The current Audi A8 has been out for two years now. It's nice to drive, but the 3.0-liter V-6 under the hood has left us wanting for more power. Well, we finally got our wish: Meet the 563-horsepower 2020 Audi S8.
Under the hood of the 2020 S8 sits a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8. Putting out 563 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, it makes 228 horsepower and 221 lb-ft more than the standard car. It's paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system that allows for extended stop-start use and coasting. Additionally, cylinder deactivation is standard. Power is sent to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. Audi says 0-60 mph happens in just 3.8 seconds, and top speed is electronically limited to 155 mph.
The active suspension has been revamped for the S8, and now features electromechanical actuators on each corner, allowing the car to lift or push down the wheels independently. The car can also tilt its body into a corner while turning up to three degrees. Despite all of that, Audi promises comfort levels will remain on-par with the standard car. Rear-wheel steering is also standard, as is an Audi Sport rear differential and 10-piston front brake calipers. Carbon ceramic brakes are available as an option, which Audi says saves 21 pounds over the iron discs.
In typical Audi fashion, the S8 isn't much different than the normal A8 when it comes to styling. Aside from some mildly reworked bumpers and side-sills, the car is largely unchanged. The only real giveaways this car isn't an A8 are the badges and those quad exhaust tips. It's worth mentioning the car you see here is a European-spec short-wheelbase S8. In the US, we'll only be getting the long-wheelbase model.
The 2020 Audi S8 is set to make its U.S. debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2019. Pricing starts at $129,500, excluding a $995 destination charge. Expect to see it at dealerships sometime around the end of the year.
