Quick Answer: 2026 Audi RS Q8 performance
"RS Q8 performance" is the official name of the only RS Q8 configuration sold in the US for 2026, from $138,300 MSRP before the $1,395 destination charge. It includes a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 (631 hp, 627 lb-ft), an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic, standard quattro all-wheel drive with a sport rear differential, standard ceramic brakes front and rear, RS-tuned adaptive air suspension, and standard active roll stabilization. From there, buyers choose option packages, wheel design, and color, not a higher trim. Audi Queens in Flushing has it in stock.
Total price, including every dealer-imposed charge: starting at $139,870 all in for the RS Q8 performance — the $138,300 manufacturer’s suggested retail price plus the $1,395 destination charge and the $175 documentation fee (an optional dealer charge, not a New York State or DMV fee). It excludes state and local taxes, title, registration, and any optional equipment.
One configuration, everything included
"RS Q8 performance" isn't a trim sitting above a cheaper "RS Q8," it's the name of the only version Audi sells in the US for the 2026 model year. That's a different shopping experience than the base Q8's three trims or even the SQ8's two: there's no ladder to climb, no wondering what a higher trim adds, because the fully-equipped car is the starting point. The 631-hp twin-turbo V8, the standard sport rear differential, the standard ceramic brakes front and rear, and the RS-tuned adaptive air suspension all come on the vehicle Audi Queens has on the lot, not on a build sheet three steps removed from it.
What differentiates one RS Q8 from another is option packages and appearance choices. The RS design package brings a Red, Blue, or Gray interior accent theme with extended leather, Alcantara trim, and color-edged seat belts. The Matte Carbon package swaps in a matte carbon fiber front spoiler, bumper inlays, mirror housings, and 23-inch forged wheels in matte black. Neither changes the engine, the brakes, or the suspension tuning, they're cosmetic and material choices layered onto a car that's already mechanically complete.
The V8, the brakes, and the chassis hardware that make it an RS
The 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8's 631 hp and 627 lb-ft route through an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic (a conventional torque-converter transmission, not the dual-clutch S tronic on smaller Audis) to standard quattro all-wheel drive with a sport rear differential built in from the factory. Audi's own figure for 0-60 mph is 3.4 seconds; independent track testing has clocked it even quicker. What separates this from a fast SUV that merely has a big engine is the chassis work underneath: standard Electromechanical Active Roll Stabilization uses electric motors in the front and rear stabilizer bars to actively counter body lean in corners, and the RS-tuned adaptive air suspension is calibrated specifically for this car, not carried over from the SQ8 untouched. Front and rear ceramic brakes come standard, a genuine rarity in this class where most rivals charge a significant premium for carbon-ceramic rotors.
Sport seats plus, heated and ventilated standard, with an available massage function.
Inside the cabin
Sport seats plus wrap the front occupants in Valcona leather with honeycomb stitching, heated and ventilated as standard equipment, with a massage function available for longer drives. Carbon twill matte inlays run across the dash and trim, a motorsport-styled material choice rather than the wood or aluminum found elsewhere in the Audi lineup. The 12.3-inch Audi virtual cockpit plus includes dedicated RS Performance and RS Sport display modes on top of the standard layouts, and the MMI touch response system carries wireless Apple CarPlay (Android Auto connectivity on this infotainment generation may require a cable depending on software version, worth confirming on the specific vehicle). A top view camera system with virtual 360-degree coverage and available remote park assist plus, which can maneuver the car into a space via phone from outside the vehicle, round out the technology that makes a full-size performance SUV livable in tight city parking.
Who this configuration is actually for
Buyers who've already decided the SQ8's 500 hp isn't the ceiling they want, and who'd rather the ceramic brakes and sport rear differential come standard than hunt for them on an options list. It's also the buyer who doesn't want to spend showroom time comparing trims, one configuration, a handful of package and color choices, and a straightforward path to ordering or driving one off the lot. Audi Queens' sales team handles this kind of considered, technical purchase regularly; one recent SQ8 Prestige buyer, who cross-shopped dealers well outside the New York area before choosing this store, credited a process with "no sales pressure" and a salesperson who "took his time and explained me everything before buying the car" (Kunal S.), the same approach that applies to a car in this range.
Frequently asked questions
What does the 2026 Audi RS Q8 performance cost?
MSRP is $138,300, plus the $1,395 destination charge, before New York's 8.875% sales tax for Queens registrations and DMV fees. The pricing & leasing guide covers the full out-the-door picture.
Are ceramic brakes really standard, not an option?
Yes. Front and rear ceramic brakes come on every RS Q8 performance as delivered, a genuine differentiator versus rivals that charge a substantial option price for the same hardware.
What's the difference between the RS design package and the Matte Carbon package?
RS design is an interior-focused package, a Red, Blue, or Gray accent theme with extended leather, Alcantara, and color-edged seat belts. Matte Carbon is exterior-focused, matte carbon fiber trim pieces and dark 23-inch forged wheels. Neither changes the mechanical specification.
Is the RS Q8 practical for daily driving?
Yes. It carries roughly 30.5 cubic feet of cargo behind the rear seats and about 60.7 cubic feet with them folded, matching the practicality of the base Q8 and SQ8, and the adaptive air suspension is tuned to stay comfortable outside of aggressive driving, not just capable during it.
Where can I test drive one?
At Audi Queens on College Point Blvd in Flushing. Check live inventory, then book a time to feel the standard ceramic brakes and sport rear differential in person.
The bottom line
RS Q8 performance is a one-decision purchase: the V8, the brakes, and the chassis hardware that earn the RS badge are already on the car, and the only remaining questions are which package and which color. For a buyer who's ready for that much car, it's a shorter path to a decision than the trim ladders on the rest of the Audi Queens lineup.
All 2026 Audi RS Q8 guides
Manufacturer’s suggested retail price excludes the $1,395 destination charge and the $175 documentation fee (an optional dealer charge, not a New York State or DMV fee), along with taxes, title, registration, and options; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Equipment, packages, and availability can change with configuration and production timing; confirm current specs with Audi Queens. Audi Signature Care terms per Audi of America's published program for MY2026 vehicles. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Audi Queens; the quote referencing the SQ8 is noted as such and is not presented as RS Q8-specific.