Audi S8 2012

As we could see at Frankfurt, Audi has a new “S” in its lineup, none other than the most sporty version to date of the Audi A8, a vehicle that, aesthetically, is more of the same from the German house of the four rings, but you’ll surely be surprised by the mechanical renovation it has undergone.

Curiously, perhaps this is the most interesting section, since while in the previous generation Audi resorted to none other than the same V10 from the Lamborghini Gallardo, in this one, due to the pursuit of improvements in emissions and consumption, the brand has built from scratch an enormous V8 that will surely surprise you and that, when the time comes, will have to show what it is capable of against the Mercedes S63 AMG or BMW 760i.

Before we dwell on the enormous mechanical performance of this beast and, as is customary, we will focus on the novelties proposed by Audi for the styling of this S8, a vehicle that has grown in length, specifically by 9 mm, but curiously has remained just as wide despite the increase in performance. As for the height of the vehicle, note the reduction of 2 mm compared to the A8.

Aesthetically, we will find a much more sporty aerodynamic kit throughout, from more aggressive front and side skirts to redesigned air intakes and larger, more eye-catching grilles. Note the badges spread across the bodywork, which read V8T, a badge that should make it clear what kind of vehicle we are dealing with.

If we set aside for the moment the distinctive styling of the Audi S8 and step into the cabin, you’ll surely not be the least bit surprised when we talk about hundreds of details, from sport seats with 22 different adjustment functions to carbon inserts in both the dashboard and even the rear of the seats.

A real over-the-top display in terms of quality, which can turn our new S8 from a genuine sports car into a vehicle whose cabin may be more ostentatious than even your living room. Once again, it all depends on how much money you want to invest in your new high-performance executive saloon.

Setting this topic aside, as complex and simple as the fact that everything depends on how much money you want or can spend on your new S8, we will move on to what is truly interesting in this enormous saloon: its new V8 4.0-litre TFSI engine, a unit equipped with two turbochargers with which it is capable of producing the staggering figure of 520 CV and 650 Nm of maximum torque, enough to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.2 seconds or reach a top speed of 250 km/h (electronically limited).

Despite the increase in the vehicle’s performance, a homologated consumption of just 10.2 l/100 km has been achieved, a full three litres lower than that homologated by the outgoing generation, something that, according to Audi itself, has been achieved thanks to the installation of the famous Start/Stop system and, above all, with cylinder deactivation.

But the new S8 stands out not only for its outstanding engine, but also for its eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox, tuned to withstand such performance, or a new quattro traction system with a self-locking centre differential and a sport rear differential, which will ultimately be responsible for transmitting all the power to the wheels.

Finally, note important elements such as its aluminium chassis, which it shares with the Audi A8, or a sport air suspension adjustable in three different modes with just the push of a button from inside. As for prices, they may not be exactly the same in Spain, but in Germany it will reach the market at a price of 111,900 euros.

Source | Audi