Audi shelved the old S8's V-10 for a new, 4.0-liter V-8 rated at 512 horses, peaking at 5800 rpm. The new engine is mated to Audi's eight-speed automatic, a transmission the next S6 and new S7 won't get. As a result, those cars' engines will be tuned about 100 horses lower.
Though Audi says the eight-speed won't package with that engine in these cars, it hints at RS6 and RS7 models that will match the S8 in transmission (and thus in horsepower) in the future.
The twin-turbo V-8 can run on just four cylinders at engine speeds up to 3600 rpm and at speeds up to 112 miles per hour.
The Audi S8 is in the running to be named the quietest, smoothest car extant. DTR VMS developed (and manufactures) these ingenious active engine mounts for Audi.
Audi also uses a four-microphone active noise cancellation system to counteract the noise of the cylinders shutting down.
One other tasty bit of high tech are the S8's optional ceramic front brakes, which shave 11 pounds off the weight of each front wheel.
Audi hasn't decided whether to offer ceramics on U.S. imports, partly because the option could approach the base price of a VW Jetta and partly because ceramic brakes are not linear like steel brakes.
Remember, this is an all-wheel-drive sedan, with the Quattro sport differential designed to push the car into the radius of a turn. This 4355-pound car -- about 66 pound heavier than its predecessor thanks mostly to more kit -- has the turbo V-8 guts to catch lighter sports cars in the straights. Audi claims a 4.2.-second 0-62 mph time.
The S8's suspension is 10mm (0.4 inch) lower than the A8. The Comfort setting overlaps the A8's Sport setting.
Audi has designed the S8 as the ultra-stealthy hot rodder, with subtle red-accent badges front and rear, a new front bumper cover and lower skirt from front to the back of the side, designed to make the car look wider. Real carbon-fiber accents are standard inside. The leather seats have a diamond pattern, and there's Alcantara wherever there isn't leather.
Several Audi reps repeated, "You can get anything you want."
The S8 is the sport-flavored variant of Audi's A8 flagship sedan. Audi has taken a cue from BMW and swapped the locations of the intake and exhaust ports so that exhaust gas flows toward the center of the engine.
This allows the turbochargers to be moved into the valley of the engine's V and leads to shorter exhaust plumbing that improves engine responsiveness. The muffled growl under full throttle, smooth and deep, befits the engine's power and refinement.
This engine will eventually be offered alongside the twin-turbo V-12 in the Bentley Continental range and will power the Audi S6 and S7, albeit in less powerful form, producing 420 hp.
During light-throttle cruising at moderate speeds, the V-8 engine is capable of running on just four of its cylinders. Quattro all-wheel-drive, a torque-vectoring rear differential, and a nearly imperceptible variable-ratio steering system are all standard on the S8.
Carbon-ceramic brakes are optional in Europe and Audi decision-makers are considering offering them in the U.S., which makes about as much sense as driving this car on the track.
On a road drive in a carbon-ceramic-equipped car, light-pressure braking transitioned unpredictably between dull and abrupt. Standard equipment includes Audi's excellent MMI infotainment system with a pop-up, eight-inch display, in-car wireless internet, and Google Maps imagery.
Behind the top value for the new Audi S8 are the combined technologies of the Audi modular efficiency platform, including the recuperation and start-stop systems. The eight-speed tiptronic in the Audi S8 also unites sportiness and efficiency.
Chassis
The Audi drive select dynamics system encompasses these two systems as well as engine management, the eight-speed tiptronic and the sport differential.
Body and design
The luxury sedan's ASF (Audi Space Frame) body is made almost entirely of aluminum.
Interior
The multi-way, power-adjustable comfort sport seats have been designed exclusively for the Audi S8. The display of the driver information system and the MMI monitor greet the driver with special S8 screens. The Audi S8 offers a wide selection of interior colors, inlays and seat upholstery.
Equipment
The core of these is the adaptive cruise control system with stop & go function; others include Audi side assist, Audi lane assist, the speed limit display and the night vision assistant with highlighting of detected pedestrians.
Supplementing these technologies is the safety system Audi pre sense, which is available in a number of versions.
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