2002 Audi S8 - A Technological Tour de Force
As precious metals go, aluminum is to automobiles what gold is to jewelry. Every new vehicle built today incorporates aluminum in some aspect of its construction, but due to high manufacturing costs an all aluminum car is a rarity. For this reason Audi stunned the automotive world with the introduction of its 310 horsepower, all-aluminum space frame flagship A8 sedan. Immediately judged by the European automotive press as the worlds best sedan, the conservatively styled A8 vaulted Audi to the front of the sport/luxury limelight - and deservedly so.
Since its 1996 introduction - model year 1997 - a great deal has transpired in the ultra-luxury segment. While the A8 still holds the sedan title for total aluminum usage, competitive marques have upped the performance ante offering higher output versions of their full-size cars. Audi answered the challenge by developing the potent S8, a limited-production super sedan now available to Canadian enthusiasts.