted chassis, stuffed with
loads and taming rugged terrain, the case with Audi’s bonkers RS also more rapid than yesteryear every bit of electronic go-faster
but not much else. There was Q8 – might seem patently absurd supercars such as a 2007 Lam- trickery that exists today.
nothing vaguely sporting about to someone who’s time-travelled borghini Gallardo Superleggera, At the RS Q8’s heart lies the
the 1940s Willys Jeep and Land to the present from the 1950s, or 2010 Mercedes SLS AMG or 2007 same 4,0-litre twin-turbo V8 that
Rover Series 1, which evolved even as recently as the 1990s. Ferrari 599 GTB. It’s staggering to propels the RS7 and RS6 Avant,
into the Defender, nor was there Consider this: the RS Q8 recently think a vehicle that weighs more thumping out 441 kW and a
meant to be. They were tough, set a lap time of 07:42,0 at the than 2,3 tonnes and stands more towering 800 N.m of torque. These

38 CAR FEBRUARY 2020 CARmag.co.za