Audi Jumps on Performance Ute Trend with 2025 RS Q8

Automakers across the board have been upping the performance ante on their SUV models for the past few years. Now Audi has joined the club with the all-new 2025 Audi RS Q8 model. The new model pumps out 631 horsepower and drains $136,200 from your bank account.

The new ute is the most powerful combustion model in Audi Sport history. It’s powered by a 4.0-liter biturbo V8 engine that puts out the 631 ponies and 627 pound-feet of torque. The set up paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission.

It’s an Audi so naturally quattro all-wheel drive is standard along with carbon ceramic brakes and a retuned adaptive sport air suspension. The new setup pushes the RS Q8 from zero-to-60 mph in just 3.4 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 190 mph.

“The new RS Q8 performance embodies sportiness and elegance,” said Rolf Michl, managing director of Audi Sport. “The top model of the Q8 series combines a passion for performance, prestige, and suitability for everyday use to create an exhilarating experience.”

Separated from the pack

While it looks like a Q8 from a distance, Audi’s added some design tweaks that let you know it’s a different animal — starting up front. A new front apron with distinctive air intakes, honeycomb structure and matte gray blade clearly identifies the RS Q8 performance as the top model in the series.

The large single frame grille gets reinterpreted so each individual honeycomb cell is now three-dimensional. The treatment at the rear also plays a part in advancing the models’ position at the top of the range, with two hot oval tailpipes and a diffuser between them, divided by a wedge-like reflector.

The RS Q8 performance comes standard with HD Matrix-design LED headlights — optional on other versions of the SUV — with Audi laser light, which are instantly recognizable via the blue housing incorporated into the headlight. The Audi laser light acts as an extra supplemental high beam with a focused light pattern.

New digital daytime running-light signatures give the Q8 a characteristic and unmistakable appearance. Also for the first time, the RS Q8 performance now features digital OLED rear lights. The OLED taillights accommodate five selectable digital light signatures as well, each paired with the front DRL signature, officials noted.

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Not all the world’s a rainbow

While it’s not restricted like Henry Ford’s reported mantra about the Model T (“You can get in any color — as long as it’s black), there are just a few colors added for the new 2025 model.

Nine exterior hues are available, including three new metallic options: Sakhir Gold, Ascari Blue, and Chili Red. The RS Q8’s performance is further distinguished by standard Matte gray exterior elements — including mirror caps, window surrounds, front spoiler, front side flaps, side sill inserts, and rear diffuser trim — while the remaining trim is finished in high-gloss black.

If the black accents give the new RS Q8 a bit of a menacing look, the 23-inch light alloy wheels completed in black not only look good, they enhance the performance of the vehicle too.

The 5-Y spoke design improves brake cooling and reduces the unsprung mass at each corner by almost 11 pounds (5 kg) compared to the standard 22-inch wheels, and are available in either bicolor metallic black, matte gray, or matte black.

Inside here we come

The red and gray that dominates the outside carries over to the cabin, starting with a red or gray RS design package plus is also available for the interior. The blade in the center console, the floor mats, steering wheel, and seat-belt edges feature red or gray contrasting stitching.

The steering wheel is covered with Alcantara, and the gear selector lever knob, door panels, center armrests, and the side of the blade in the center console are covered in Dinamica microfiber.

With the RS design package plus, the honeycomb-patterned perforated sports seats also feature contrasting stitching, with seat backs featuring an RS logo embossed in the chosen package color, along with matching seat center panels revealed through the perforated fabric, and Carbon twill matte inlays completing the RS look.

Additional special features for the RS Q8 performance include an entrance LED that projects the lettering “RS performance” onto the ground, and the 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus features a shift light indicator in manual mode. This changes the rpm display from green to yellow to red depending on engine speed, and flashes in a manner used in motorsports to indicate the optimal time to change gears.