The Audi RS Q8, the most radical SUV from Audi, is now priced in Spain to compete with the Lamborghini Urus

Audi has wanted to go further than ever with the concept of the sporty SUV, a marriage we first saw with the RS Q3, SQ5 and SQ7. However, it is with the Q8 that the four-ring brand has hit a high note. And so the new RS Q8 is a formidable sporty SUV that arrives with enough attitude to go head-to-head with rivals of the calibre of the Lamborghini Urus or the Porsche Cayenne Coupé, two of its main rivals.

To achieve this, the engineers at Audi have followed a recipe we have already seen applied in the development of other models. Not surprisingly, tweaking certain ingredients has allowed the German house to make its mark at the very Nürburgring, where the RS Q8 has dethroned the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 and the Alfa Romeo Stelvio QV to be crowned the fastest SUV.

But the RS Q8 conveys sportiness not only through its feats, but also through its styling. The designers at the German house have managed to heighten the aggressiveness of the standard Q8 with more exuberant bumpers, prominent air intakes and two colossal exhaust outlets that promise a soundtrack worthy of the models bearing the RS badge.

The cabin has also been modified, where backet-style seats, carbon fibre inserts and various elements finished in Alcantara aim to make a difference. The steering wheel, besides featuring a sporty cut, also incorporates the innovative RS buttons, which allow the driver to select a previously customised mode more quickly and instantly.

But enough about design and styling, since the real star of the new Audi RS Q8 is found under the skin. The engineers at the Teutonic firm have opted for the same heart that powers the latest-generation RS6 and RS7, namely a brawny 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 capable of delivering 600 CV and 800 Nm of torque and catapulting the German SUV to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.

However, and as is customary, this performance will not be within everyone’s reach, but only within that of the most affluent. Audi has set a starting price for the RS Q8 in Spain of 155,700 euros, a figure that can already be paid since the first units will reach dealerships during the first four months of 2020.