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2022 Audi S8 to Get 700-Horsepower Performance Plus Version, No RS8 Yet

Audi is getting tired of playing second fiddle to Mercedes-Benz and BMW in the luxury segment, which is why the fifth-generation A8 will get a comprehensive mid-cycle facelift later this year.
2022 Audi S8 27 photos
Photo: CarPix
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Some birds are already chirping about the Ingolstadt carmaker trying to resurrect the famed Horch uber-luxury nameplate to complement the lineup in the same way that Maybach is currently doing it for the S-Class.

A Horch luxury sub-brand would suit the A8 like a glove, we think, but Audi needs more than that to take it up a notch with its largest sedan. For example, an RS8 version would probably give it even more points in the image fight against cars like the Mercedes-AMG S 63 or the BMW M760Li.

That said, an RS8 is not likely to arrive on the current D5 generation of the A8 no matter how many people desire it and Audi Sport (the "artist" formerly known as quattro GmbH) has different plans.

This doesn’t mean that the S8 will remain the top dog when it comes to performance because Audi is apparently cooking up an S8 Plus again, for the first time in five years.

Just like the regular A8 we spotted a little over a week ago, it looks like the refreshed S8 will also get some new design additions to the rather conservative-looking front and rear ends.

A pre-production prototype was recently spotted in the snowiest and coldest parts of northern Sweden, and apart from the redesigned front and rear bumpers, we can also check out the new shapes of the headlights, which feature a kink underneath, not unlike those found on the latest Audi A3.

There is also a new single-frame grille, which has a new shape and features different inserts, but other than that, there aren’t too many visual differences compared to the current model.

The interior might get an updated infotainment system and the seats will be slightly redesigned, but you shouldn’t expect a design revolution.

Under the hood it’s where the party will happen, especially in S8 Plus guise, as the twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 with mild-hybrid tech is expected to get around 700 horsepower.
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About the author: Alex Oagana
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Alex handled his first real steering wheel at the age of five (on a field) and started practicing "Scandinavian Flicks" at 14 (on non-public gravel roads). Following his time at the University of Journalism, he landed his first real job at the local franchise of Top Gear magazine a few years before Mircea (Panait). Not long after, Alex entered the New Media realm with the autoevolution.com project.
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