►Shop for merchandise: autogefuehl.shop/ ►Subscribe here: ruclips.net/user/autogefuehl ►Also subscribe to our RUclips shorts channel: www.youtube.com/@thomasautogefuhl?sub_confirmation=1 ►Follow us on Facebook / Instagram / TikTok @autogefuehl ►Sustainability in the automotive industry documentary: ruclips.net/video/-8gNXlRGngA/видео.htmlsi=bCdeJZORRHNcVmV2 This is our in-depth review of the 2025 Audi RSQ8 Performance. We're taking a look at Exterior, Interior and the driving experience. 00:00 Audi RSQ8 Performance 01:36 Length, wheels, suspension 03:21 Sound and engine 04:46 Launch Control preview 05:32 Interior quality 06:17 Seats and comfort 07:36 Cockpit 10:52 Driver POV 13:04 Rear seats 14:56 Trunk / boot 16:11 Launch Control 16:58 Racetrack 23:04 Daily driving vs SQ8 25:13 Motorway 31:50 Fuel economy mpg 32:43 Price
Data & facts: Audi RSQ8 facelift with RSQ8 performance Matrix LED, optional HD Matrix LED with laser light and dark background Individual light signatures New front spoiler and grill mask with black or grey matte blade (performance), optional carbon 5,02 m 198“ length 22 or 23“ optional Rear OLED optional Reduced insulation for performance Alcantara steering wheel in RS design pack Sport seat plus standard, only animal skin Updated virtual cockpit design 4,0 l V8 Biturbo 600 hp 3,8 s or Performance 640 hp 3,6 s (850 Nm) Standard AWD setup 40:60, varies up to 85 % rear Standard adaptive air suspension with RS setting Wider spread between comfort and sportiness in suspension setup Standard rear-axle steering up to 5° optional anti-roll-control and sport differential optional or standard for performance: ceramic brake towing 3,5 t Price 142.000 Euro or 156.000 Euro for Performance version 126.000 USD Transparency note: Autogefühl videos are independent and free from editorial influence on opinion and rating. But since manufacturers enable us to do the reviews in the first place, for legal reasons this video is marked as _advertisement_.
You both are amazing. Perfect balance between humor, entartainment and good info on the cars! So glad i found this channel. Love driving on the Autobahn. Love from Norway🇳🇴
I really do hope that VW can turn things around. I just bought a 24 GTI which for me will be the closest car to an Audi I'll ever own and they really are awesome cars. Prayers for all the workers at VW. 🙏
@@inxs777 looks like a spaceship imo this looks like a blob. Must of been good looking since bmw started the SUV coupe look and everyone else followed suite
I have a leather wallet. Leather shoes. Leather belt. And all leather interior in my car. Zero regrets. No animal was specifically slaughtered to provide leather for these products. Leather is a by product of humans eating cows. If we don’t utilize this by product it would be thrown away in landfills. Look into the biodegradable superiority of leather versus the fake leather chemical based alternatives. If you are a vegan (which I suspect and also respect) I understand your emotional aversion to leather. Peace.
Thank you very much for your interest in this topic. I also bought cars with animal skin leather seats before I did my research and got to know the industry. The most important thing is: With today's modern materials, you have nothing to lose, just to gain. You achieve the same kind of luxury and comfort or even better while having the same or better durability with less impact on humans, animals and the environment. You can use fabric/cloth, microfibre or leatherette. The classic approach is using oil/plastic as source material. Overall, a vehicle contains about 300 kg plastic. A car seat needs about 5 kg plastic. So the overall plastic share for the seats is very low and it is at this moment the most efficient way to produce a car seat. A couple of litres of fuel equals a car seat basically. So if you want to save oil/plastic, rather look at consumption for energy, fuel and heating and to other car parts than the seat. Note that animal skin leather also always contains a plastic coating for durability. However, long-term we should of course find raw oil alternatives. So going further, seats can be made from recyclables (e.g. from PET-bottles or old fishing nets) or even increased share of plant-based materials (like pine oil, canola oil or start-up materials like Pinatex from pineapple leaves or Desertex from cactus fibre or the mixed-plant-based Mirum, so be seen at ruclips.net/video/S1aNZeoatmE/видео.html). On a calculation base, by ditching animal skin leather from car interiors, the amount of emissions (CO2e) is reduced by 85 (!) % (www.press.bmwgroup.com/africa-dom-easteurope/article/detail/T0403389EN/on-the-market-from-2023:-bmw-and-mini-models-with-vegan-interiors?language=en) - and that is a very conservative calculation. So it is at this moment the most important thing you can do to make car interiors more sustainable. A good example for high-end luxury with ventilated animal free seats is the BMW X7 with Sensafin: ruclips.net/video/1pRNkW9nrrw/видео.html And the Kia EV9 with plant-based oil share: ruclips.net/video/6vXePQi_MAk/видео.html New leatherette materials can be superior in every aspect, even for cleaning: ruclips.net/video/u94YXJ72UTA/видео.html More and more natural materials are rising: ruclips.net/video/nRSsXEnwHDo/видео.html Also check out what the animal skin leather industry tried to with our channel: ruclips.net/video/nP_CvLlaFlI/видео.html For seeing how the animals are being treated and transported in the global leather industry, watch this footage: ruclips.net/video/tkjCAmq1_8E/видео.html Note that the footage is genuine and was recorded by a highly decorated investigative journalist in Germany I know myself personally. Also a group of researchers and German journalists from public media could recent directly trace the connection between car animal leather production and illegal burning down Amazon rain forest: www.daserste.de/information/reportage-dokumentation/ard-story/videos/illegales-leder-video-100.html In a high animal skin grade, the animals are specifically raised for this matter. However even if meat is the "first" misuse case, the hide remains a profitable body part. That means: If manufacturers put animal leather in a car and you demand it as a customer, you give your money to an industry that earns money by oppressing humans, animals and harms the environment, you make them more profitable. Alternatively, you could support industries with your wallet which try to improve the sustainability of materials. Also, if you turn the argument around to "meat is the waste of the leather industry" you realize that it doesn't make sense (and is ethically doubtful) to discuss the primary use of individual body parts of mammals. Mind experiment: You are getting slain down on the street; would it matter to you if it was for your smartphone or for your purse? Remember that animal skin leather is no different to fur, fur is just leather where the hair is still on. And fur is widely not accepted for clothing anymore, and of course not for cars. We cannot change what we have bought in the past, but with more information and compassion we can change how we decide in the future. For a great insight into sustainability in the automotive industry, you can also check out our extensive documentary: ruclips.net/video/-8gNXlRGngA/видео.html The argument that leather is merely a "waste" product of the food industry and therefore ethical or sustainable has been a topic of debate, and there are several reasons why it is considered problematic and unethical: 1. Leather is a Profitable Co-Product, not a Byproduct. * Leather is not a waste material. It is a valuable co-product of the meat and dairy industries, meaning that the skins and hides of animals are sold for profit. The global leather industry is worth billions of dollars, and the demand for high-quality leather, particularly for luxury goods, is significant. * Economic Contribution: By buying leather, consumers are directly contributing to the profitability of the meat and dairy industries, reinforcing demand for animal farming. Leather adds financial value to the slaughter of animals, which in turn incentivizes the continuation of intensive animal agriculture. 2. Encourages the Environmental Impact of Animal Farming * Environmental Harm: Animal farming is a leading cause of environmental degradation. It contributes to deforestation, water pollution, and is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The leather industry, as part of this system, intensifies the environmental impact. * Tanning Process: Leather production itself is extremely resource-intensive and involves harmful chemicals like chromium, which can pollute water sources and harm ecosystems and communities living near tanneries. The argument that leather is a "waste" deflects from these significant environmental costs. 3. Supports Cruel Animal Farming Practices * Factory Farming: Most leather comes from animals raised in factory farms where they endure inhumane conditions-such as overcrowding, mutilation (dehorning, tail docking), and often brutal slaughter practices. * Leather Sources Beyond Cattle: It’s important to note that leather is not only sourced from cows. Other animals such as pigs, sheep, goats, and even exotic animals like crocodiles and snakes are often killed specifically for their skins. In some cases, animals are bred solely for leather production, especially in the case of exotic leathers. 4. Leather’s Role in the Global Meat and Dairy Supply Chain * The "Chicken and Egg" Relationship: The leather industry is deeply intertwined with the meat and dairy supply chains. It is misleading to claim that leather is merely a waste product when in reality it adds value to the entire system. The more leather that is purchased, the more profitable it becomes for the animal agriculture industry to keep raising and slaughtering animals. * Ethical Disconnect: From an ethical standpoint, using leather under the assumption that it’s “just waste” ignores the larger systemic issues of animal exploitation. It perpetuates a cycle where animals are bred, confined, and slaughtered in massive numbers, not just for meat but also for profit from their hides. 5. There Are Viable, Sustainable Alternatives * Innovation in Vegan Leathers: Today, there are numerous cruelty-free, sustainable alternatives to animal leather, such as pineapple leather (Piñatex), mushroom leather, apple leather, and even lab-grown leather. These options do not involve the same ethical, environmental, or health concerns as traditional leather production. * Sustainability Argument: Many leather alternatives are far more environmentally friendly. For instance, plant-based and recycled materials often require fewer resources and generate less pollution compared to the production of leather from animal hides, which requires heavy water and energy consumption and the use of toxic chemicals in tanning. 6. Moral and Ethical Considerations * Devaluing Animal Lives: By framing leather as a “waste” product, it downplays the intrinsic value of animal lives and reduces sentient beings to mere commodities. This perspective is often criticized for failing to acknowledge the rights of animals to live free from exploitation and harm. * Speciesism: The belief that animals can be farmed for their skins because their lives are less important than human needs or luxury goods can be seen as a form of speciesism-the assumption that human interests always take precedence over the welfare of other species, even when non-leather alternatives are available. 7. Global Impact on Communities * Health Risks to Workers: Many leather tanneries, especially in developing countries, expose workers to unsafe chemicals like chromium salts. These chemicals can cause severe health issues, including cancer, respiratory problems, and skin conditions. Communities near tanneries often suffer from polluted water and land. * Environmental Justice: Often, the communities that are most affected by the environmental harm of the leather industry are poor and marginalized. These populations bear the brunt of the environmental degradation, even though the demand for leather comes largely from wealthier consumers in more developed countries. The idea that leather is a "waste" product from the food industry is misleading and unethical because it ignores the significant role that leather plays in the profitability of animal farming, the environmental degradation it causes, the cruelty inherent in the industry, and the availability of sustainable alternatives. To label leather as mere "waste" downplays its substantial impact on both animals and the environment, making this argument a way to justify the continued use of an ethically and environmentally problematic material.
Good evening Thomas. Always a pleasure to watch you and Leah with your witty but detailed presentations. I personally prefer the BMW driving dynamics after having Audi cars for 17 years. Although in fairness, anyone wanting a fast SUV, couldn’t be blamed looking at this vehicle. I too have a V8, but my exhausts are real! Ps When you presented the X2 M35i in Frozen Blue (not long ago) she was very impressed and took delivery on Sunday, many thanks for your professionalism. Best regards
Your review are so well done with your calm voice and the Humor takes (and some time easter eggs or trivia) Please let Mia do a full review , for valentines day or Womans Day and donate the profits for Breast Cancer
Excellent review Thomas! I have a Q8, feel it’s too big and heavy for sporty driving but very good for family hauling duty. RSQ8 600+hp, 10 MPG doesn’t make sense but for bragging rights. I prefer a lower wagon or Sportback for better handling, more fun on back roads and still practical. If you must have the big Q8 SUV form with a V8, try SQ8 or Cayenne S for less money but still with V8 rumble. Warning, these big Audi’s go through tires fast…I’ve also had glitching issues with the central locking system on the soft close doors. The touch capacitive touchscreens are BS, but the best ones I’ve used….wife prefers these to buttons for some reason. My big dog is not a fan of the rear window only going down halfway. His slobbers on the piano black center console is not great either. We’re thinking about replacing the Q8 with an AMG GLE 53 Coupe - I’ve had good experiences with my previous AMG’s though I am a long time Audi guy as well. 😉
I don’t know but I am most happy with my 2021 SQ8 (thanks to your review!) I RARELY touch its potential power levels, and they are VERY ADEQUATE for my needs. Seems to me that RS is a bit of overkill for the average Joe!👍🏼👍🏼😀
For me the main fact is: The RSQ8 still uses the Non-hybrid-V8 and therefore is much lighter than the Porsche Cayenne turbo S and Lamborghini Urus, that are only available as PHEV any longer. For people, who are looking or the perfect combination of Sport and everyday-SUV I believe, that this is the best solution now.
@ERTZZTRE u mean the 4 year old one? The new 2024 hasn't been tested and trust me 2 seconds will easily be beat. If it that wasn't the case who gives af dude. The turbo gt is a suv with amazing handling and is way faster then this car and is a PORSCHE. Audi will never get that respect.
@@G82Wattsthe Cayenne is so ridiculously overpriced it’s not worth considering. It’s the same basic vehicle as the Audi, and many people prefer to fly below the radar with an Audi.
Lovely, but not for me without the proper chrome badges front and rear and the tinted rear glass on the rear doors on the car and a proper leather style steering wheel , rather than the foam 🫣 Also, please get rid of the cheap looking black plastic across the dash and gear lever as it looks too shiny and cheap and will scratch, perhaps a carbon fibre and then it would seem to be worth the value, otherwise sadly not for me 🤔
Why not? Parts bin Dieselgate VW R8 was rebadged Gallardo (Audi were front-engine fwd.) & V10 also went into S8. Most Porsche, Bentley, Audi rebadged VW MLB Evo, over a dozen models.
Thank you for a detailed review. I suppose you would buy this for the V8, suspension, and agile steering. The interior came over as somewhat compromised with a confused UI/UX partly headed for the worst of Audi/VW’s current UI/UX choices. At - say - €150-180k I am certain I would spend it on something else. In the RS lineup for a last ICE before EV hell the jewel is the latest RS3. I have started to comment on the availability of a dealer near to me, and the nearest Audi is some 40 miles away here in the UK. That would put me off a bit. For instance there is a BMW/Mini dealer within 15 miles and also a Mercedes (though not Smart, >50 miles). A Porsche dealer is some 40-50 miles away. You still need to take a car in for at least an annual check up and maybe more frequently if reliability is an issue or there are a lot of software updates. Over here 40 miles will be a combined rural/urban drive of about 1 hour 15 minutes, so a visit to a remote dealer will be a day out of your life even with a courtesy car.
Hey Thomas, du kannst den Cayenne GTS auch mit wärmedämmendem Akustikglas bestellen. Gibt’s beim RSQ8 wohl auch. Dann stimmen Geräuschpegel plus Sounkulisse … 👍
Danke für den Tipp! Nur soweit ich von den Porsche Kollegen gehört habe, wird bei GTS Modellen trotzdem immer bewusst entdämmt, damit man mehr von Fahrzeug und Straße hört, ich nehme mal an, dass dies selbst mit dieser Option der Fall wäre?
To be honest, I don't dare to buy an Audi. I follow many garage channels and the amount of broken issues all the Audi's have. And all the parts are expensive AF. Think about the dynamo, the wheel-arms, rubbers, cardan bearings, Digital Cockpit, etc, etc. I all goes broken. ALWAYS.
If you have teenagers in the back seats, that touch screen for the heating will suffer quickly. Its poor visibility is contra intuitive and unsafe as one has to lean forward to see the info and use the touch screen. The inadjustable short head rests on the front seats are unforgivable for a premium vehicle. The overall grey colour of the interior and exterior makes it appalling in stead of appealing. It's probably a great car but I would just buy the Q8 and spec it as a saloon in stead. Then again I am old fashioned...and proud of it too 😊
Wow that is a monster SUV ! That's a big engine , great interior but out of my price range unfortunately . Anyhow a cool vehicle just that I prefer a nice sedan or estate to these big boat like SUV'S . This Vorsprung durch technik is not for me though . Too bad !
The biggest thing holding me back from buying any new car is the overwhelming and obnoxious use of touch screens and haptic feed back controls. I am so sick of it. BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and sadly Porsche are hell bent on using this crap. I make enough to afford these cars but the problem is that i absolutely loath it. It makes me feel so detached from the driving experience. The Chinese market is driving this nonsense and it's a good thing that German auto makers are currently facing a 15-30% decline in sales. Maybe this will force their idiotic design team to reel back their ipad on wheels obsession.
@autogefuehl I did watch the review entirely, and you don’t talk one time about the top door panel, only mid and low part for both front and rear doors. Not really big deal but you usually do that part too quoting (rather hard pack, or soft touch), hence my question Thanks for the review tho
@@SudSale31 if you have the extended leather package then the top of the door panels are also covered in leather and it is soft and high quality, if you don't have that the plastic is somewhere between hard and a bit soft
In Lambo Urus back seats are jokes. I'm not tall person, around 176 cm high and in back seat I feel like im in some tight cave. Sure... whole interior looks great and have buttons instead lcd panels. But if you wanna fast suv that can transport 4 persons. Audi RSQ8 or even SQ8 is better to fit this job. Also Audi feels that have better grip on road than Lambo. If Lambo have more space inside, especial on back and drove like SQ8. This will be ultimate sport SUV in the World. 😀
The new gen "smart cars" direction, if i can can call it that way, looks and feels a bit complicated for the user/driver, plus it takes away the experience and simplicity of a "key turn" drive and feel, with a button, and with the amount of screens/tablets inside the cockpit, which looks too glossy, i can easily say "that´s not my cup of tea" in terms of aestetichs/mechanics ...
Yet again, $150K+ with piano black plastic console. Yuk. You can't tell me the folks at VW couldn't come up with something--anything--better, esp. at such a steep price.
I am not sure if anyone agree, but after watching many different videos, I felt that the stock exhaust sound from the SQ8 sounds way better than the stock RS Q8!
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This is our in-depth review of the 2025 Audi RSQ8 Performance. We're taking a look at Exterior, Interior and the driving experience.
00:00 Audi RSQ8 Performance
01:36 Length, wheels, suspension
03:21 Sound and engine
04:46 Launch Control preview
05:32 Interior quality
06:17 Seats and comfort
07:36 Cockpit
10:52 Driver POV
13:04 Rear seats
14:56 Trunk / boot
16:11 Launch Control
16:58 Racetrack
23:04 Daily driving vs SQ8
25:13 Motorway
31:50 Fuel economy mpg
32:43 Price
You two are doing the world a disservice if you’ve never attended a Halloween party as Superman and Supergirl.
Even if I had infinite money, I would still choose the RSQ8 over the Urus.
ok
why would you buy audi in that case?? you could have much better cars
Daily ability is superior to bmw & mercedes
No you wont
i’d run with the lambo tune on that engine
Data & facts:
Audi RSQ8 facelift with RSQ8 performance
Matrix LED, optional HD Matrix LED with laser light and dark background
Individual light signatures
New front spoiler and grill mask with black or grey matte blade (performance), optional carbon
5,02 m 198“ length
22 or 23“ optional
Rear OLED optional
Reduced insulation for performance
Alcantara steering wheel in RS design pack
Sport seat plus standard, only animal skin
Updated virtual cockpit design
4,0 l V8 Biturbo 600 hp 3,8 s or Performance 640 hp 3,6 s (850 Nm)
Standard AWD setup 40:60, varies up to 85 % rear
Standard adaptive air suspension with RS setting
Wider spread between comfort and sportiness in suspension setup
Standard rear-axle steering up to 5°
optional anti-roll-control and sport differential
optional or standard for performance: ceramic brake
towing 3,5 t
Price
142.000 Euro or 156.000 Euro for Performance version
126.000 USD
Transparency note: Autogefühl videos are independent and free from editorial influence on opinion and rating. But since manufacturers enable us to do the reviews in the first place, for legal reasons this video is marked as _advertisement_.
I'm glad the interior has not been retrofitted to the new plastic with jumbo screens!
Enjoy it until 2027 😂
You both are amazing.
Perfect balance between humor, entartainment and good info on the cars!
So glad i found this channel. Love driving on the Autobahn.
Love from Norway🇳🇴
Thank you so much! Please recommend / share our channel and our videos 🙏
Seems like rsq8 is louder both in/outside, it it right? How were your feel? NORMAL/SPORTS mode?
That silver color combined with the carbon fiber, looks extremely cool up close 🤩
I really do hope that VW can turn things around. I just bought a 24 GTI which for me will be the closest car to an Audi I'll ever own and they really are awesome cars. Prayers for all the workers at VW. 🙏
Thanks for them, and all of Audi VW enthusiasts
If they believe producing large ICE cars is the answer, then they’re in even bigger trouble than I thought.
Car reviews you do are first class.
Thank you so much! Please recommend / share our channel and our videos 🙏
Even with the sneezing
Perhaps the only new Audi they haven’t completely f’ed up this year
Without any doubt!
The RS3 might be in this list but the steering wheel and the interior materials are just nonsense
Truly agree without a doubt.
practically every new Audi model is amazing. A5/S5 amazing, Facelifted RS3 amazing, RS6/7 performance amazing.
@@TheEryk03 Yeah, they definitely better than any new Audi's revealed this year
I can say the front and rear designs are cleaner and nicer looking than weird BMW designs.
8:18 1000000% with you on this. The digital skateboard is the laziest solution possible.
I cant lie this looks BEAST!. BMW needs a new x6m asap
2025 x6m comp looks better imo. Espically the rear end. Alot more sleek .
@@G82WattsThe back of the X6m looks like it had an accident 😅
@@inxs777 looks like a spaceship imo this looks like a blob. Must of been good looking since bmw started the SUV coupe look and everyone else followed suite
stunning car, stunning review! Love your videos. Your review of the rs5 convinced me to buy one 2 years ago. Youve got a fan for life.👍
cheers m8! :)
Astonishing vehicle
That's so sweet. You didn't mute her out
Urus, Bentayga, Cayenne, Q8, Toureg - Same same...but different. Still would have the RSQ8 😅
I have a leather wallet. Leather shoes. Leather belt. And all leather interior in my car. Zero regrets. No animal was specifically slaughtered to provide leather for these products. Leather is a by product of humans eating cows. If we don’t utilize this by product it would be thrown away in landfills. Look into the biodegradable superiority of leather versus the fake leather chemical based alternatives. If you are a vegan (which I suspect and also respect) I understand your emotional aversion to leather. Peace.
Thank you very much for your interest in this topic. I also bought cars with animal skin leather seats before I did my research and got to know the industry. The most important thing is: With today's modern materials, you have nothing to lose, just to gain. You achieve the same kind of luxury and comfort or even better while having the same or better durability with less impact on humans, animals and the environment.
You can use fabric/cloth, microfibre or leatherette. The classic approach is using oil/plastic as source material. Overall, a vehicle contains about 300 kg plastic. A car seat needs about 5 kg plastic. So the overall plastic share for the seats is very low and it is at this moment the most efficient way to produce a car seat. A couple of litres of fuel equals a car seat basically. So if you want to save oil/plastic, rather look at consumption for energy, fuel and heating and to other car parts than the seat. Note that animal skin leather also always contains a plastic coating for durability. However, long-term we should of course find raw oil alternatives. So going further, seats can be made from recyclables (e.g. from PET-bottles or old fishing nets) or even increased share of plant-based materials (like pine oil, canola oil or start-up materials like Pinatex from pineapple leaves or Desertex from cactus fibre or the mixed-plant-based Mirum, so be seen at ruclips.net/video/S1aNZeoatmE/видео.html). On a calculation base, by ditching animal skin leather from car interiors, the amount of emissions (CO2e) is reduced by 85 (!) % (www.press.bmwgroup.com/africa-dom-easteurope/article/detail/T0403389EN/on-the-market-from-2023:-bmw-and-mini-models-with-vegan-interiors?language=en) - and that is a very conservative calculation. So it is at this moment the most important thing you can do to make car interiors more sustainable.
A good example for high-end luxury with ventilated animal free seats is the BMW X7 with Sensafin: ruclips.net/video/1pRNkW9nrrw/видео.html
And the Kia EV9 with plant-based oil share: ruclips.net/video/6vXePQi_MAk/видео.html
New leatherette materials can be superior in every aspect, even for cleaning: ruclips.net/video/u94YXJ72UTA/видео.html
More and more natural materials are rising: ruclips.net/video/nRSsXEnwHDo/видео.html
Also check out what the animal skin leather industry tried to with our channel: ruclips.net/video/nP_CvLlaFlI/видео.html
For seeing how the animals are being treated and transported in the global leather industry, watch this footage: ruclips.net/video/tkjCAmq1_8E/видео.html
Note that the footage is genuine and was recorded by a highly decorated investigative journalist in Germany I know myself personally.
Also a group of researchers and German journalists from public media could recent directly trace the connection between car animal leather production and illegal burning down Amazon rain forest:
www.daserste.de/information/reportage-dokumentation/ard-story/videos/illegales-leder-video-100.html
In a high animal skin grade, the animals are specifically raised for this matter. However even if meat is the "first" misuse case, the hide remains a profitable body part. That means: If manufacturers put animal leather in a car and you demand it as a customer, you give your money to an industry that earns money by oppressing humans, animals and harms the environment, you make them more profitable. Alternatively, you could support industries with your wallet which try to improve the sustainability of materials. Also, if you turn the argument around to "meat is the waste of the leather industry" you realize that it doesn't make sense (and is ethically doubtful) to discuss the primary use of individual body parts of mammals. Mind experiment: You are getting slain down on the street; would it matter to you if it was for your smartphone or for your purse? Remember that animal skin leather is no different to fur, fur is just leather where the hair is still on. And fur is widely not accepted for clothing anymore, and of course not for cars.
We cannot change what we have bought in the past, but with more information and compassion we can change how we decide in the future.
For a great insight into sustainability in the automotive industry, you can also check out our extensive documentary:
ruclips.net/video/-8gNXlRGngA/видео.html
The argument that leather is merely a "waste" product of the food industry and therefore ethical or sustainable has been a topic of debate, and there are several reasons why it is considered problematic and unethical:
1. Leather is a Profitable Co-Product, not a Byproduct.
* Leather is not a waste material. It is a valuable co-product of the meat and dairy industries, meaning that the skins and hides of animals are sold for profit. The global leather industry is worth billions of dollars, and the demand for high-quality leather, particularly for luxury goods, is significant.
* Economic Contribution: By buying leather, consumers are directly contributing to the profitability of the meat and dairy industries, reinforcing demand for animal farming. Leather adds financial value to the slaughter of animals, which in turn incentivizes the continuation of intensive animal agriculture.
2. Encourages the Environmental Impact of Animal Farming
* Environmental Harm: Animal farming is a leading cause of environmental degradation. It contributes to deforestation, water pollution, and is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The leather industry, as part of this system, intensifies the environmental impact.
* Tanning Process: Leather production itself is extremely resource-intensive and involves harmful chemicals like chromium, which can pollute water sources and harm ecosystems and communities living near tanneries. The argument that leather is a "waste" deflects from these significant environmental costs.
3. Supports Cruel Animal Farming Practices
* Factory Farming: Most leather comes from animals raised in factory farms where they endure inhumane conditions-such as overcrowding, mutilation (dehorning, tail docking), and often brutal slaughter practices.
* Leather Sources Beyond Cattle: It’s important to note that leather is not only sourced from cows. Other animals such as pigs, sheep, goats, and even exotic animals like crocodiles and snakes are often killed specifically for their skins. In some cases, animals are bred solely for leather production, especially in the case of exotic leathers.
4. Leather’s Role in the Global Meat and Dairy Supply Chain
* The "Chicken and Egg" Relationship: The leather industry is deeply intertwined with the meat and dairy supply chains. It is misleading to claim that leather is merely a waste product when in reality it adds value to the entire system. The more leather that is purchased, the more profitable it becomes for the animal agriculture industry to keep raising and slaughtering animals.
* Ethical Disconnect: From an ethical standpoint, using leather under the assumption that it’s “just waste” ignores the larger systemic issues of animal exploitation. It perpetuates a cycle where animals are bred, confined, and slaughtered in massive numbers, not just for meat but also for profit from their hides.
5. There Are Viable, Sustainable Alternatives
* Innovation in Vegan Leathers: Today, there are numerous cruelty-free, sustainable alternatives to animal leather, such as pineapple leather (Piñatex), mushroom leather, apple leather, and even lab-grown leather. These options do not involve the same ethical, environmental, or health concerns as traditional leather production.
* Sustainability Argument: Many leather alternatives are far more environmentally friendly. For instance, plant-based and recycled materials often require fewer resources and generate less pollution compared to the production of leather from animal hides, which requires heavy water and energy consumption and the use of toxic chemicals in tanning.
6. Moral and Ethical Considerations
* Devaluing Animal Lives: By framing leather as a “waste” product, it downplays the intrinsic value of animal lives and reduces sentient beings to mere commodities. This perspective is often criticized for failing to acknowledge the rights of animals to live free from exploitation and harm.
* Speciesism: The belief that animals can be farmed for their skins because their lives are less important than human needs or luxury goods can be seen as a form of speciesism-the assumption that human interests always take precedence over the welfare of other species, even when non-leather alternatives are available.
7. Global Impact on Communities
* Health Risks to Workers: Many leather tanneries, especially in developing countries, expose workers to unsafe chemicals like chromium salts. These chemicals can cause severe health issues, including cancer, respiratory problems, and skin conditions. Communities near tanneries often suffer from polluted water and land.
* Environmental Justice: Often, the communities that are most affected by the environmental harm of the leather industry are poor and marginalized. These populations bear the brunt of the environmental degradation, even though the demand for leather comes largely from wealthier consumers in more developed countries.
The idea that leather is a "waste" product from the food industry is misleading and unethical because it ignores the significant role that leather plays in the profitability of animal farming, the environmental degradation it causes, the cruelty inherent in the industry, and the availability of sustainable alternatives. To label leather as mere "waste" downplays its substantial impact on both animals and the environment, making this argument a way to justify the continued use of an ethically and environmentally problematic material.
@@autogefuehlwhich one do you like more driving in terms of quality and comfort rsq8 or cayenne turbo e hybrid with gt package?
Both come very close, same platform. The PHEV ones however in performance are not comparable when the battery is empty plus they add more weight
I miss the front RSQ8 badge, and the old rear badge where the R is IN the Sport parallelogram, not next to it. beautiful car regardless.
We need a compilation of all door closing sounds. This satesfyings af
Why is this specific vehicle so HARD!!! This is really all you need.
Mild Hybrid makes the car 200 kg heavier than the Cayenne GTS
First choice on all car reviews professional informative and relaxed thank you 👍👍
Highly appreciated! Please recommend our channel 😎
Great Video Thomas! That trim looks impressive.
Thanks 🙏
Dunno why Audi doesn't color-match the rings to the paint. That would look slick.
This over the URUS…!!
BUT MY ULTIMATE love IS THE PORSCHE CAYENNE COUPE TURBO GT ❤❤❤
Great video sir.
Thank you so much! Please recommend / share our channel and our videos 🙏
What a beautiful color. And those rims in combination with the color. Perfect!!
6:38 - Don't keep Lea too cold, get her to try the heated seats! lol
Good evening Thomas.
Always a pleasure to watch you and Leah with your witty but detailed presentations.
I personally prefer the BMW driving dynamics after having Audi cars for 17 years.
Although in fairness, anyone wanting a fast SUV, couldn’t be blamed looking at this vehicle.
I too have a V8, but my exhausts are real!
Ps
When you presented the X2 M35i in Frozen Blue (not long ago) she was very impressed and took delivery on Sunday, many thanks for your professionalism.
Best regards
cheers m8 ! hehe cool enjoy :)
@ I am enjoying thank you very much 👍
Your review are so well done with your calm voice and the Humor takes (and some time easter eggs or trivia)
Please let Mia do a full review , for valentines day or Womans Day
and donate the profits for Breast Cancer
Highly appreciated! Please recommend our channel 😎
nice video making thankss
Sounds Amazing!!!
That vertical tachometer that comes toward you is just sooooo weird.
Excellent review Thomas!
I have a Q8, feel it’s too big and heavy for sporty driving but very good for family hauling duty. RSQ8 600+hp, 10 MPG doesn’t make sense but for bragging rights. I prefer a lower wagon or Sportback for better handling, more fun on back roads and still practical. If you must have the big Q8 SUV form with a V8, try SQ8 or Cayenne S for less money but still with V8 rumble. Warning, these big Audi’s go through tires fast…I’ve also had glitching issues with the central locking system on the soft close doors.
The touch capacitive touchscreens are BS, but the best ones I’ve used….wife prefers these to buttons for some reason. My big dog is not a fan of the rear window only going down halfway. His slobbers on the piano black center console is not great either. We’re thinking about replacing the Q8 with an AMG GLE 53 Coupe - I’ve had good experiences with my previous AMG’s though I am a long time Audi guy as well. 😉
cheers m8 ! yeah sure that normal Q8 will do just fine :)
Looks so so good 👌
I think, in my opinion, maybe the best looking SUV on the market today!!!!
I don’t know but I am most happy with my 2021 SQ8 (thanks to your review!) I RARELY touch its potential power levels, and they are VERY ADEQUATE for my needs. Seems to me that RS is a bit of overkill for the average Joe!👍🏼👍🏼😀
cheers m8! Yeah for sure!
Good job👏
For me the main fact is: The RSQ8 still uses the Non-hybrid-V8 and therefore is much lighter than the Porsche Cayenne turbo S and Lamborghini Urus, that are only available as PHEV any longer. For people, who are looking or the perfect combination of Sport and everyday-SUV I believe, that this is the best solution now.
It’s so expensive tho it’s over 200k. Cayenne gts , Gle 63 and x5m are under 150k
This car is not even close to a cayenne turbo gt. It's still an audi bud.
@@G82Watts The Audi is >2 sec faster on the Nürburgring Nordschleife than a Cayenne turbo GT, so it`s not only close...
@ERTZZTRE u mean the 4 year old one? The new 2024 hasn't been tested and trust me 2 seconds will easily be beat. If it that wasn't the case who gives af dude. The turbo gt is a suv with amazing handling and is way faster then this car and is a PORSCHE. Audi will never get that respect.
@@G82Wattsthe Cayenne is so ridiculously overpriced it’s not worth considering. It’s the same basic vehicle as the Audi, and many people prefer to fly below the radar with an Audi.
I like how you kept the sneeze in the video lol.
I love it everytime he says "if you have specced that option" for a 100k$ car...
This is one of the newer cars Audi got right imo
Tip Top Thomas 👌
👍👍
I am torn between this RSQ8 performance, cayenne GRS and X5 M comp, Your thoughts??
Compare it here: ruclips.net/video/TFiwCkzPLsE/видео.html
ruclips.net/video/E-z5_-fTf_g/видео.html
and of course also to consider this as X5 or X6:
ruclips.net/video/pIvkAtZ2orU/видео.html
Lovely, but not for me without the proper chrome badges front and rear and the tinted rear glass on the rear doors on the car and a proper leather style steering wheel , rather than the foam 🫣
Also, please get rid of the cheap looking black plastic across the dash and gear lever as it looks too shiny and cheap and will scratch, perhaps a carbon fibre and then it would seem to be worth the value, otherwise sadly not for me 🤔
May I ask what watch you are wearing? Thanks
those frameless windows always scare me where you may not notice how close your head is to the corner edge of that window glass.
Thomas, rsq8 and 2025 cayenne gts which one is louder both engine and exhaust sound from inside and outside?, normal mode and sport mode?
compare it here: ruclips.net/video/TFiwCkzPLsE/видео.html
Why not? Parts bin Dieselgate VW R8 was rebadged Gallardo (Audi were front-engine fwd.) & V10 also went into S8. Most Porsche, Bentley, Audi rebadged VW MLB Evo, over a dozen models.
Prefer the prior gen front and rear appearance...love that engine and sound though.
Thank you for a detailed review.
I suppose you would buy this for the V8, suspension, and agile steering. The interior came over as somewhat compromised with a confused UI/UX partly headed for the worst of Audi/VW’s current UI/UX choices. At - say - €150-180k I am certain I would spend it on something else. In the RS lineup for a last ICE before EV hell the jewel is the latest RS3.
I have started to comment on the availability of a dealer near to me, and the nearest Audi is some 40 miles away here in the UK. That would put me off a bit. For instance there is a BMW/Mini dealer within 15 miles and also a Mercedes (though not Smart, >50 miles). A Porsche dealer is some 40-50 miles away. You still need to take a car in for at least an annual check up and maybe more frequently if reliability is an issue or there are a lot of software updates. Over here 40 miles will be a combined rural/urban drive of about 1 hour 15 minutes, so a visit to a remote dealer will be a day out of your life even with a courtesy car.
Cheers!
Great review as always Thomas! Quite a lot Audi reviews lately, are they trying to convince you to go for an Audi again as your next car? :)
cheers! Heh they had a couple of presentations that why - they also need to do smth against their current fiscal situation for sure!
Dream car!
Not an Audi fan but i absolutely love it ❤ gorgeous spec as well...besides the piano black 🤮🤮🤮
Panerama Sport Turismo GTS gets my vote!
What's the appearance difference between rs q8 & the performance?
you can get some options you cant get for the normal version like the carbon pack. In the US it is the same however
@autogefuehl thanks for the feedback
Hey Thomas, du kannst den Cayenne GTS auch mit wärmedämmendem Akustikglas bestellen. Gibt’s beim RSQ8 wohl auch. Dann stimmen Geräuschpegel plus Sounkulisse … 👍
Danke für den Tipp! Nur soweit ich von den Porsche Kollegen gehört habe, wird bei GTS Modellen trotzdem immer bewusst entdämmt, damit man mehr von Fahrzeug und Straße hört, ich nehme mal an, dass dies selbst mit dieser Option der Fall wäre?
To be honest, I don't dare to buy an Audi. I follow many garage channels and the amount of broken issues all the Audi's have. And all the parts are expensive AF. Think about the dynamo, the wheel-arms, rubbers, cardan bearings, Digital Cockpit, etc, etc. I all goes broken. ALWAYS.
If you have teenagers in the back seats, that touch screen for the heating will suffer quickly. Its poor visibility is contra intuitive and unsafe as one has to lean forward to see the info and use the touch screen.
The inadjustable short head rests on the front seats are unforgivable for a premium vehicle. The overall grey colour of the interior and exterior makes it appalling in stead of appealing.
It's probably a great car but I would just buy the Q8 and spec it as a saloon in stead. Then again I am old fashioned...and proud of it too 😊
For me, SQ8 is the sweetspot
Wow that is a monster SUV !
That's a big engine , great interior but out of my price range unfortunately .
Anyhow a cool vehicle just that I prefer a nice sedan or estate to these big boat like SUV'S .
This Vorsprung durch technik is not for me though .
Too bad !
Hope to see this video in your Chinese channel !
I want Audi to make competitor For BMW XB7 Alpine and Mercedes-Benz GLS Maybach
This is not a car…. This is a dynamite !, This is a terrorist on weels !,!❤❤❤
The biggest thing holding me back from buying any new car is the overwhelming and obnoxious use of touch screens and haptic feed back controls. I am so sick of it. BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and sadly Porsche are hell bent on using this crap. I make enough to afford these cars but the problem is that i absolutely loath it. It makes me feel so detached from the driving experience. The Chinese market is driving this nonsense and it's a good thing that German auto makers are currently facing a 15-30% decline in sales. Maybe this will force their idiotic design team to reel back their ipad on wheels obsession.
Hi Thomas, Did Audi told you to not talk about top of doors panels quality, or it is just me?
heh they telling me nothing what to say and not to say - also when you watched the view full you ll know :)
@autogefuehl I did watch the review entirely, and you don’t talk one time about the top door panel, only mid and low part for both front and rear doors.
Not really big deal but you usually do that part too quoting (rather hard pack, or soft touch), hence my question
Thanks for the review tho
@@SudSale31 if you have the extended leather package then the top of the door panels are also covered in leather and it is soft and high quality, if you don't have that the plastic is somewhere between hard and a bit soft
Thankfully, they didn't ruin the interior.
Could you have your wife present one time?
In Lambo Urus back seats are jokes. I'm not tall person, around 176 cm high and in back seat I feel like im in some tight cave. Sure... whole interior looks great and have buttons instead lcd panels. But if you wanna fast suv that can transport 4 persons. Audi RSQ8 or even SQ8 is better to fit this job. Also Audi feels that have better grip on road than Lambo.
If Lambo have more space inside, especial on back and drove like SQ8. This will be ultimate sport SUV in the World. 😀
This over the new urus, that this is disgusting now
Even if this thing has 5400 HP i NEVER will buy such a sea container like this
Why the steering wheel is so big😢
Great
The new gen "smart cars" direction, if i can can call it that way, looks and feels a bit complicated for the user/driver, plus it takes away the experience and simplicity of a "key turn" drive and feel, with a button, and with the amount of screens/tablets inside the cockpit, which looks too glossy, i can easily say "that´s not my cup of tea" in terms of aestetichs/mechanics ...
Seating position vs Porsche Cayenne?
similar, depends then on the individual seating choice
Ain't that the same rsq8 autotopnl drove?
Yet again, $150K+ with piano black plastic console. Yuk. You can't tell me the folks at VW couldn't come up with something--anything--better, esp. at such a steep price.
I am not sure if anyone agree, but after watching many different videos, I felt that the stock exhaust sound from the SQ8 sounds way better than the stock RS Q8!
That’s one sexy suv
Overpriced for what it is. Audi will ALWAYS be a 2nd tier brand under Porsche with in the company family. This is by design.
so.. do you have a foot page? normal guy asking
The cockpit is outdated now, needs a full makeover.
Them front radar/sensors look really out of place and cheap.
It looks like a grille on wheels.
Man after using a Tesla in car systems look ancient and poorly organized. It’s like using a blackberry vs an iPhone lol.
👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️
Baby urus
That grill is going to suck in small animals and children 😂
No top speed presented on this so called "powerful" Audi 🤨
you need a way longer track to safely demonstrate 305 km/h
why ?
Yessss
Interior is getting dated and emotional start is too many steps AMG does it better with a quick start
👌
sorry 🤭cupra formentor has way way way more quility and 🤭😅better sabelt bucket seats
Very romantic
Somehow it just looks like such an old, outdated and boring design.
Are these combustion engine models just obscene monsters in today's era of concern for the climate change?
Gesundheit
"Maschendrahtzaun" aka "Grill" aka "CHAIN WIRE FENCE".
Front is fkn ugly....
hehe =)
"and if I ever be king, and I got a crown, then it will surely be made of ..."
@@autogefuehl
......
MASCHENDRAHTZAUN!
LOL.
=)
At this point in my life, and after all the VWs and Audis I have owned..I rather just buy a Tesla model S and be done with it
Just buy a Kia bro. Better quality than Tesla and fits your budget.
Yeah you do that
It was fall apart and you will lose range in winter
That grill ... 🤔