Photo: Audi
For the past couple of years, if you wanted to enjoy all the latest Germanic gadgets with a lot of power at your disposal, you'd have to buy an AMG or M. But Audi re-joined the big luxury sedan fight today, with the arrival of a brand new S8.
The S8 D5, as people are likely going to call this, is a predictable product, but also one that ticks all the right boxes. Most importantly, it gives a glimpse into the new RS6, RS7 and RS Q8. You see, two of those models have previously shared their engines with the S8, down to the output in some cases.
The old S8 D4 came out in 2012 with a V8 making 520 HP, which was upgraded to 605 HP in 2015 for the S8 plus. That output was the same for the RS6/7 performance. The 2020 model also features a 4.0-liter twin-turbo TFSI, though it's one that is helped by a 48-volt system for stop-start functionality, something which Audi believes will aid both efficiency and performance.
The official power rating is now at 420 kW, which is equivalent to 571 HP in Europe and 563-horsepower in America. Speaking of which, the U.S. is only going to get the long wheelbase configuration, probably due to the sales volumes being very low, and that probably won't be ready until next year either.
Torque is now up to 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) versus 650 and 750 Nm for the two older models. And while we don't have any performance numbers to share with you, we assume it's about as fast as the V12-powered BMW M860Li, considering that car is a little heavier.
The abundance of technology is enough to make you worry about out-of-warranty repairs. Audi has bolted on an active suspension system that limits body roll to 2.5 degrees, or 5 degrees in comfort mode. It's basically a magic carpet that reads the road and can move wheels independently.
The exterior styling is a little bit safe and predictable. You have only minor grille revisions, a silver chin, followed by new wheels and optional ceramic brakes down the side. Arriving at the rear, we find quad exhausts and one of the smallest badges on any performance car.
Inside, Audi is showing us black seats with a black dashboard and black headliner - very creative. However, we're sure there are options you can play with, like the S seats with integrated headrests or the orange leather we saw on the SQ8. Considering this is the top Audi sedan, we would have liked to see some sporty buttons and switches, such as those offered by M and AMG models.
The old S8 D4 came out in 2012 with a V8 making 520 HP, which was upgraded to 605 HP in 2015 for the S8 plus. That output was the same for the RS6/7 performance. The 2020 model also features a 4.0-liter twin-turbo TFSI, though it's one that is helped by a 48-volt system for stop-start functionality, something which Audi believes will aid both efficiency and performance.
The official power rating is now at 420 kW, which is equivalent to 571 HP in Europe and 563-horsepower in America. Speaking of which, the U.S. is only going to get the long wheelbase configuration, probably due to the sales volumes being very low, and that probably won't be ready until next year either.
Torque is now up to 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) versus 650 and 750 Nm for the two older models. And while we don't have any performance numbers to share with you, we assume it's about as fast as the V12-powered BMW M860Li, considering that car is a little heavier.
The abundance of technology is enough to make you worry about out-of-warranty repairs. Audi has bolted on an active suspension system that limits body roll to 2.5 degrees, or 5 degrees in comfort mode. It's basically a magic carpet that reads the road and can move wheels independently.
The exterior styling is a little bit safe and predictable. You have only minor grille revisions, a silver chin, followed by new wheels and optional ceramic brakes down the side. Arriving at the rear, we find quad exhausts and one of the smallest badges on any performance car.
Inside, Audi is showing us black seats with a black dashboard and black headliner - very creative. However, we're sure there are options you can play with, like the S seats with integrated headrests or the orange leather we saw on the SQ8. Considering this is the top Audi sedan, we would have liked to see some sporty buttons and switches, such as those offered by M and AMG models.
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