2022 Audi S8 debuts with visual updates

KUALA LUMPUR: On the lines of the newly updated A8, A8 L, and China-specific A8 L Horch, Audi has brought in its sportier iteration as well, the S8. Like the regular variants of the A8, the new Audi S8 too will be offered with a slew of visual updates in and out, while having no changes to the real action under the hood. Sales of the new Audi S8 are scheduled to commence first in Germany from December 2021 with a base price of €144,800 (RM 696,358).

Speaking of the visual changes over the previous model, the new Audi S8 will now have a wider grille in sync with the updated A8. However, the grille here is having a honeycomb mesh pattern, instead of the studded chrome theme for the regular A8’s grille. The other major changes to the exterior of the Audi S8 include the new digital matrix LED headlamps, OLED tail lamps, S Line package with blacked-out highlights for the grille, fog lamp surrounds, front and rear bumper inserts, and quad-exhaust outlets.

The thing which majorly differentiates the Audi S8 from the standard A8 is its heart – the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, which powers cars like Audi RS Q8, Lamborghini Urus, and Porsche Cayenne. Here in the S8, the engine makes maximum power and torque outputs of 563 bhp and 800 Nm, respectively. Despite powering a car as heavy as the Q8, the engine is powerful enough to propel the car from 0 to 100 kmph in just 3.8 seconds. 

Other standard highlights which intend to enhance the driving experience of the performance-oriented Audi S8 are all-wheel steering, Quattro all-wheel-drive, predictive active suspension, and sport differential for torque distribution between the rear wheels. The S8 is also offered with supercar-like optional carbon-ceramic brakes. 

While all these changes do make the Audi S8 a better car than the version it has replaced, the new S8 misses out on a ‘Plus’ variant, which in the previous model, offered an even more souped-up performance. This makes the new Audi S8 miss out on the proper RS treatment, like the RS Q8 and RS 7.

Also read: The all-new Audi R8 V10 is here, check details