2007 Audi S8
Published Oct 11, 2006
0 Ratings
What Is It?
2007 Audi S8
What's Special About It?
After pulling the sheet off the 2007 Audi S8, the company's post-reveal remarks were surprisingly brief. This was the only real surprise announcement at the show, yet Audi officials ripped right through the presentation with only a brief mention of the big sedan's 5.2-liter V10 engine.
A quick look at the press kit revealed a possible reason why. With 450 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, the S8's direct-injection V10 is less powerful than the A8 L's 6.0-liter, W12 engine, also rated at 450 hp but with 428 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are monsters, so why bother with the V10 when the W12 gives you more?
One reason is weight. The S8 tips the scales roughly 450 pounds lighter than the W12. That should be enough to feel the difference, although Audi's official numbers still show the W12 a tenth of a second quicker to 60 mph (5.0 vs. 5.1).
But there are other reasons to go with the slimmer S8. It gets quicker steering, quicker shifts from the standard six-speed transmission, and a shorter top gear. It comes standard with a sport version of the adaptive air suspension that drops the car nearly an inch compared to the A8. The standard wheels are 20-inch aluminum alloys with 265/35 tires. Larger 15-inch brake rotors are used up front, 13-inch discs are fitted in back. Ceramic rotors are optional.
Inside, the S8 comes with standard two-tone seats with contrasting piping. The door sills get either brushed aluminum or carbon-fiber trim, while the three-spoke steering wheel sports aluminum shift paddles and two-color stitching.
The 2007 Audi S8 goes on sale in Europe next summer.
What's Edmunds' Take?
We can nitpick all day about whether the S8 or the A8 L W12 is better, but we would put our left arms on eBay to get either one. They're both that good. — Ed Hellwig
2007 Audi S8
What's Special About It?
After pulling the sheet off the 2007 Audi S8, the company's post-reveal remarks were surprisingly brief. This was the only real surprise announcement at the show, yet Audi officials ripped right through the presentation with only a brief mention of the big sedan's 5.2-liter V10 engine.
A quick look at the press kit revealed a possible reason why. With 450 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, the S8's direct-injection V10 is less powerful than the A8 L's 6.0-liter, W12 engine, also rated at 450 hp but with 428 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are monsters, so why bother with the V10 when the W12 gives you more?
One reason is weight. The S8 tips the scales roughly 450 pounds lighter than the W12. That should be enough to feel the difference, although Audi's official numbers still show the W12 a tenth of a second quicker to 60 mph (5.0 vs. 5.1).
But there are other reasons to go with the slimmer S8. It gets quicker steering, quicker shifts from the standard six-speed transmission, and a shorter top gear. It comes standard with a sport version of the adaptive air suspension that drops the car nearly an inch compared to the A8. The standard wheels are 20-inch aluminum alloys with 265/35 tires. Larger 15-inch brake rotors are used up front, 13-inch discs are fitted in back. Ceramic rotors are optional.
Inside, the S8 comes with standard two-tone seats with contrasting piping. The door sills get either brushed aluminum or carbon-fiber trim, while the three-spoke steering wheel sports aluminum shift paddles and two-color stitching.
The 2007 Audi S8 goes on sale in Europe next summer.
What's Edmunds' Take?
We can nitpick all day about whether the S8 or the A8 L W12 is better, but we would put our left arms on eBay to get either one. They're both that good. — Ed Hellwig