- A refreshed Audi RS Q8 debut is imminent
- The updated RS Q8 turned laps on the Nürburgring
- Updates to the RS Q8 are expected to be minimal with tweaks to lighting elements and bumpers
Audi's Q8 received a mid-cycle update for 2024, but missing from the lineup was the fire-breathing RS Q8 variant.
It turns out development of the updated RS Q8 is still happening, as a camouflaged prototype has been testing at the Nürburgring in recent weeks. Given the thin camouflage gear it was wearing, the debut is likely imminent. A showroom arrival later this year as a 2025 model for the U.S. market is a strong possibility.
The updated Q8 received only minimal tweaks to the exterior design and some new trim options for the cabin. The former E-Tron electric midsize SUV was also rebranded as the Q8 E-Tron for the 2024 model year, after receiving its own update.
In the case of the RS Q8, the prototype also suggests only minimal changes are planned, at least for the exterior design. There's a new grille design, a revised rear fascia, and tweaks to the light signatures at both ends.
It isn't clear what's planned for the mechanicals, but a yellow warning sticker on an earlier prototype points to some form of electrification being added, perhaps new mild-hybrid tech. While there are rumors a plug-in hybrid powertrain being added at some point, the photos don't show a charging port.
Instead, Audi is likely to lift performance by adding more horsepower and possibly reducing weight. The current RS Q8 is powered by a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 rated at 591 hp.
The video from Car Spy Media shows the RS Q8 prototype during preparation for what's thought to be an attempt at a Nürburgring lap record for SUVs. The current record is the 7:38.925 set by a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT in 2022.
