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Big German four door sedans are the most unlikely source for high performance, but they’ve long developed this market. This niche is about near Supercar levels of speed while keeping a low-key appearance, luxury, and refinement expected from an executive automobile.
Externally, the 2012 S8 varies little from its untuned A8 counterpart. The visual changes belie the subtlety required in this market segment just enough that only the expert eye can differentiate at distance. Starting with 20-inch rims there is a new grill with S badge, a lip spoiler, and a rear bumper designed around a new diffuser and quad exit exhaust system. Inside, the S8 comes with all the toys the regular model has, but with a slight performance twist like the exclusive multi-function leather wrapped steering wheel. The more driver-focused seats receive the same treatment.
However, what makes the S8 lies beneath the skin. The Audi gets its performance advantage from its all aluminum chassis, which makes it lighter than comparable sized rivals, especially given its four-wheel drive. The low weight and famous Quattro system makes the large sedan very agile. Enhancing handling is an adaptive air suspension, featuring the ability to alter ride height up to 3-inches either way, plus reactive dampening to adjust to whatever road conditions it may come across. With 4WD helping the 265/40/20 tire grip, big brakes help them stop, too. Up front are 400mm rotors, while out back they’re 365mm in diameter. Not enough? There’s also the option for a carbon ceramic package dropping 11lbs off the braking system and providing infallible stopping performance.
The S8 is ultimately about speed and despite a reduction in engine size for 2012, things are still looking good for the sedan. Gone is the Lamborghini sourced 5.2-litre V10. That engine finds its 450bhp outpaced by the new 4-litre V8. Using a pair of turbochargers, the smaller engine manages to raise the bar to 520bhp and a massive 479 lb/ft of torque. Accelerating from 0-60 comes up in 4.2 seconds, and like most German cars, top speed is electronically limited to 155mph. The brilliance of the new engine isn’t just its performance: it’s lighter, just as refined, and more fuel-efficient than the V10 as it contains several key technologies like the ability to use only one bank of the V8.
There’s no announced pricing on the S8, but it continues the tradition of being performance value for the money.

Andrew Reay is well experienced in automotive and vehicle niche, currently writing on topics like used Audi Engines. Find out Audi Engines for sale by visiting us.