Up until now, every single RS Q8 prototype tested by Audi in public has featured at least some camouflage around its fenders, side skirts, front fascia and rear bumper. This one however is different, because all it’s wearing is an Audi Sport livery.



Because of that, we can finally take a closer look at its large air intakes (both front and rear), the bespoke rear bumper, aggressive-looking side skirts and what we hope is a set of production-ready wheels.

Even compared to the recently-unveiled SQ8, the RS Q8 has a much more dynamic stance. Its intakes are considerably larger, the front bumper looks sharper, as do the side skirts. At the rear, the diffuser is chunkier and features dual-pipes instead of a quad setup, which is typical of RS models.

As for the interior, we expect it to build on what we’ve already seen inside the SQ8, meaning sportier seats and more lightweight materials (carbon fiber). This prototype happens to be equipped with a roll cage and Recaro racing seats, but all of that is for track testing purposes only.

Also read: Audi Teases Six New RS Models, A Handful Should Debut In Frankfurt

Powering the RS Q8 will be the VW Group’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 unit, which already makes the Lamborghini Urus an extremely fast family hauler. Unlike the Urus though, it’s been reported that the engine will be de-tuned from 641 HP to somewhere around the 600 HP mark, so as to not step on the Lambo’s toes.

We’re not sure if Audi will include the RS Q8 among its debuts in Frankfurt next month, but we expect the Ingolstadt brand to unveil the production-ready performance crossover before the end of this year.

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Photo Credits: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien for CarScoops