RS Q8 Performance

The Costa Smeralda demands two things that rarely coexist: stage presence outside the hotels of the Piazzetta, and genuine space for family and luggage. The RS Q8 Performance delivers both, with 640 hp of twin-turbo V8, five seats and a boot that swallows everyone's suitcases. It is the car you arrive in for dinner at Porto Cervo, and the one you load with towels, cool bags and beach kit for Grande Pevero the next morning.

Guests staying in the area often pair it with on-site collection: the car waits for you at the villa or on the dock, as we explain in our complete guide to supercar rental on the Costa Smeralda. And if the marina is your base, having an Audi delivered directly to Porto Cervo removes the logistics entirely: you step off the yacht and the keys are already there.

The 4.0-litre twin-turbo mild-hybrid V8 has two characters. In Comfort it is a gentleman: a low murmur, an eight-speed tiptronic that shifts like silk, air suspension that irons out the broken stretches towards San Pantaleo. In RS mode the jacket comes off: the exhaust valves open, the soundtrack turns full and cavernous, and the 3.6-second 0–100 km/h sprint arrives with a ferocity you simply do not expect from an SUV this size.

The physics are managed by 48-volt active anti-roll bars and four-wheel steering: the body stays flat under load, the front end hunts the apex through the hairpins of the Gallura hinterland like a far smaller car, and the turning circle surprises you in the hotel car park. It is no accident that this version set the lap record for a production SUV at the Nürburgring.

The Performance badge is no affectation: over the standard RS Q8 it brings more power, bespoke chassis tuning and details of its own. This is the summit of Ingolstadt's SUV range — the five-seat alternative for those who love supercars but travel with the family. Our fleet car is finished in Daytona Grey, a technical shade that sharpens the flared wheel arches without shouting about it.

If you are weighing up the segment, the natural comparison is with the other luxury SUVs available to rent in Sardinia: the RS Q8 Performance is the one to choose when performance matters as much as comfort. To secure it for your dates, message the WhatsApp concierge and check availability.