Audi Q8 receives 335bhp petrol V6

Audi has increased the range of powertrains available in its flagship Q8 luxury SUV. 

Buyers can now order the BMW X6 rival in 55 TFSI guise, powered by a turbocharged 3.0-litre petrol V6 making 335bhp and 369lb ft. 

A 0-62mph time of 5.9sec and an electronically limited top speed of 155mph mark an improvement over the 6.3sec and 144mph achieved by the 3.0-litre diesel V6 available from launch in the 50 TDI.

Aided by a 48V mild hybrid system, the new engine achieves an average of 31.0-31.7mpg on the combined WLTP cycle.

At speeds of between 34 and 99mph, the Q8 can deactivate its engine for up to 40sec if the driver doesn’t touch the throttle. An energy recovery system during deceleration further improves economy. 

Also now available in the Q8 is a lower-powered version of Audi’s 3.0-litre diesel V6. With its 228bhp and 369lb ft, the 45 TDI model achieves a top speed of 144mph and an improved average of 42.2-44.1mpg. 0-62mph is dispatched in 7.1 seconds.