Autoblog

2012 Audi S8

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Audi, First Drives, Luxury

The Surgical Scalpel Of Super Sports Sedans

This is less a story about a car than the tale of a 520-horsepower Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection (TFSI) V8 engine and the vehicle Audi reengineered to surround it. That's not even our idea: Sven Stockmar, Audi's Global Head of Product Marketing, made a point of standing behind a model of the engine - not the S8 - when he began his presentation.

This idea you can call ours: If we found the 2011 A8 "A Plus-Sized S4 with World-Beating Tech," then a single-sentence review of the S8 is [spoiler alert]: "A Plus-Sized S4 with 520 Horsepower and World-Beating Tech." There is no question that the results shine brightly and one Audi exec was right to label the S8 as "a smarter force." We only wish the car were, well, more forceful about it.

Continue reading 2012 Audi S8

2012 Audi S8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2012 Audi S8 brings genteel muscle

Noah Joseph — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Audi, Luxury

It's been several months since Audi unveiled its latest A8 flagship sedan, and you know what that means, boys and girls: that's right, a new S8 is almost upon us.

The performance version of the luxury limousine has been spied undergoing what looks like final testing, given a lack of camouflage or body cladding on the test mule snapped in our high-res image gallery. The face looks more aggressive than the stock A8 but rather subtle and still tastefully elegant, with bigger wheels filling the wells and larger brakes in turn filling the wheels.

But, of course you want to know what's under the hood. Don't we all. Following a similar trajectory to arch-rival BMW's latest M5, word on the street is that the Lamborghini-derived V10 from the previous S8 will be replaced by the new twin-turbo V8 expected to find its way as well into the new S6, S7 and Bentley Continental GT. Output and efficiency are expected to increase, however, with power ratings mooted in the 500 horsepower range.

That's a lot of beef, and if we had to guess, we'd say we'll probably be scoping it out in person come September's Frankfurt Motor Show.

2012 Audi S8 brings genteel muscle originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi S8 leaked? Nope, it's a 'chop

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 10 May 2010 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Audi

With an all-new Audi A8 arriving in the coming months, a higher performance S8 can't be far behind. This particular image originated from a reader on the World Car Fans forum, but it certainly looks plausible. The wheels are straight off the R8 V10 and the front fascia is an evolution of the look we've seen on S and RS models from Audi for the past several years.

Power will no doubt be plentiful, although we don't yet know which engine will power the new model. The previous generation used a 450-horsepower 5.2-liter V10, but the new A8 has already been spec'ed out with a 500 hp 6.3-liter W12.

The S8 will surely have at least that much power, although Audi has been on an engine downsizing kick lately. The latest S4 and S5 cabrio went from a V8 to a supercharged V6. It wouldn't be surprising to see the engineers at quattro GmbH cook up a new boosted V8 with over 500 hp for this and other future high performance Audis.

We expect to see the real S8 arrive by the time of the Paris Motor Show in September, but this reader rendering will have to do for now.

[Source: World Car Fans]

Audi S8 leaked? Nope, it's a 'chop originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 May 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Next-gen Audi S8 may boast 620 HP from Lambo-derived V10

Damon Lavrinc — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:23:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Audi, Luxury

2011 Audi S8 - Click above for high-res image gallery

When the Audi S8 was nixed from the automaker's lineup late last year, the news produced a collective sigh around Autoblog Towers. Audi's largest, most powerful sedan held a special place in our hearts, but redemption appears to be right around corner - the Nürburgring's Carousel, to be exact.

With the introduction of the standard A8 in the rearview mirror, Audi has begun work on the S-ified variant of its stately saloon, and like the RS6, it's rumored to be powered by a Lamborghini Gallardo-derived V10, with a duo of turbochargers hanging from the exhaust manifolds.

The output of the next S8 will jump from the outgoing model's 444 horsepower to somewhere north of 600 hp, with torque boosted from around 400 pound-feet to upwards of 550 lb-ft of twist.

Although these spy shots don't provide a clear glimpse of the stylistic upgrades, expect a more chiseled front fascia, lower ride height and modified rear diffuser. Quad tailpipes hint at the 5.2-liter twin-turbo beast within, while massive stoppers are expected to be framed by 20- or 21-inch wheels.

We're expecting the S8 to make its debut sometime later this year or early in 2011, with sales beginning in the middle of next year.

Gallery: Spy Shots: 2011 Audi S8

Spy Shots: Next-gen Audi S8 may boast 620 HP from Lambo-derived V10 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Apr 2010 19:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Are you the next Audi S8?

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedan, Performance, Europe, Audi, Luxury

Check out what a very cold spy photographer snapped some pictures of. This car could very well be the upcoming Audi S8. Of course, as the car in the photos is totally unmarked, this could just be another variant of the big Audi. We've suspected for some time that a new S8 is coming, and we hear that it's most likely headed over to our shores. However, we've know next to nothing about what type of terror resides under the hood. Until today.

Unlike the last (frankly underpowered) S8, this new big-fast sedan is dropping the choked-off, Lamborghini-derived V10 in favor of a new twin-turbo V8. The good folks at Car and Driver are claiming the unit will displace 4.0-liters. Our source at Audi wouldn't confirm that displacement explicitly, but did say that C/D is, "on the right path." This same source noted that BMW's been using a smallish displacement twin-turbo V8 (4.4-liters) in the 7 Series for the past year and that Audi intends to stay competitive.

Our Audi source also noted that the new V8 will be offered in many flavors, and will allow Audi to meet all the emissions and mileage standards coming down the pike in the next five years. We're told to expect a wide range of configurations, similar to what Audi/Lamborghini did with their shared V10. That means different states of tune for different cars, as well as naturally aspirated and force inducted version. As for power, our source once again confirmed that Car and Driver knows what they're printing. Meaning that the 450 horsepower/450 pound-feet of torque neighborhood isn't a bad guess, though the final numbers could be higher.

Back to the car in the heavily cropped photograph (check out Autocar for the complete set of pics), we're still not 100-percent sure it's the S8. First of all, there are no visual cues to distinguish this black car from a regular A8, save for the requisite four tailpipes. However, as Autocar notes, the new S8 is said to have bold new bodywork to set it apart from the standard car. Also, examine the brakes. They appear to be larger diameter than the standard brakes, yet they aren't drilled or slotted. One would think (and we would agree with him) that an S vehicle would have a more serious set of stoppers. After all, even the A8 Hybrid "Concept" has fancier discs. Of course, maybe these are just placeholders used during cold weather testing. Yeah, we're pretty sure this is the new Audi S8.

[Sources: Autocar, Car and Driver]

Spy Shots: Are you the next Audi S8? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Autoblog Podcast #156

Dan Roth — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Podcasts, Etc., Aston Martin, Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, Volkswagen

Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!

Editor Chris Paukert has apparently been bitten by the podcasting bug, and he once again joins Shunk and Roth for Episode #156 of the Autoblog Podcast. We dive right in to reminiscence about the recently finished Los Angeles Auto Show. Moving on from there, we talk about Audi's new A7 Sportback and its extreme gorgeousness, as well as the new A8 and all its massive awesomeness. Speaking of awesomeness, Shunk thinks that the $199,950 Aston Martin Rapide is one very attractive four-place supercar. Going to the other end of the spectrum, rumors about Volkswagen's upcoming Jetta replacement gets some head scratches from us before we moved on to prognosticating about a unibody Dodge Dakota replacement. We wrap up a chewy hour-and-forty-five minutes by addressing some of your questions and calling it a night.

Don't forget to check out our colleagues at Joystiq and Engadget, and let us know what you think of our podcast by dropping us an email at Podcast at Autoblog dot com, reviewing the show in iTunes, filling out our survey, or even leaving us a voicemail on our Google Voice line 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763). Thanks for listening!

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #156

Autoblog Podcast #156 originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Audi A7 confirmed for U.S. and S8 model in the works, but once again, no A5 Sportback

Chris Paukert — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:28:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Audi, Design/Style, Luxury

2011 Audi A8 - Click above for high-res image gallery

At last week's tony Design Miami reveal of the 2011 A8 luxury cruiser, we were able to corner Johan de Nysschen, Audi's executive vice president in North America, and ask him for some tasty tibits on the brand's upcoming products, including the A8's sexier derivative, the A7.

In addition to giving us the first official confirmation of the A7's existence, de Nysschen revealed that the four-door coupe model will slot in "a little bit below" the new A8 in terms of pricing, just as we expected. Of course, it's worth noting that the 2011 A8 faces a price bump due to substantial increases in content and technology, so when the A7 finally comes to the States, the average model is likely to sticker at around $82,000-$83,000, which de Nysschen says is about the price for a typically equipped 2010 A8 (pricing starts at $74,550 plus delivery).

Based on Audi's new longitudinal modular platform technology, the A7 will be clearly related to the A8 (and the A6 replacement that will follow it), and de Nysschen says that the 2009 Detroit Auto Show Sportback concept car serves as a "very reliable indicator" of what the production model will look like. Judging by recent spy shots from our friends at KGP, that very much appears to be the case. While parts commonality will be "substantial," de Nysschen says that the A7 will not use the full aluminum spaceframe design of the A8, although it will have aluminum elements.

As expected, the A8 will launch Stateside in both standard and long-wheelbase formats, with the latter predicted to make up the lion's share of the volume (the A8L presently accounts for about 80 percent of the model's sales).

We asked De Nysschen about how the two models will interact in the full-size luxury sedan segment, and he noted that:

"This top end segment is characterized by more conservative people, and we need to clearly take lower levels of risk with a flagship model [the A8]. But we recognize too that there is a sizable enough cluster of customers in that same segment who are ready for a more avant-garde design [the A7]. So we will essentially be positioning two cars into the same segment, which means that independently, the volume each attains is not that significant, but when you put them together, it will mean that our share of that segment will grow quite dramatically."

All-in De Nysschen thinks that the A8 will account for about 4,000 to 5,000 sales per year in the U.S., and the less costly A7 could clear 7,000-8,000 additional units.

And what of a high-performance S8 to take on Mercedes-Benz's AMG lineup, or the A5 Sportback? Click through to the jump for more details.

Gallery: 2011 Audi A8: Live from Miami

Continue reading Audi A7 confirmed for U.S. and S8 model in the works, but once again, no A5 Sportback

Audi A7 confirmed for U.S. and S8 model in the works, but once again, no A5 Sportback originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Dec 2009 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2007: Audi's 5.2L V10 FSI engine on display

Merritt Johnson — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 11:10:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Technology, Audi

While browsing the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show we discovered Audi's 5.2L V10 FSI engine in all its 450 hp glory. It was perched on a stand in the Audi booth mated to a six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, and was strategically displayed amongst the S6 and S8 sedans, which it powers. We remembered reading about this engine in the January 2007 issue of SAE's Automotive Engineering International, so we dug it out to give you a rundown of its specifications. The first thing that must be pointed out is that contrary to popular belief, this engine is entirely different from the V10 used by the Lamborghini Gallardo. The Lambo engine was designed for high RPMs, while the S6/S8 V10 was put together for high torque and fuel economy.

The 5.2L V10 is built for two different outputs between the S6 and the S8 applications. The S6 receives a version that puts down 435 hp at 7000 rpm and churns out 398 ft-lbs of torque, while the S8's creates 450 hp at 6800 rpm and also produces 398 ft-lbs of torque. The varying power numbers are achieved through both its exhaust design and tuning, and the differences in output equate to relatively similar power-to-weight ratios for both cars. Follow the jump for a detailed look at the display engine along with Audi's own renderings.

Gallery: Audi's 5.2L V10 FSI engine

Continue reading LA 2007: Audi's 5.2L V10 FSI engine on display

LA 2007: Audi's 5.2L V10 FSI engine on display originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 17 Nov 2007 11:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt Preview: Audi S8 facelift

Frank Filipponio — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:56:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Sedan, Audi

A couple of weeks ago we reported about the updates Audi was planning for its A8 lineup. Things like the addition of the 2.8L FSI six-cylinder that will be offered (in Europe, at least), more direct steering and a revised air suspension should make the '08 A8 even closer to perfection. Audi is also adding new safety features, like a side-assist system that will alert drivers when a vehicle is in the sedan's blind spots and a lane departure warning system that will keep an eye on lane markers and alert the driver with a vibration in the steering wheel should he or she begin to go astray. Finally, the car is said to quieter than the 2007 edition.

Visually, Audi has updated the single-frame grille, incorporated new lighting in back, added new wheel styles, put turn indicators on the outside mirrors, and will offer a number of new paint finishes. New interior colors and inlays are also on tap. In short, Audi's taking a good thing and making it better. And now we have word that most of those changes will make their way into the freshened S8 as well. With photos and info from Fourtitude, we see an updated S8 that will most likely debut in Frankfurt next month sporting some refined styling touches inside and out as well. Check out the gallery.

[Source: Fourtitude]

Gallery: 2008 Audi S8

Frankfurt Preview: Audi S8 facelift originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 16:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Audi S8

Alex Nunez — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:04:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, Sedan, Performance, Audi

Click image for high-res photo gallery

This edition of "In the Autoblog Garage" is brought to you by the letter S and the number 8. Alone, each is just another mundane alphanumeric character. When positioned next to each other on a vehicle bearing Audi's interlocking rings, however, they turn into something very special. The character pair becomes shorthand for 5.2 liters, 10 cylinders, 450 horses, 398 ft.-lbs., 4.9 seconds, 155 miles per hour, and $110,000+ in the case of the Daytona Grey Audi S8 tester that had been deposited in my driveway. Yep, it was going to be a pretty good week.

Gallery: 2007 Audi S8

Continue reading In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Audi S8

In the Autoblog Garage: 2007 Audi S8 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Jul 2007 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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