Audi has used the Los Angeles motor show to reveal its new 600hp RS Q8 super-SUV.
The RS Q8's appearance was pretty inevitable - Audi might be embarking on a new electric car future, but it's still a company capable of rolling out big-banger engines for its high-end models. The RS Q8 gets a doozy of an engine - the same 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol, shared with the likes of Bentley and Porsche. In the RS Q8, it develops a massive 600hp, and 800Nm of torque.
Fastest SUV around the Nurburgring
That means it's blindingly fast, even allowing for the fact that it's a hefty two-tonne SUV. Its Nurburgring Nordschliefe time is 7 minutes and 42.2 seconds, meaning that it's the fastest SUV around the North Loop of Germany's legendary race track right now.
0-100km/h comes up in just 3.8 seconds, and the top speed can be raised from an electronically limited 250km/h to a more senior 305km/h if you tick the box for the ceramic-carbon brakes option.
Active rear diff
Needless to say, the V8 drives all four wheels through an eight-speed 'Tiptronic' automatic gearbox and quattro four-wheel drive. The RS Q8's rear differential is fully active, so it can swap torque from one side of the car to the other, to aid both traction and cornering balance. There's also four-wheel steering and active anti-roll systems so the RS Q8 should be pretty sharp in corners. Audi also claims that it's good off-road, too, saying: "With variable ground clearance, short overhangs and hill descent control, the new Audi RS Q8 can carry on confidently when paved roads end."
As with other recent Audi RS models there are quick-access RS1 and RS2 buttons on the steering wheel, allowing you to pre-set rapid and relaxed modes for the engine, gearbox, and suspension and quickly swap between them when needed.
Special RS display screens
On the outside, as if the standard Q8 wasn't already mean looking enough, the RS Q8 manages to look meaner still. There's an RS-specific grille, and lots of gloss black and matte aluminium components. Inside, the MMI touchscreen gets RS-specific displays that include data on output, g-forces, lap times, temperature, torque and tire pressure. There's also a heads-up display (optional) and gear change-up lights for when you're using the eight-speed 'box in manual mode.
Mind you, for all its power and poise, Audi wants to point out that the RS Q8 is also practical - the rear bench seat slides for extra boot volume, and when you fold the seats flat, there's more than 1,700 litres of luggage space.