The old Audi S8 was discontinued after 2009, but it never really got much attention here despite its big V10 engine. Maybe memories of its illustrious predecessor hauling ass in Ronin overshadowed it. Nevertheless, the S8 is returning to America and along with it is the Audi S7. Both have a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8, but the S8 version makes more power. Get the full story in two videos after the jump with Alistair Weaver in Frankfurt.
Teaser: "With the old 5.2-liter V10, you could say it was 'powered by Lamborghini.' Not any more."
questionlp says:
02:11 PM, 09/15/11
Maybe you can't say it's powered by Lamborghini, but the new engine is co-developed by Audi and Bentley. Not shabby, particularly the market for an A8 and S8.
mercedesfan says:
04:06 PM, 09/15/11
I had high hopes for this new S8, but I was let down. The 2nd-generation S8 was one of my favorite luxury car designs of all time, this new one is even worse than the already ugly A8 (my opinion only, of course). It's as if Audi designers made an effort to draw more attention to the car's already overly flashy bits and leave the plain/dull bits as is.
I remember when Audis were the elegant and understated luxury sedans. Today, they are the flashiest and most ostentatious of them all (excluding the A4/S4 which I think still look fantastic).
brian_k says:
12:36 PM, 09/19/11
Mercedesfan-
I usually would not touch any comments about style, as beauty is inthe eye of the beholder. However, I have to point out that most people think that the recent Audis are too sedate, not flashy as you contend (which I happen to like, driving an A8 myself). But the claim that they are ostentatious is off base, especially coming from a MB driver (with huge fender flares in the S, emblems the size of pizza plates, etc). Just a very surprising comment.