The 2020 Audi S8 might not have the same visual impact of some of its rivals, but it sure does pack quite a punch, there’s no denying in that.
Under the bonnet of Audi’s latest flagship S model lies a twin-turbo 4.0-liter TFSI V8 engine that produces no less than 563 HP (571 PS) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm) of torque and also features mild-hybrid 48-volt technology.
Of course, power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the Quattro all-wheel-drive system featuring a center locking differential and a rear ‘Quattro Sport’ differential. Audi claims a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.8 seconds and a top speed limited to 155 mph (250 km/h).
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As Carwow found out in its review, the Audi S8 is a 2.3-tonne machine that can run the quarter-mile in the 11s, which is a genuinely impressive figure for a car that looks so sedated and so similar to the rest of the A8 lineup.
Historically speaking, the Audi S8 was always visually subtle but the current model is perhaps a little too much, featuring just a small number of design features to stand out from its lesser siblings. These include things like the quad exhausts, slightly more aggressive bumpers, and different wheels but the outcome is more conservative than that of some of its rivals, like the Mercedes-AMG S63.
The design may look a bit grounded but the technology under the skin is quite the opposite; the flagship sedan comes packed with features, including a predictive active suspension, which can pitch and roll the body during driving for enhanced comfort and better grip, as well as all-wheel steering, active noise cancellation and more.
The combination of the Audi S8’s sleeper looks with junior supercar levels of acceleration may be good enough for some but the big Audi impresses the most with the depth of its abilities both on the highway and on a challenging back road.