2025 Audi RS Q8 facelift revealed as company’s most powerful petrol car

The facelifted 2025 Audi RS Q8 performance SUV has debuted with an updated look and more V8 power in a new Performance variant, ahead of European showroom arrivals due later this year.

The RS Q8 is now available in two variants – the standard model, and a new Performance trim – offering revised styling, new headlight technology and interior tweaks.

Australian showroom arrival timing is yet to be announced by Audi.

The regular RS Q8 retains a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol V8 developing 441kW and 800Nm, good for a claimed 0-100km/h acceleration time of 3.8 seconds, towards a top speed limiter of between 250km/h and 305km/h, depending on the options selected.

The Performance version ups outputs to 471kW and 850Nm – making it the most powerful petrol-powered production vehicle sold by Audi – for a 0-100km/h time of 3.6 seconds.

It is only 14kW down on its Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT sibling – yet the Audi is faster around Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife race track, recording a 7min 36.698sec lap as a new SUV record, ahead of the Porsche's 7min 38.925sec time.

Both models use eight-speed automatic transmissions, and all-wheel-drive systems with mechanical centre differentials capable of sending up to 70 per cent of engine torque to the front wheels, or 85 per cent to the rear.

The RS Q8 Performance uses a new, lighter exhaust system as standard which is claimed to reduce back pressure, with an RS sport exhaust available as an option with gloss black tailpipes.

Adaptive air suspension is standard across the range – with up to 90mm of ride height variation – plus active anti-roll bars which stiffen in corners to reduce roll, and disconnect in a straight line to improve suspension comfort.

Rear-wheel steering is also standard, while options on the regular RS Q8 include a sport differential, and carbon-ceramic brakes (standard on the Performance).

Exterior changes include a new front fascia with honeycomb-pattern grille, tweaked rear diffuser with a vertical centre reflector strip, and new Sakhir Gold, Ascari Blue, and Chili Red colours.

There are new HD matrix LED headlights available as an option with customisable lighting signatures, plus new-design OLED tail-lights with similar customisation, and a "proximity indication feature for greater road safety".

Gloss black highlights on the RS Q8 become matte grey on the Performance, or carbon-fibre as an option.

New 23-inch alloy wheels are available, including a forged design on the Performance – in metallic black, matte grey or matte black – which is claimed to improve brake cooling and reduce unsprung mass by 5kg each.

Inside, buyers have a choice between red, grey and blue RS design packages – with blue exclusive to the Performance, including blue seat belts – which include contrast stitching, an Alcantara steering wheel and Dinamica microfibre gear shifter wrapping.

Various option packs include grey, red or blue seat inlays, embossed RS logos and more microfibre highlights.

The 2025 Audi RS Q8 will be available to order in Europe from later this week, priced from €141,900 ($AU229,000).