Audi S8 If you’re looking for a spacious luxury sedan, but something with a bit more bite than the A8, then look no further. One of the most powerful models in the range, the Audi S8 comes armed with a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and ultra-sharp handling that rivals others in its class. You can choose from a variety of trim levels including the standard S8, S8 Black Edition, and the S8 Vorsprung to suit your styling, tech, and performance needs. View All S Range Offers

Design

Audi takes an understated styling approach with the S8, taking the side of sporty elegance. On the face of it, you find sleek aluminium or black mirror housings and dynamic side-lines to give the impression of a sophisticated four-door saloon. But the more aggressive front grille design, reshaped headlights, striking air inlets and four large tailpipes hint to what’s beneath the hood. Inside, high-quality materials combined with ergonomic design promote a loud sense of luxury; from the leather-wrapped multi-function steering wheel with gear-shift paddles, to the Sport front seats in Valcona leather with diamond-quilted S-embossing – not forgetting the upper inlays finished in carbon or Piano Black. In typical Audi style, the interior oozes affluence.

Features

The new S8 comes with OLED rear lights as standard, boasting three light signatures (with one specific to the S model), whilst Digital Matrix lights comes as standard on the Vorsprung trim. You can adjust the S8’s behaviour via the Drive Select modes: Efficiency, Auto, Dynamic, Comfort+, and Individual, whilst Active Noise Cancellation ensures a relaxing ride when you want it. Perhaps most impressive, however, is the Predictive Active Suspension. This guarantees increased driving dynamics and superior ride comfort by using a camera to scan the road ahead for the likes of speedbumps and potholes, and then adjusting the air suspension accordingly. Before taking to the road, the suspension raises the body, making it easier for you to get in and out of the car.

Performance & Technology

There’s a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 petrol engine underneath the bonnet, which comes with 48-volt mild hybrid assistance, and produces 563bhp and 800Nm of torque via an eight-speed Tiptronic gearbox. The 0 – 62mph sprint takes just 3.8 seconds and the S8 has a limited top speed of 155mph. Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive comes as standard with a sports differential for splitting torque between the rear wheels, whilst carbon ceramic brakes are optional. The S8 boasts a whole host of digital offerings as standard: the interface is touch-based, with twin landscape touchscreens adorning the centre console. The top screen (10.1”) uses MMI Navigation Plus while the bottom screen (8.6”) looks after the climate controls and serves as a keyboard or trackpad for navigation; a third screen houses the Audi Virtual Cockpit. If this doesn’t satisfy you, Audi offers a range of packages for added tech – including a new rear-seat entertainment option.

Safety

Assistance is aplenty in the S8, including Adaptive Cruise Assist, Pre-sense Front, Park Assist with Parking System Plus, Pre-sense Basic and Camera-based Traffic Sign Recognition. Park Assist is a driver’s ultimate parking companion; not only does it search for suitable parking spaces along the road by using ultrasonic sensors, but the vehicle then takes over and performs the steering, acceleration, braking and shifting of gears automatically.