- the new audi s8 is a high-performance version of the a8 luxury sedan that packs a 563-hp v-8 engine and other enhancements.
- it will be available in the u.s. only in long-wheelbase form, while the photos you see here are of the europe-market short-wheelbase car.
- the 2020 s8 goes on sale later this year with a price likely to start above $100,000.
the executive-express supersedan segment is getting a new entry in the form of the 2020 audi s8. compared with the standard version of the d5-generation a8 sedan, the s8 ups the ante with a twin-turbocharged v-8 engine, an upgraded suspension, and a set of visual enhancements that are subtly sporty without being overly aggressive.
the s8's engine is a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter v-8 engine that makes 563 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, an increase of 103 hp and 103 lb-ft compared to the standard a8's version of this engine. a 48-volt hybrid system is standard, and the torque routes through an eight-speed automatic transmission and quattro all-wheel drive. next to the 600-hp-and-up bmw alpina b7 and mercedes-amg s63, the s8's output is a bit lacking, but we assume that an s8 plus derivative with upward of 600 horsepower is forthcoming.
the a8's active anti-roll bars are standard on the s8, and the s-specific tuning is said to allow for even less body roll. rear-wheel steering and a torque-vectoring rear differential are also standard, while carbon-ceramic brake rotors are an option.
while the s8 in these photos is the standard-wheelbase version sold in europe, the car will only come in long-wheelbase form in the u.s. it's ever so slightly visually differentiated from the a8 thanks to different bumpers, side sills, and dual exhausts at the rear, while the interior has diamond-stitched upholstery and both carbon-fiber-look and matte-aluminum trim.
expect the s8 to go on sale later in 2019; given its generous amount of standard equipment, a starting price well north of $100,000 is likely.
