Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Sedan, Performance, Audi
Here’s the thing about the Audi A8 lineup: When you reach above the standard and long-wheelbase 4.2-liter car, you have choices. You can go up to the glorious $133,500 A8L W12, or you can choose a more enthusiast-minded route – the S8.
You see, while the A8L W12 may produce 500 horsepower and 469 pound-feet of torque from its 6.3-liter 12-cylinder engine, the S8 uses a pair of turbos mated to the company’s new 4.0-liter V8 to pump out an impressive 520 hp and 479 lb-ft. That means the absolutely massive all-wheel-drive sedan can sprint to 62 miles per hour in a scant 4.2 seconds on its way to a top speed of 155 mph (electronically limited, of course).
We’re sure the 6.3-liter W12 is a lovely engine, but in this day and age, turbochargers are an increasingly fitting replacement for displacement – especially when you can still have enjoy a throaty V8 snarl. Have a look at the S8 in our high-res image gallery above, then watch (and hear) Audi’s big daddy hustle around the track in the videos after the jump.
Continue reading 2012 Audi S8 suggests eight is more than twelve [w/video]
2012 Audi S8 suggests eight is more than twelve [w/video] originally appeared on AudiMobiles on Wed, 14 Sep 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.