RS Q8

Make
Audi
Segment
SUV

Fast Audis are all the rage, especially fast Audi SUVs, and the Audi RS Q8 is the biggest and baddest of them all. This $115,000 super-SUV was at one point the fastest SUV to have ever lapped the Nurburgring with a time of 7:42.253 despite being down on power compared to rivals such as the Lamborghini Urus. So it's fair to say that this is a seriously quick car right out of the box. But that all changes once tuning house Manhart gets a hold of it. Manhart is well-known for styling and tuning some of the world's most exclusive cars. Sometimes it gets it right, but other times it's an absolute disaster. This time it seems like Manhart might have struck the balance perfectly.

Manhart calls this creation the "Manhart RQ 800" with the 800 representing the amount of horsepower this machine makes. It's a vague guide, however, as it actually produces 807 hp (SAE) and 774 lb-ft of torque. That's less than Manhart's own 900-hp RQ 900, but vastly more than the standard Audi RS Q8's 591 horses and 590 lb-ft from its stock 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. In order to achieve the upgrade over stock, Manhart equipped a turbo upgrade, new intercooler, updated gearbox, and a carbon air intake from Eventuri.

As part of the RQ 800 package, Manhart adds exterior features such as a decal set, Manhart Classic Line wheels in Matte Black, and wrapped in 295/30 ZR24 and 355/25 ZR24 tire, a suspension drop (30-40 mm), and carbon or ceramic coated tailpipes.

Naturally, the lowered suspension is also performance optimized with new tuning for the air bellows and adaptive dampers, either using just software or equipping new coupling rods for added effect. Those 24-inch alloy wheels house stock brakes, which seems like a recipe for disaster since more power generally needs the ability to stop from even higher speeds. Just what those speeds are remains a mystery at this stage, but Manhart says individual brake upgrades are available upon request.

We may have seen more powerful RS Q8 tunes before, but for our money, 800+ horsepower is plenty.