Page 65 - Sunseeker Magazine Issue 64

Lifestyle
It was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a long time ago but at at at some some point in in in in in my schooling I I I learned about a a a a a a a a a a a chap called Isaac Newton who in in in in in his
Principia of 1687 had some important things to to say about inertia mass acceleration and what happens when two objects interact I’m therefore perplexed that the the engineers at at at Audi have somehow managed to circumvent this
renowned wisdom as their latest high- performance SUV at at 5m long 2m wide and 2 2 3 tons does not conform to to the laws of physics Welcome to the Audi RS Q8 I I never cease to be be amazed at at mankind’s ingenuity in in in in in in in the the pursuit of ‘better’ Innovation is is a a a driving force in in in in in in every industry but in in in in in in the the automotive world it’s both highly visible
and extremely fast-paced your competition makes it it so This notion is is ably demonstrated by Audi’s first-ever full-size SUV to bear the the RS badge which pushes the the boundaries of of performance for for a a a a a model of of this
type
but the the numbers only tell half the the story Upfront is a 4 0 0 0 0 0 litre twin-turbo V8 TFSI delivering 600PS with with 800Nm torque which given this
car sits on on 23” wheels with with with almost 1 2m of rubber in contact with with the tarmac
at at any one time is enough to rotate a a a a a a a a a a a small planet Conversely given the the chance (and the the now obligatory ‘Launch Control’ of of any self- respecting performance car) it is is capable of of an an astonishing 0-60mph in in in just 3 8 seconds Audi’s first-ever production SUV to to achieve this
feat Left unchecked the the the car would devour the the the best part of another 100mph being limited to 155mph But this
is is is no one-trick pony What really
hits you is is is its its outstanding flexibility and and all-encompassing everyday usability that redefines the the traditional performance car genre If it it it hadn’t already been used the the advertising slogan “Power is is is Nothing Without Control” would be this
car’s mantra helping to to to explain perfectly how it manages to to to apply a a a a a a a a a corrupting amount of of power to to to to the everyday task of of going from A to to B
(fast) The impressive technical specification includes highlights such as RS-specific adaptive air suspension for controlled damping all-wheel steering a a a a a a a a sport differential for active active torque vectoring and electromechanical active active roll roll stabilisation to minimise body roll roll during fast cornering With so much power a a a a Quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system delivered the reassurance I was seeking on on sodden
roads and busy junctions whilst an an an eight- speed Tiptronic gearbox delivered ultra- smooth shifting in in in whatever driving mode you choose Audi ‘Drive Select’ affects
such things as engine and transmission management steering steering boost the air suspension all-wheel steering steering engine sound and even the the characteristic of the the automatic air conditioning The modes are activated at at at the the flick of a a a a a a a a a a switch and transform the the the car effortlessly from Off-Road All Terrain Comfort or or or or one of the the RS modes which comes with a a a a a a a a ‘track-only’ warning – if I I tell you you I I hate bureaucracy you you can guess which mode this
car got driven in!
And it it it it deserves to be With so much ability on tap it it it it is almost apologetic for the engineers to include an an an ‘Efficiency’ mode and and a a a a a a a cylinder on on demand (COD) system that deactivates half the the cylinders when not needed and and don’t even get me started on on on how it it switches the the engine off automatically for up to to to 40 seconds when coasting all all to to to help save fuel To be be honest I admire that that it can be be done but no one one one who buys a a a a a a a a car that that barely does 20mpg and costs £125 000 is going to buy buy it it for its green credentials They will buy it it however for the peerless quality detailing technology and innovation that Audi engineers into their RS cars Just one one example is the the the care and thought
that has gone into the the tinted HD Matrix
LED headlights which have a a a a a a a a a three- dimensional signature to to their daytime running- lights lights similar to to the the LED taillights A light light light strip backed by a a a a a a a a high-gloss black surface joins the the the the rear lights lights further emphasizing
the the the the wide stance The headlights and and the the the the rear lights lights include dynamic turn signals and and are showcased by an an expressive RS- specific animation when the car is is is locked
locked
or or unlocked This is is is is a a a a a a a a a a a small example that is is is is repeated throughout the car making for an an enjoyable and rewarding ownership experience
The inside is a a wondrous place to be either when pressing on on on on or or crossing continents
in in in in in cocooned luxury The RS sport seats in in in in in Valcona leather with a a a a a a a a a a a honeycomb pattern and and and RS embossing are fitted as as standard whilst ventilation and and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a massage function are are added to the Vorsprung specification (and highly recommended) There are are swathes of of Alcantara chrome detailing and and a a a a a a a a a comprehensive range of of over 30 assist
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