2020 Audi RS Q8 bookings open in India

Tuhin Guha Published: August 06, 2020, 02:28 PM IST

Audi India has started accepting bookings for the Audi RS Q8 performance SUV, ahead of its launch later this month. The booking amount is Rs 15 lakh and the RS Q8 can be booked online on the Audi India website or at dealerships. This is the fifth new Audi in 10 months in India, and will soon be followed by more SUVs like the Q7 facelift, new Q3 and RS Q3.

The 2020 Audi RSQ8 is the German car maker's most powerful SUV yet

The 2020 Audi RSQ8 looks sportier than the standard Q8 and gets massive 23 inch wheels

The Audi RS Q8 is now the flagship of the Audi SUV line-up and also of the SUV that Audi Sport tinkers with. Mechanically similar to the Lamborghini Urus, the RS Q8 is also the fastest SUV to lap the Nurburgring. It is powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that puts out 600PS and 800 Nm. The SUV can get from 0 to 100 kmph in 3.8s and go on to 200 kmph in 13.7s. Top speed is limited to up to 305 kmph.

A 48V mild-hybrid system can store up to 16PS of power in the onboard lithium-ion battery pack through regenerative braking. Audi claims this will allow the burly RSQ8 to coast for up to 40 seconds in pure electric mode. The hybrid system will also allow the SUV to save up to 2.8 litres of fuel per 100km.

Other tech additions are rear-wheel steering, trick anti-roll bars front and back and numerous driving modes as part of the Audi Drive Select program. There are dedicated RS buttons on the steering wheel too, that are one-touch presets for you preferred driving set up.

The interiors of the 2020 Audi RSQ8 look sporty thanks to the all-black theme, red accents and carbon-fibre like finish, while showing off Audi's now popular three-screen setup

There are also significant styling differences between the RS Q8 and the standard Q8 already available in India. Know more about that here. In India, the RS q8 will compete with the likes of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo, Range Rover Sport and the upcoming BMW X6M and Mercedes-AMG GLE 63. We expect prices to be upwards of Rs 2 crore, ex-showroom. Audi India has a spate of RS models in store for India s part of its new strategy, the RS Q8 follows the RS7 Sportback that launched recently. The new SUV will also come with a slew of customisation options.