Now we have the best evidence yet that Audi’s in house modifiers are really planning the RS Q8 thanks to a trademark application in Europe. Trademark was submitted to the European Union Intellectual Property office and registered under the “vehicles means of transport” classification. As of this writing, the application is still under examination by EUPO officials. Expected to cost roughly the same as an X6M, the RS Q8 will likely to use the same 4 litre turbocharged V8 as Lamborgini Urus. That would give it around 600 hp, and with Audi’s ability to tune big , powerful cars , it should be all round performer too.
Chances of the RS Q8 coming to America are pretty good, too, since the head of Audi Sport, Stephan Winkelmann, has hinted that such a car would be a world car. It’s also enormously unlikely that it would come in diesel, like the SQ7 TDI, since this would not be compatible with the world-car ethos. “The other key aspects for us are comfort, quality and safety,” said Winkelmann talking generally about the future of Audi Sport to Auto Express. “Here we don’t compromise and even if we do SUVs they have to have all of this.” Production of the standard Q8 will start in 2018 at Audi’s Bratislava plant, where the Q7 is made. Sales are expected to start later that same year.
