2012 Sports Cars » Audi » 2013 Audi S8 Specs and Release Date

2013 Audi S8 Specs and Release Date

Posted at January 29th, 2012 | Category: Audi

Audi A8 is really a behemoth, meaning the 2013 Audi S8, even though it is available only with a short wheelbase, can also be huge. An aluminum-intensive body and structure help keep weight to around 4400 pounds, a little bit heavier than the Jaguar XJ Supersport but 600 or so pounds lighter than the Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG.

The final S8 was powered with a high-revving, naturally aspirated, 5.2-liter V-10, an engine that seemed somewhat unnatural in a luxury sedan. This one is propelled by a 4.0-liter V-8 force-fed by two IHI turbochargers. This powerplant might be smaller, but it is much more powerful-520 hp versus the prior model’s 450-and has tremendous torque: 479 lb-ft, available from 1700 to 5500 rpm, in contrast to 398 within the last car. This is great news for that 2013 Audi S8 straight-line performance. It will only need four seconds to visit from 0 to 60 mph, an improvement in excess of a complete second over the previous generation. Top speed again is governed at 155 mph. Under throttle, the 2013 Audi S8 emits a fragile growl that grows in volume and urgency because the redline nears, but it’s never loud. Speed compounds so quickly and discreetly that lengthy and expensive roadside lectures from authority figures-like the one we encountered while driving the 2013 Audi S8 in provincial Spain-seem almost inevitable.

Thanks to active engine mounts that dampen unwanted vibrations and a noise-cancellation system that uses the car’s stereo, we never felt the switch from four- to eight-cylinder operation. Power is delivered to all four wheels through a ZF eight-speed automatic. While you can play with the transmission a bit using the paddles around the steering column, we predict most drivers will give up eventually and leave the work towards the slushbox.

Although there’s a 40/60-percent front-to-rear torque split and you can steer the 2013 Audi S8 with the gas pedal on loose gravel, it might be an error to confuse this 4400-pounder having a sports vehicle. On tarmac, understeer is the order of the day. Moreover, there’s considerable body roll. The “drive select” system, that allows you to definitely modify throttle response, damper stiffness, steering weight, and exhaust sound, features a dynamic setting, but you want it were much more dynamic. As it is, we found the sporty mode to become too like the comfort and auto settings. Granted, the (heavier) S63 exhibits similar limitations, but we expected the Audi to become much better.

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