It kind of makes sense that the top brass of big companies ride in the back seat of big luxury sedans with heavily-tinted windows; for security purposes, but also so they can talk on the phone or think instead of driving. For these individuals, Audi offers the stretched-wheelbase A8L.
But would an S8L make sense? Not really, since the S version of the A8 sedan was mainly created for drivers rather than back-seat passengers.
V10 power
The main reason behind the drive-it-yourself experience in the S8 is what's under the hood. Ten cylinders that sum up a displacement of 5.2 litres collaborate to produce 450 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. A 4,585-lb (2,080-kg) vehicle that bolts to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds is always amazing, and the engine's deep-throat burble is addictive, to say the least. Yet the engine is as smooth as silk during normal driving.
While we'd initially think that Audi should have installed the R tronic double-clutch tranny that's found in the R8 instead of the 6-speed Tiptronic, the reality is that the S8 is still a luxury sedan and can't be too harsh in order to please its buyers. Maserati made that mistake with the unloved (and unreliable) Duoselect 6-speed sequential in the Quattroporte. And the Tiptronic in the S8 provides better fuel economy.
Not that fuel consumption is a concern for someone who dishes out $130,000 for a car. Yet the S8 is averaging 13.8 L/100 km in our hands, which isn't bad considering the V10's size and output.
Your choice: soft or stiff
The S8's suspension is air-assisted and offers four modes. The Dynamic setting is the sportiest one, and although it buttons down the sedan on a twisty deserted road, the side effect is a stiff ride. Happily, in more relaxed situations, you can choose the Comfort setting which softens the shocks. An Automatic setting tries to figure out by itself how you're driving, and a Lift mode raises the suspension to fearlessly clear speed bumps.
Personally, we're leaving the suspension in comfort mode most of the time; we're more inclined to cruise down the highway in utter luxury and silence than to barrel down gravel-sprinkled country roads in this time of spring. The Automatic setting does a fairly good job, however.
But would an S8L make sense? Not really, since the S version of the A8 sedan was mainly created for drivers rather than back-seat passengers.
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| A 4,585-lb (2,080-kg) vehicle that bolts to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds is always amazing. |
V10 power
The main reason behind the drive-it-yourself experience in the S8 is what's under the hood. Ten cylinders that sum up a displacement of 5.2 litres collaborate to produce 450 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque. A 4,585-lb (2,080-kg) vehicle that bolts to 100 km/h in 5.0 seconds is always amazing, and the engine's deep-throat burble is addictive, to say the least. Yet the engine is as smooth as silk during normal driving.
While we'd initially think that Audi should have installed the R tronic double-clutch tranny that's found in the R8 instead of the 6-speed Tiptronic, the reality is that the S8 is still a luxury sedan and can't be too harsh in order to please its buyers. Maserati made that mistake with the unloved (and unreliable) Duoselect 6-speed sequential in the Quattroporte. And the Tiptronic in the S8 provides better fuel economy.
Not that fuel consumption is a concern for someone who dishes out $130,000 for a car. Yet the S8 is averaging 13.8 L/100 km in our hands, which isn't bad considering the V10's size and output.
Your choice: soft or stiff
The S8's suspension is air-assisted and offers four modes. The Dynamic setting is the sportiest one, and although it buttons down the sedan on a twisty deserted road, the side effect is a stiff ride. Happily, in more relaxed situations, you can choose the Comfort setting which softens the shocks. An Automatic setting tries to figure out by itself how you're driving, and a Lift mode raises the suspension to fearlessly clear speed bumps.
Personally, we're leaving the suspension in comfort mode most of the time; we're more inclined to cruise down the highway in utter luxury and silence than to barrel down gravel-sprinkled country roads in this time of spring. The Automatic setting does a fairly good job, however.
 |
| The S8's suspension is air-assisted and offers four modes. |