RS4 and S8 make Oz debut

AUDI’S main acts at last week's Melbourne motor show came in the form of the S8 and RS4 high-performance sports cars.

To be priced from a cool $250,000 when it arrives here in November, the S8 features a 5.2-litre FSI V10 engine derived from the Lamborghini Gallardo.

It can output 331kW at 7000rpm and 540Nm from 35000rpm, and combined with the standard six-speed Tiptronic automatic can propel the AWD aluminium-chassis sedan to 100 km/h in a claimed 5.1 seconds.

The RS4 quattro is no slouch either. On sale in April priced from around $170,000, the hot A4 uses a 4.2-litre V8 engine that develops 313kW and 430Nm – and can send the car to 100 clicks in 4.8 seconds.

Assisting the cause are additional air intakes up front, massive twin-exhausts and 30mm-lower sports suspension with 18-inch high-performance brakes.

The seven-seat Q7 4WD was again shown ahead of its September launch.