Audi RS Q8: which version to buy
The Audi RS Q8 exists as one generation of 5-door SUV (SUV 5-doors) from 2020-05-01, restyled from 2024-06-01 and still in production. Four catalogue lines sit on the same 3996 cc turbo Gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder recipe: two pre-restyle 4.0 AT variants at 600 hp, then restyle 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic at 600 hp and 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic Performance at 640 hp.
The Audi RS Q8 exists as one generation of 5-door SUV (SUV 5-doors) from 2020-05-01, restyled from 2024-06-01 and still in production. Four catalogue lines sit on the same 3996 cc turbo Gasoline V-shaped 8-cylinder recipe: two pre-restyle 4.0 AT variants at 600 hp, then restyle 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic at 600 hp and 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic Performance at 640 hp. The buying question is which of those four numbers packages you actually want — not whether this is an RS Q8.
Generations: what changed when you buy a restyle
1 generation (2020-05-01 – 2024-05-31) is a 5-door SUV (SUV 5-doors) with 2 versions, both named 4.0 AT, both 600 hp / 441 kW at 6000 rpm and 800 Nm at 2200 – 4500. They are not twins on the scale: kerb weight is 2315 kg versus 2390 kg, mixed consumption 12.1 versus 13.4. Ground clearance is measured at 200 on both. Front and rear suspension are Independent, pneumatic. Fuel is 98. Eco class is Euro 6. CO2 is 277 on both.
1 generation, restyling (from 2024-06-01, stop not measured) keeps the SUV 5-doors body and still lists 2 versions, but the names and the chassis labels change. You now choose 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic (600 hp / 441 kW, 800 Nm at 2200) or 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic Performance (640 hp / 470 kW, 850 Nm at 2300). Suspension is Independent, spring front and rear. Fuel is 95. Eco class is not measured. Ground clearance is not measured. City, highway and mixed consumption are not measured. CO2 is 289 on the 600 hp line and 291 on Performance.
Arithmetic that is the restyle in one line: same 3996 cc, same 8-speed Automatic, same AWD, same 85-litre tank, same 3015 kg gross, same 250 top speed. You give up a measured 200 clearance, pneumatic listing, Euro 6 label, 98 fuel and mixed mpg figures. You gain a named mild-hybrid 600 hp line, a 640 hp line, 95 fuel, and a 40 hp / 50 Nm step that did not exist before 2024-06-01.
Engine specs: four rows, two names that collide
Every version uses Gasoline, 3996 cc, 8 cylinders, V-shaped, 4 valves per cylinder, Turbo, Front, longitudinal, Direct injection (direct), compression 9.7, bore × stroke 86 × 86, Automatic 8, AWD, ventilated disc brakes front and rear (rear labelled Disc ventilated in the data).
| Version | hp (kW @ rpm) | Nm @ rpm | cc | Fuel | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 AT (2315 kg kerb) | 600 (441 @ 6000) | 800 @ 2200 – 4500 | 3996 | 98 | Automatic 8 | AWD |
| 4.0 AT (2390 kg kerb) | 600 (441 @ 6000) | 800 @ 2200 – 4500 | 3996 | 98 | Automatic 8 | AWD |
| 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic | 600 (441 @ 6000) | 800 @ 2200 | 3996 | 95 | Automatic 8 | AWD |
| 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic Performance | 640 (470 @ 6000) | 850 @ 2300 | 3996 | 95 | Automatic 8 | AWD |
Power per litre (3996 cc = 3.996 l): 600 / 3.996 ≈ 150.2 hp/l on both 4.0 AT lines and on 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic. 640 / 3.996 ≈ 160.2 hp/l on 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic Performance — +10.0 hp/l, or +6.7%.
The two 4.0 AT rows must not be merged: same name, same horsepower, different kerb mass and mixed consumption. If a listing only says 4.0 AT, the 75 kg and 1.3 mixed-unit gap is how you tell them apart.
Horsepower by model year of the same engine family: 2021 / 2022 / 2023 / 2024-to-May catalogue 4.0 AT is 600 hp. From 2024-06-01 the 600 hp figure continues on 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic; 640 hp appears only on 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic Performance. There is no separate 2025 or 2026 horsepower figure in this data — restyle start is 2024-06-01 with stop not measured.
Engine capacity is 3996 cc on all four. Peak torque window: pre-restyle 800 Nm is quoted 2200 – 4500; restyle 600 hp quotes 800 Nm at 2200 only; Performance quotes 850 Nm at 2300 only. Oil grade, engine-bay layout beyond Front, longitudinal, engine-for-sale and engine-sound figures are not measured.
Performance and economy: 0-100, 0-60 searches, mpg
0-100 km/h: 3.8 on both 4.0 AT and on 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic. 3.6 on 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic Performance. The Performance step is 0.2 s quicker — 5.3% less time. Top speed is 250 on all four; the extra 40 hp does not raise the listed limit.
A 0-60 mph time is not measured. Do not treat 3.8 or 3.6 as 0-60.
Fuel use is measured only on the two 4.0 AT versions:
- 4.0 AT at 2315 kg: city 17, highway 9.3, mixed 12.1
- 4.0 AT at 2390 kg: city 17, highway 9.3, mixed 13.4
City and highway are identical; mixed is 1.3 higher on the heavier 4.0 AT (+10.7%). Restyle mixed, city and highway: not measured for 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic and not measured for 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic Performance.
CO2: 277 on both pre-restyle 4.0 AT. Restyle 600 hp: 289 (+12, +4.3%). Performance: 291 (+14 vs pre-restyle, +2 vs restyle 600 hp). Euro 6 applies to both 4.0 AT; restyle eco class is not measured.
Tank 85 on all four. Range from mixed figures can be computed only where mixed is measured: 85 / 12.1 ≈ 7.0 tankfuls per 100 distance units on the lighter 4.0 AT; 85 / 13.4 ≈ 6.3 on the heavier 4.0 AT. Restyle range from consumption is not measured.
Dimensions and weight: kg per horsepower, clearance, wheels
Overall length, width, height and wheel sizes: not measured on any version. Size and “performance dimensions” in search terms cannot be filled from this catalogue.
What is measured:
| Version | Kerb kg | Gross kg | kg/hp | Clearance | Tank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 AT (lighter) | 2315 | 3015 | 3.86 | 200 | 85 |
| 4.0 AT (heavier) | 2390 | 3015 | 3.98 | 200 | 85 |
| 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic | 2315 | 3015 | 3.86 | not measured | 85 |
| 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic Performance | 2275 | 3015 | 3.55 | not measured | 85 |
Payload from the data: 3015 − 2315 = 700 kg on the lighter 4.0 AT and on restyle 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic; 3015 − 2390 = 625 kg on the heavier 4.0 AT; 3015 − 2275 = 740 kg on Performance.
Lightest kerb is Performance at 2275 kg — 40 kg under the lighter 4.0 AT / restyle 600 hp (2315 kg) and 115 kg under the heavier 4.0 AT. Weight per horsepower: Performance 2275 / 640 ≈ 3.55 kg/hp; both 600 hp / 2315 kg rows ≈ 3.86 kg/hp; heavier 4.0 AT 2390 / 600 ≈ 3.98 kg/hp. Performance is 0.31 kg/hp lighter than the 2315 kg 600 hp cars (−8.0%) and 0.43 kg/hp lighter than the 2390 kg 4.0 AT (−10.8%).
Ground clearance 200 is only on both 4.0 AT. After 2024-06-01 it is not measured. If you need a stated ride height, the pre-restyle pair is the only place it exists in this data.
Which version to choose
Buy the lighter 4.0 AT (2315 kg, mixed 12.1) if you want the pre-restyle RS Q8 with pneumatic Independent suspension, Euro 6, 98 fuel, 200 clearance, and the better of the two measured mixed figures. You get 600 hp, 800 Nm, 3.8 to 100, 250 top speed, 3.86 kg/hp. Versus the other 4.0 AT you save 75 kg and 1.3 mixed units for the same nameplate and the same horsepower. That is the whole pre-restyle choice.
Do not pick the heavier 4.0 AT (2390 kg, mixed 13.4) unless that is the car in front of you. Same 600 hp, same 800 Nm, same 3.8, same 250, same 200 clearance, same Euro 6, same 98 fuel. You pay 75 kg, 75 kg less payload (625 vs 700), 0.12 kg/hp worse, and 10.7% more mixed consumption. There is no extra horsepower in the data to justify that row.
Buy 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic if you want a restyle car at the original 600 hp / 800 Nm / 3.8 / 250 set, 95 fuel, Independent spring suspension, kerb still 2315 kg (3.86 kg/hp, 700 kg payload). Versus the lighter 4.0 AT the acceleration and power do not change. What changes is fuel grade (98 → 95), suspension label (pneumatic → spring), CO2 277 → 289, clearance not measured, consumption not measured, eco class not measured. This is the “same power, new generation of the same generation” choice — restyle without the Performance step.
Buy 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic Performance if the extra numbers are why you are shopping. You get 640 hp (+40, +6.7%), 850 Nm (+50, +6.3%), 3.6 to 100 (−0.2 s), kerb 2275 kg (−40 vs 2315, −115 vs 2390), 3.55 kg/hp, 740 kg payload, 160.2 hp/l. Top speed stays 250. Fuel 95. CO2 291. Consumption not measured. Clearance not measured. Eco class not measured. Suspension Independent, spring. Among the four rows this is the highest specific output, the lowest kg per hp, the lightest kerb and the only 0-100 below 3.8.
Used versus new, in data terms only. A used RS Q8 from 2020-05-01 to 2024-05-31 can only be a 4.0 AT at 600 hp; split those by 2315 vs 2390 kg. A car from 2024-06-01 onward is one of the two TFSI mild-hybrid names. There is no used-price or for-sale figure here.
Versus a Lamborghini Urus: not in this data. Stay inside RS Q8 arithmetic.
2025 / 2026 specs: this catalogue does not split those years. After 2024-06-01 the live pair is 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic at 600 hp and 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic Performance at 640 hp, stop not measured.
Short rule: two 4.0 AT — take 2315 kg / mixed 12.1. Restyle without wanting more power — 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic. Want the only step-up this model has in the data — 4.0 TFSI V8 Mild Hybrid quattro tiptronic Performance.