For Whatever reason, Audi is reluctant to make an R version of the A8/S8. Sure, the S8 is plenty powerful and sporty enough, but it really isn’t a match for AMG’s S63 and S65 super saloons. An RS8 with a V10 engine would be a nice addition to Audi’s range, and a proper rival for the proud Mercs.

Here we have an speculative rendering of an Audi RS8 based on the S8 model, with cues borrowed from the RS7. Even though this car fills a gap that doesn’t exist – because Audi has no intention of making this car – we like it a lot simply it looks really cool.

Audi has lots of good-looking cars these days, namely the RS7. But the A8 family is not really what you call exciting. They are fairly box-shaped and as appealing as a building block. What the designers have done here is take the S8 and garnish it with the sporty RS bumpers, plus sporty side skirts and a boot lid spoiler. These seemingly simple changes give the RS8 a purposeful look.

As for the engine this imaginary Audi RS8 might get, our money is on the V10 engine from the Audi R8 V10 Plus.

Renderings by DesignRM