Audi S8

Motor vehicle

Audi S8
Audi S8 at the 2013 Tokyo Motor Show
Overview
Manufacturer	Audi Sport GmbH
Production	1996–present
Model years	1996–present
Assembly	Germany: Neckarsulm
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size luxury car (F)
Body style	4-door sedan
Layout	Longitudinal F4 layout (quattro)
Platform	Volkswagen Group D platform MLB
Related	Audi A8 Bentley Flying Spur V8
Powertrain
Engine	(D2) V8 4.2 L. (Volkswagen Group) (D3) V10 5.2 L. (Lamborghini) (D4/D5) V8 4.0 L. (CTGA)
Chronology
Predecessor	Audi V8

Logotype S8 on the back of the car of the first generation.

The Audi S8 is a full-size luxury car of the Audi S models produced by the German automaker Audi AG, manufactured by Audi Sport GmbH at the Neckarsulm plant. The S8 is the mechanically-upgraded, high-performance version of the Audi A8, fitted standard with Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system, and was only offered with a short-wheelbase for the first three generations, being joined by a long-wheelbase variant option for the fourth generation.

(D2) First generation

Audi S8 (D2) was produced from 1996 to 2003. The car featured a 4.2 liter V8 with 340 PS (250 kW; 335 hp). The D2 S8 could accelerate from 0–60 mph (97 km/h) in 6.2 seconds. It has a curb weight of 1,730 kg (3,814 lb). In 1999, the car was updated with a power increase to 369 PS (271 kW; 364 hp), which brought the 0–60 mph (97 km/h) acceleration down to 5.6 seconds. Top speed was electronically limited to 155 mph (249 km/h). It has a curb weight of 1,845 kg (4,068 lb).^[1] An Audi S8 (D2) was chosen as the car of the protagonists of the film Ronin.^[2]

(D3) Second generation

Audi S8 (D3) was released from 2006 to 2010. The car was equipped with a modified V10 engine shared with the Lamborghini Gallardo of the same years. It produces 450 PS (331 kW; 444 hp), detuned by 50 PS (37 kW; 49 hp) from the Gallardo's power output of 500 PS (368 kW; 493 hp) with the purpose of increasing its fuel efficiency.^[3] The top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph (249 km/h). Acceleration from 0–60 mph (97 km/h) takes 5.1 seconds. It has a curb weight of 1,940 kg (4,277 lb).^[4]

(D4) Third generation

Audi S8 (D4) (2012–2015, facelift 2015–2018) 3,993 V8 TFSI. It produces 520 PS (382 kW; 513 hp). It accelerates from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 3.6 seconds, bests the quarter mile in 11.9 seconds at 118 mph (190 km/h) and reaches a top speed of 155 mph (249 km/h).^[5] Curb weight is 2,050–2,065 kg (4,519–4,553 lb).

In 2016, the S8 plus version was launched with an increased engine power of 605 PS (445 kW; 597 hp). Acceleration from 0–60 mph (97 km/h) takes 3.3 seconds and with the Dynamic Package it can reach a top speed of 190 mph (306 km/h).^[6]^[7] Unlike the regular S8 which was built by Audi on the regular assembly line alongside other A8 variants, the S8 Plus was built by Audi Sport (formerly Quattro GmbH) and has a VIN that starts with WUA to identify it.^[8]

(D5) Fourth generation

The release of the fourth generation S8 was planned to begin in 2019–2020.^[9] For the first time, it was to be offered in both short and long-wheelbase versions, with the long-wheelbase S8 (i.e., an S8L) being the sole variant offered in North America.^[10] The S8 is now the flagship of the Audi A8 range, since the nominally higher-end A8 L W12 was no longer offered after the 2018 model year.^[11]

The Audi S8 (D5) features 563 hp (420 kW) and 590 lb⋅ft (800 N⋅m) of torque as a result of its 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8.^[12] A 48-volt mild hybrid system will allow for stop-start use and coasting.^[13] Compared to the S8 plus (D4), the S8 (D5) has 34 hp (25 kW) less but 37 lb⋅ft (50 N⋅m) more torque.^[14]

References

^ "All information about the generation: Audi S8 D2". www.autobild.de (in German). Retrieved 20 November 2018.
^ Pulman, Ben. "Audi S8 - Ronin". CAR Magazine. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
^ Johnson, Merritt. "LA 2007: Audi's 5.2L V10 FSI engine on display". Autoblog. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
^ Towler, Adam. "Audi S8 2002-2015 review". www.autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
^ Sabatini, Jeff (11 March 2013). "2013 Audi S8". Car and Driver. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
^ Marriage, Ollie (12 May 2016). "An unusual weekend in an Audi S8 Plus". Top Gear. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
^ Capparella, Joseph (25 October 2016). "2017 Audi S8 Plus". Car and Driver. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
^ "2020 Audi S8 is Not Meant for Chauffeurs". 27 November 2019.
^ Berndt, Katharina; Holdenried, Elias. "Audi S8 D5 (2018): Preis, Erlkönig, Motor & erste Infos". autobild.de. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
^ Tahaney, Ed (2 July 2019). "Audi S8 Arrives with 563 HP and New Tricks". Motor Trend. Retrieved 3 Jul 2019.
^ "A8 is the last Audi to get the W12 engine, exclusive of Bentley".
^ Capparella, Joey (2 July 2019). "The 2020 Audi S8 Is Your New 563-HP Executive Sedan Express". CarandDriver.com. Car and Driver. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
^ Silvestro, Brian. "The 2020 Audi S8 Is 563 HP of Understated Muscle". RoadandTrack.com. Road and Track. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
^ "The 2020 Audi S8 Has Been Revealed with Mild Hybrid V-8, but Does That Mean More Power? @ Top Speed". 5 July 2019.

External links

Autobild.de Audi S8

Audi

Subsidiaries

Defunct brands

Auto Union
DKW
Horch (original)
NSU
Wanderer

Museums

Current models

Cars	A1 A3 A4 A5 A6 A7 A8 e-tron GT
SUVs/Crossovers	Q2 Q3 Q4 e-tron Q5 Q5 e-tron Q6 Q6 e-tron Q7 Q8 Q8 e-tron

Audi Sport

Audi S:	S3 Sportback/Sedan S4 Sedan/Avant S5 Coupe/Cabriolet/Sportback S6 Sedan/Avant S7 Sportback S8 SQ2 SQ5 SQ7 SQ8 e-tron S
Audi RS:	RS3 Sportback/Sedan RS4 Avant RS5 Coupe/Sportback RS6 Avant RS7 Sportback RS Q3 RS Q8 RS e-tron GT

Historic and
discontinued models

Motorsport

Cars	Rally cars: Quattro A1 & A2 Sport Quattro S1 Sport Quattro S1 E2 Sport Quattro RS 002 RS Q e-tron LMP road race cars: R8R R8C R8 R10 TDI R15 TDI R18 LMS/GT road race cars: R8 LMS (R16) DTM race cars: Abt-Audi TT-R DTM A4 DTM A5/RS5 DTM RS5 Turbo DTM Formula cars (engine suppliers): FPA FIA F2 Sport ABT (Formula E) Rallycross cars: S1 EKS RX quattro
Series	Audi R8 LMS Cup Audi Sport TT Cup