Not too long ago we told you that the upcoming 2011 Audi A8 would make its world debut at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. We're sticking to that story and now sources at Audi are telling us that the new flagship sedan will feature an eight-speed automatic transmission hooked to its 4.2-liter V8. We were told to expect about 375-horsepower out of the standard engine and the usual quattro all-wheel drive setup.
The new drivetrain isn't exactly groundbreaking for the class, but it does open up an interesting new possibility for the 2011 Audi S5 coupe. Although the original plan called for the S5 to switch to the S4 sedan's supercharged V6 after the 2010 model year, overwhelming enthusiasm inside and outside the company for the S5's current V8 setup has convinced the company to reconsider. Given the coupe's surprising speed with the current 354-horsepower powerplant, an extra 20 horses and some extra torque certainly couldn't hurt. And as much as we like the six-speed manual in our long-term S5, the eight-speed auto might be even faster. We'll see.
By Ed Hellwig, Lead Senior Editor
dougtheeng says:
10:35 AM, 08/27/09
seems like a lot of gears for the engine to play with.....
roar02ram says:
10:37 AM, 08/27/09
+1 doug - the 8-speed in the Lexus IS-F isn't well-reviewed, even if in the LS it usually doesn't even warrant mention.
fuhteng says:
11:15 AM, 08/27/09
+2 to doug and roar. Too much futzing around for me.
wjtinatl says:
12:35 PM, 08/27/09
Experience with the 8-speed in the Lexus LS460 tells me it's overkill. The first 4 gears are so low and spaced so closely that the average parking lot is negotaited in 3rd gear. Lot's of shifting, even though it is very smooth. 6 well spaced gears seems to be plenty for most engines.
estreka says:
01:14 PM, 08/27/09
The mnx costs associated with an 8-speed must be astronomical.
aquaticko says:
01:43 PM, 08/27/09
More automakers are going to begin to have to deal in CVT's to get the performance and efficiency that people want. Logically, they make more sense than continually adding more and more cogs. They just have to convince people that they can be luxurious things- being shiftless and thus inherently smooth, it shouldn't be that hard.
dpodloch says:
03:39 PM, 08/27/09
7 speed automatic looks like the better choice. Its like Motor Trend saying that the ISF has too many gears. Who wants to downshift 4 gears to pass someone?
atenza94546 says:
05:52 PM, 08/27/09
Physically the more gears the car has the better performance and better fuel economy. So the auto company will not need to tune down the horse power for fuel economy and emission. Down shift will only be a fractional seconds probably no many people will feel it if you drive an Audi or Lexus.
fuhteng says:
08:14 PM, 08/27/09
I've been in a few cars with CVT, and all it does is MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Those things are awful.
brn says:
07:48 AM, 08/28/09
Only eight gears? My bicycle has 21!!!
When is Audi going to catch up to Schwinn?
actualsize says:
08:21 AM, 08/28/09
This is getting ridiculous. How many of those bicycle gears do you really use? And at what point does the finer and finer resolution offered by an ever-increasing number of "speeds" amount to a CVT?
cz75 says:
08:28 AM, 08/28/09
Looks harsh and angry, like a cartoon or anime. I would've expected something like this from Japan. I like the smooth appearance of Audi, not some clownish attempt to introduce an angular appearance. I think they got the wheels off an Escalade I saw last week near the ghetto - Dubs.
610looper says:
01:24 PM, 08/28/09
Funny how big rims in the black "ghetto" are now the rage in the white "ghetto" read "suburbs"
desmolicious says:
01:36 PM, 08/28/09
Call me once they offer a 9 speed gear box. Until then I'm not interested.