The 2019 Audi S8 has been spied virtually
undisguised while undergoing testing on and around the Nürburgring. Looking
virtually identical to the standard model, the high-performance S8 has a
handful of subtle styling touches that indicate this isn’t your ordinary luxury
sedan. The most noticeable changes occur out back as the car has a
four-tailpipe sports exhaust system and a new rear bumper with a mesh design
below the reflectors.
Moving forward, the car has modestly revised side
skirts and special alloy wheels. Engineers also installed a high-performance
braking system with grey calipers featuring “Audi Sport” badging. It remains
unclear if the model is wearing a production front bumper but it’s a tad
sportier than the one used on the A8. However, it may just be temporary
placeholder as it appears identical to the bumper that comes as part of the A8
Sport package.
Spy photographers couldn’t get close enough to snap interior
photos but the cabin should largely carryover from the standard model. Of
course, we can expect a handful of unique touches including a sport steering
wheel, special trim and plenty of S8 badging.
Power will likely be provided by a twin-turbo 4.0-liter
V8 engine. It develops 550 hp and 767 Nm of torque in the
Porsche Panamera Turbo but the S8 is expected to be rated at approximately 530
hp.
The new engine in
addition to weight savings of around 100 kg, courtesy of a new
predominantly aluminum structure, could enable the car to accelerate from 0-100 km/h in just under 4.0 seconds before hitting a top speed in excess
of 297 km/h.
The model could eventually be joined by a more
extreme S8 Plus which uses the powertrain from the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid.
If this happens, the model may have around 630 hp. The Audi S8 is
expected to be unveiled later this year so look for a possible world premiere
at the Paris Motor Show in early October.
