Audi RS Q8 performance
Check out the RS Q8’s capabilities in Sitges, Spain
Audi invited Roland Waschkau (pictured), head of chassis development, to Sitges, a resort town in the Catalonia region of Spain, for a test tour of the updated RS Q8 Performance.
The sun was shining down over the Mediterranean Sea, creating ideal conditions for a performance car test drive. The Audi RS Q8 Performance driving tour for European media began in the resort town of Sitges in the Catalan region of Spain.
At the meeting point in front of the hotel in Sitges, Roland Waschkau, head of chassis development for the RS Q8 Performance, welcomed the participants. Pointing to the RS Q8 Performance, which is equipped with the most powerful internal combustion engine in Audi’s history, he said with a smile, “I can say with confidence that the RS Q8 Performance is a car like no other, combining everyday practicality with sportiness.”
The RS Q8 Performance is equipped with a 4.0-liter V8 TFSI twin-turbo gasoline engine from Audi Sport, which produces a maximum output of 640 PS (471 kW) and a maximum torque of 850 Nm. It boasts the most powerful specifications of any Audi Sport internal combustion engine, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and reaching a top speed of 305 km/h, electronically limited to 305 km/h.
The RS Q8 Performance demonstrates its performance even in the harsh driving conditions of the highways around Sitges, rough pavement, and the Parc Motor circuit in Castellori. This time, its creator, Waschkau, was at the wheel.
“I believe that thanks to the standard adaptive air suspension sport, the RS Q8 Performance is a near-perfect companion for long stretches of motorway travel. This was also demonstrated in the time attack on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.”
“eAWS” changes character depending on drive mode
This time, the “eAWS” technology introduced to the RS Q8 Performance was put to the test on the winding roads of the Montserrat mountains.
In just under an hour, the group arrived at the winding roads of the Montserrat mountains, where a number of short straights and corners offered some challenging sections for the drivers.
“The eAWS (electromechanical active roll stabilisation) introduced in the RS Q8 Performance will be at its best not only on winding roads but also on undulating country roads. In combination with all-wheel steering, it also has the effect of significantly reducing the turning circle,” says Waschkau.
“The character of the eAWS changes dramatically depending on the driving mode. Whether you want a comfortable ride or a sporty setting with almost no body roll… we offer settings to suit your needs.”
The eAWS’s driving energy comes from a 48V lithium-ion battery. A compact and lightweight energy storage unit, capable of quickly regenerating and discharging large currents, supplies power to two electric motors, each with a maximum output of 1.5kW, to operate the eAWS.
Breaking the previous record on the Nordschleife
The RS Q8 Performance completed a time attack on the Nordschleife, clocking a time of 7 minutes 36.698 seconds, nearly six seconds faster than the previous RS Q8. The photo shows Roland Waschkau, head of chassis development, driving the car on the Parc Motors motor circuit.
After a drive through the Montserrat mountains, the group headed to the ParcMotor motor circuit in Castellori, about 30 minutes away.
During development, the RS Q8 Performance was put through a time attack on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Racing driver and development driver Frank Stippler achieved a time of 7 minutes 36.698 seconds on the 20.832-kilometer course. This lap time beat the previous RS Q8 by nearly six seconds and also beat the previous record in the SUV/off-road vehicle/van/pickup class by more than two seconds.
This record-breaking lap time was made possible not only by the powerful, large-displacement engine, but also by the standard RS ceramic brake system and the all-wheel steering with high-torque electric spindle drive. Waschkau explained the effect of the sport differential integrated into the optional quattro all-wheel drive system:
“The quattro system ensures ideal torque distribution between the front and rear axles. Thanks to the eAWS and sport differential, the RS Q8 Performance delivers agile and neutral handling, especially on the race track.”
High levels of usability and driving performance
By combining a powerful 4.0-liter V8 twin-turbo with a variety of cutting-edge components, the RS Q8 Performance combines high levels of everyday usability with sporty performance.
Finally, Waschkau highlighted the high level of perfection of the RS Q8 Performance.
“The RS Q8 Performance is perfect for city driving, winding mountain roads, highways and racetracks. In every driving environment, you can see that the interaction between the drivetrain, chassis and AWS has been finely tuned. As I said at the beginning, the RS Q8 Performance combines everyday usability with extremely sporty performance at a high level.”
“Another feature is the extremely attractive sound. The newly developed lightweight exhaust system reduces back pressure, improving performance and producing a sportier, more emotional sound. The optional RS sport exhaust system offers an even more exciting sound experience, and the high-gloss black tailpipes give the rear section a sporty look.”
Waschkau parked his RS Q8 Performance in the pit lane of the Parc Motor Circuit and then quickly left the track, heading to Germany for his next project.
