The new S8, which is the performance version of Audi's flagship A8 range, comes with Lamborghini genes. This iconic Italian super sports car brand is a subsidiary of Audi.
The S8 features the Lamborghini Gallardo's 5.2-litre V10 unit.
Its 10-cylinder power unit with FSI petrol direct injection develops 333 kW of power at 7 000 r/min and 540 Nm of torque. The torque figure figure is achieved at the low engine speed of 3 500 r/min.
This luxury saloon sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, and its top speed is electronically governed at 250 km/h.
The driveline and chassis of the S8 have been modified to reflect the engine's power.
A quattro drivetrain of the latest generation with asymmetric/dynamic torque distribution diverts the engine's power to all four wheels.
The firmer settings of the adaptive air suspension sport and modifications to the steering ensure that the power and dynamism of the drivetrain are translated with precision into locomotion.
The design of the new S8 completes the picture - the sporty top model also has the looks of the most athletic luxury saloon car. There is an atmosphere of luxurious elegance inside the car. Its lavish equipment lends the Audi S8 a pre-eminent status within the competitive field.
The most striking differences are to be found at its front end. Its single-frame grille displaying the S8 emblem is in platinum grey, and its vertical struts have a chrome finish.
Beneath the grille, there are three low air inlets cut into the front apron. The two large air inlets beneath the headlights are filled with honeycomb grilles.
Down the sides, in addition to the 20-inch wheels and the special brakes, three details hint at the potential of the V10 engine: emblems on the wheel arches, door handles with aluminium strips and the aluminium-look exterior mirror housings.
At the rear, the S8 emblem, a spoiler integrated into the luggage compartment lid, a subtle light edge in the apron and an exhaust system with four ellipsoidal tailpipes complete the range of optical modifications.