AUDIS8 2013 - 2019

　　The horsepower war in Europe made Audi create the S8 in 1996 and surprised its main competitors, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, with a limousine that provided sports car performance.

　　In 2013, Audi refreshed the entire A8 lineup and unveiled it at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and along with that, it launched the fourth generation of the S8. This real athlete wore a tuxedo with some shiny buttons on it. While it looked similar to the rest of the range, it featured some specific details, but none were in-your-face looking. Since it was one of the most expensive versions among its siblings, it also came well-equipped with advanced features and amenities to make its occupants feel spoiled even when it was driven at a high rate of speed.

　　The refreshed Audi A8 lineup gained LED headlights with an option for Matrix LEDs, which were also available for the S8. Its daytime running lights were incorporated into each headlamp, underlining the main lamps in a unique pattern. Between them, the S8 sported the same massive singleframe grille, as Audi called it. Still, unlike its siblings, this super-powered version featured seven twin-blade horizontal slats. Lower, in the apron, the car featured a slim splitter flanked by the scoops for the fog lamps. Last but not least, a tiny S8 red and silver badge adorned the grille.

　　From its profile, the full-size executive sedan differentiated itself from the rest of the A8 range thanks to the big 20” light alloy wheels with a five twin-spoke design. But just like any other S vehicle from Audi, the S8 featured satin-chromed door mirror caps. Another particular element was the V8 T badge on the front fenders, tiny enough to pass unnoticed by an untrained eye. Finally, at the back, the double twin-exhaust oval pipes flanked a satin-chromed diffuser that was mounted underneath the bumper. As a final touch, Audi installed another S8 badge on the trunk’s lid.

　　Inside, the S8 greeted its customers with unique sports seats wrapped in leather, and customers had the option to get diamond-stitching on them for an even more luxurious appearance. The driver fronted a clean-designed instrument cluster where the speedometer and tachometer flanked a small color display that showed additional information from the car’s onboard computer. An S8 badge adorned the tachometer. In the back, Audi installed a bench seat for three passengers, although the middle-seated one had to cope with the big hump on the floor for the transmission tunnel. The middle side of the seatback could fold down and serve as an armrest.

　　Under the hood was a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged powerplant that could run in four-cylinder mode at constant speeds for better fuel efficiency. To dampen vibrations, the automaker added active engine mounts and an active noise-canceling system inside the cabin. The result was a much quicker and more efficient vehicle than the previous V10-powered Audi S8. Furthermore, the 2013 S8 featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, not a six-speed one like its predecessor.

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