Do we know for sure that this is an S8? Not really, as our shooters never did get a peek under the hood.
But this car does have a few signs of possible "S-ness". Note the quad pipes in back and the sizable brake rotors lurking under those blacked out wheels. The tires are obviously "Arctic spec," so they don't add anything to the story.
Hard to tell which engine this big sedan will use. Some speculation says it will a version of the twin-turbo V10 currently used in the RS6. With nearly 600 horsepower, it would surely do the job.
Then again, there's talk that Audi is getting away from using V10s in favor of turbocharged V8s. Given that the recently-introduced RS5 received a 450-horsepower, normally aspirated V8, it stands to reason that Audi could add a turbo and blow past the 500 mark without much trouble.
throwback says:
10:55 AM, 03/10/10
This car looks so much better in black. I wish one of the German brands would do a hi-po diesel instead of the usual gas engines. Come on Audi show some initiative, do a hi-po diesel V8. You can call it TDI-S. No need to pay me royalties.
throwback says:
10:56 AM, 03/10/10
By the way, nice of Audi to detail the car for Brenda's "spy shot".
mercedesfan says:
11:14 AM, 03/10/10
Oh my goodness it looks so much better with normal HIDs! I had no idea just how much the headlights destroyed the entire look of the front end until now when I can see it here with normal, tasteful headlamps.
mark19 says:
11:15 AM, 03/10/10
wow, is the snow in the arctic different? look at how clean that car is! try that in the midwest, not for long would you have a clean car. Almost wonder if the photo is staged for a "spy shot" because that's one clean car!! wow
stephen987 says:
11:17 AM, 03/10/10
Is that a vintage Peugeot 405 Mi16 next to it?
jackson611 says:
12:33 PM, 03/10/10
I dont think that the shot is staged, look at how good the car next to it looks. I think it has more to do with less salt and sand used in the Arctic in favor of better tires and experienced snow drivers.
also, who choose between a V10 and twin-turbos? why not have a V10TT? That would be a true beast of a car that I would want to own.
hondacura4 says:
12:43 PM, 03/10/10
I still think the last generation looks better.
stephen987 says:
12:46 PM, 03/10/10
For what it's worth, I googled "Cafe Silverkoppen" and identified the location as Arjeplog, in northern Sweden--most likely near the the Arjeplog Test Center. http://www.arjeplogtestcenter.com/
God, I love the Internet!
coolb944 says:
01:53 PM, 03/10/10
While it could possibly be an S8 test-mule, what about it being an A8 W12? Is Audi not doing a W12 A8 anymore?
audisport says:
02:13 PM, 03/10/10
I think the W12 is gone from Audi. Has to be the S model. Those rotors are massive.
gordancin says:
04:36 PM, 03/10/10
... and sitting beside it a mid to late late eighties 405 Mi16 . Up in the arctic? And it still runs? When can we get the story on that car and it's history?! Some of us are old enough to remember when that Mi16 was brought to Canada and although it was intriguing...(their suspension ideas) we all felt this vehicle was arrogantly way overpriced for what you got (cheap cheap cheap and I say cheap, not "inexpensive" interior).
Peugeot found out the hard way that just because they were europeans that doesn't make them BMW or Mercedes. Honda's use of double wishbone suspensions and v-tec eliminating the need for double overhead cams was clever enough and combined with the best interior materials for those days...
... it made Peugeot look really silly. Too bad. They really should have priced themselves lower. They'd still be here if they'd had more patience and humility.
Again... I would love the story on that car, though?
double_duece says:
10:33 PM, 03/10/10
wow!! it looks so much better to me now for some reason. maybe it's all the black, but most likely due to the LEDs not showing up making their distracting shape!!! and holy crap look at the size of those brakes!!!
eclogite says:
04:40 AM, 03/11/10
What a beautiful car. I really like Audi's design group.
zoomzoomn says:
05:20 AM, 03/11/10
I soooo wish that I had the means to buy an Audi, or two! I'd have a S5 for fun and a S8 for trips. Maybe even three...add in a Q7 for towing the boat!