Audi SQ8
Audi South Africa, as of today, 1 April 2021, are offering the freshest, most comprehensive, high performance range of vehicles in the country.
Taking the fight right to the doorstep of BMW’s M and Mercedes-Benz’s AMG divisions, 15 RS, R and S models are available through their dealerships right now!
This article is a free read from The Citizen’s Premium service where you can find loads of motoring news like this, along with exclusive sport, in-depth reporting, analysis, parenting and lifestyle content. Click here to sign up.
Here is a breakdown of the 15 new rockets Ingolstadt has to offer locally.
Feeding the world’s desire for compact SUVs and the element of high performance, these compact twins, the RS Q3 and RS Q3 Sportback, are all set to become two of the most popular Audi RS models offered in South Africa.
They run the award winning 2.5-litre five-cylinder TFSI engine, which are good for TT RS equalling power and torque of 294kW/480Nm. Quattro all-wheel drive does duty as always and are said to blast to 100 km/h in only 4.5 seconds.
RS Q3 – R1 094 000
RS Q3 Sportback – R1 128 000
Featuring a newly designed front sections and an updated interior with the new MMI touch operating system, the RS4 Avant, RS5 Sportback and Coupe are ready to rumble in the medium segment.
These machines feature Audi’s impressive 331kW/600 Nm, 3.0-litre V6 bi-turbo powerplant, with the RS4 being said to get to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds, and its RS5 siblings in 3.9 seconds.
The RS4 is unique to the segment and features massive luggage space to go with its sporty nature that is made known by the fitment of a RS sports exhaust that is fitted as standard. The sportier RS5 models offer Dynamic Ride Control as an option to entice their owners into having a bit more fun when out and about.
RS4 Avant – R1 296 000
RS5 Coupé – R1 394 500
RS5 Sportback – R1 409 500
Aimed at the family man that is always in a hurry, both models have been refined and tweaked to make them even more suitable for everyday use. Both models run the familiar mild-hybrid 4.0-litre V8 powerplant that produces 441 kW of power and 800 Nm of torque, and this will see the kids and the dogs get to 100 km/h in a mere 3.6 seconds.
The RS6 offers Matrix LED headlights with laser lights, the RS adaptive air suspension, RS Sports exhaust and 22-inch wheels as standard. The RS7 meanwhile 0ffers a trick electric rear spoiler that is automatically activated at speed, a panoramic glass sunroof, 22-inch wheel and RS brakes as part of its standard kit.
RS6 Avant – R2 070 000
RS7 Sportback – R2 173 500
Audi’s most powerful SUV ever made, the RS Q8, offers a full 441kW/800 Nm from its bi-turbo mild-hybrid 4.0 TFSI V8. This is not only good enough to be the quickest SUV around the Nürburgring , it also good for a claimed 0-100 km/h time of just 3.8 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h, or 280 km/h should you optionally choose it.
It also comes with all-wheel steering as an option, along with an adaptive sports suspension, huge 23-inch alloy wheels as standard and carbon ceramic brakes as an option.
RS Q8 – R2 354 500
With the ‘conventional’ A8 not earmarked for South Africa, the S8 rates as the sole taste buyers will get of Ingolstadt Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series rival. Like the RS Q8, RS6 and RS7, it too is powered by the mild-hybrid 4.0 TFSI V8, retuned to 420 kW of power and 800 Nm of torque.
The predictive active suspension, dynamic-all-wheel steering and quattro drive with standard sport differential ensure that you have a sedan that lives up to its sporty promise.
S8 – R2 484 000
The SQ7 and SQ8 offer high performance 4.0-litre V8 turbodiesel performance that sees 310 kW of power and 900 Nm of torque being transferred through an eight-speed Tiptronic to all four wheels. This is good enough for a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 4.8 seconds for both, and an electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h.
On the SQ7 you get a seven-seat option, a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system, adaptive sport air suspension and 21- inch wheels as standard, while the SQ8 comes with optional 23-inch alloy wheels and standard the Matrix LED headlights and
SQ7 TDI – R1 679 500
SQ8 TDI – R1 848 500
Audi’s little pocket rockets, the TT RS Coupe and TT RS Roadster, have been given a refreshed look while still retaining the 2.5-litre five-cylinder powerplant that has made them as feared as they are desirable.
It is all about the numbers with these two offerings 294 kW of power, 480 Nm of torque, quattro all-wheel drive, a rapid shifting seven-speed S tronic transmission, a 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and an optional top speed of 280 km/h.
TT RS Coupe – R1 062 000
TT RS Roadster – R1 113 500
Nothing beats the sound of a naturally aspirated V10 at full cry, and for the 2021, Audi have retained this 449 kW/560 Nm, 5.2-litre powerplant for the R8. These supercars are good for over 300 km/h on top and can get to 100 km/h in 3.2 and 3.3 seconds respectively is the claim.
They run the rapid shifting seven-speed S tronic transmission and ride on a performance sports suspension with a rear bias quattro all-wheel drive system and mid-mount engine setup for that ultimate thrill.
R8 Performance Coupe – R3 336 000
R8 Performance Spyder – R3 592 500
For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.
Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.