Kempten-based aftermarket tuner, ABT Sportsline, is known for its tune-ups for Audi vehicles. It has worked on the Avant series, the All road series, and even various Audi SUVs. Now, it has selected the German automaker’s flagship SUV, the RS Q8, and given it some steroids. It's called the RSQ8-R and is a limited-edition to commemorate its 125th birthday in 2021. This edition will churn out 740 horses and will have a top speed of 195 mph! Now, that’s a grand way to celebrate a birthday.

What’s Different Under The Hood?

In stock form, the Audi RS Q8 comes with a 4.0-liter, twin-turbocharged V-8 engine that produces 591 horses and 591 pound-feet of torque. The same mill is found under the hood of the RS7 Sportback. The engine is mated to an eight-speed Triptronic transmission. It features Audi’s famed Quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system as well, and even comes with torque vectoring, RS-specific damper tuning, and an all-wheel steering system. It takes 3.8 seconds to hit the 62 mph mark from a standstill. The top speed is limited to 189 mph.

This comes courtesy of a specially-designed intercooler and is built off the earlier rendition ABT made that developed 700 horses and 649 pound-feet of torque. This model is quicker by four-tenths of a second and the top speed is unlocked to 195 mph. Apart from this, the company has also upgraded the stock exhaust system to a stainless steel ABT exhaust system for a sweet-sounding grunt.

What’s New In Terms Of Aesthetics?

On the outside, the RSQ8-R comes with a few different visual elements. There are new four-inch quad exhaust outlets as part of the new exhaust system. The company has swapped the stock wheels for 23-inch ABT High-Performance HR wheels wrapped in 295/35 low-profile tires. An aero package is offered that includes carbon fiber elements on:

-* Front Skirt and Lip

-* Side Skirts

-* Mirror Caps

-* Wheelhouse Ventilation

-* Fender Extensions

-* Rear Skirt

-* Rear Spoiler

There are a few changes on the inside as well:

-* ABT Steering Wheel Upgrade

-* Special Plaques

-* New Start-Stop Switch Cap

-* New Shift Knob Cover

-* Revised Armrest and Center Console

-* ABT Seat Refinement

-* Door Sills with "1 of 125" Lettering

-* Floor Mats with the Model Logo

Final Thoughts

Quite an expensive package, but ABT is betting on its exclusivity since you’ll be the owner of 1 of the 125 packages made. The cost of the 2021 RSQ8 in the U.S. starts at $114,500. All-in-all, the ABT RSQ8-R will cost you around $200,000.

If you were looking for an SUV with a $200,000 budget, would the ABT RSQ8-R make the cut? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.