New S8 plus launched

The pinnacle of the A8 range, the new Audi S8 plus has arrived Down Under – the most powerful vehicle ever to wear the coveted Audi S badge and if there were a recognised way of measuring luxury, it would doubtless walk away with that title too.

The S8 plus is elegance personified. A large, stately limousine in any language, its understated design does little to mask the dynamic potential lurking under its svelte exterior. The S8 plus has ‘attitude’ even sitting still, from its Matrix LED headlights to the sport exhaust system with quad high-gloss black tail pipes on the rear. And although its the type of car that looks right at home gracing the forecourt of the world’s best hotels, there was nothing incongruous about seeing it parked at a race track when it recently made its first official appearance in Australia.

For those who like to pick the key visual differences, the new S8 plus can be spotted from the S8 by the high-gloss black exterior package, with carbon fibre accents on the front spoiler and rear diffuser as well as 21-inch wheels in keeping with the matt titanium look.

This is a car for those who want the very highest order in luxury and creature comforts but also the highest standards of performance. A rare combination, but one that the S8 plus achieves with consummate ease. Powered by a 4.0 TFSI twin-turbo engine, it races from rest to 100km/h in just 3.8 seconds (0.3 seconds faster than the previous S8), thanks to the 445kW of power and 700Nm of torque (750Nm with overboost). This incredible acceleration is not just in a straight line through, the S8 plus achieving staggering agility on tight twisty roads, the car hunkering down and sitting flat through the curves with nary a hint of body roll.

Large ventilated discs sitting within the 21-inch wheels pull the car down from speed without a hint of hesitation, in fact the car driven at launch wore the optional ceramic brake package which performed seamlessly under considerable duress all day with no hint of fade whatsoever.

The power is transferred to the road through Audi’s eight-speed tiptronic transmission to quattro all-wheel drive with sports differential on the rear axle as standard, giving the S8 plus a surefooted feel regardless of the road surface. The addition of Adaptive air suspension sport and dynamic steering with S8 plus-specific tuning make for a car that handles like a lithe sports car despite the generous size of the vehicle.

Even fast changes of direction on broken bitumen surfaces couldn’t disturb the S8 plus’ solid feel, regardless of how hard it was pushed.

But this wild side is offset by the finest of road manners, the V8 boasting Cylinder on Demand (CoD) technology which shuts down half of the cylinders when not under load to return better fuel efficiency. Yet active engine mounts and the Bose surround sound system’s complementary Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) algorithm suppress undesired noise and vibrations during cylinder shut down phases so that this all happens without any hint to those inside and without interruption to power delivery. The driver can of course harness the full eight cylinders with just a squeeze on the throttle.

Inside the luxurious cabin, the driver and occupants are surrounded by the very best of everything. Sports seats are upholstered in Valcona leather with Arras red contrasting stitching and are of course heated and have massage function. The finish throughout the cabin is exceptional, and includes a Bose sound system as standard (customers can also opt for the Bang & Olufsen system), Audi connect, digital TV reception with DAB and digital radio.

As you would expect, the list of standard equipment, drive assistance systems and safety equipment is all of the highest order. From heads-up display to Adaptive Cruise Control to power assist boot close to Audi parking system plus with front, rear and 360 degree view cameras, there is nothing lacking in the S8 plus package. 

Of course for this wanting to further customise the vehicle, a generous set of options exist, including the aforementioned ceramic brake package, Bang & Olufsen sound system and external carbon fibre package (which includes a subtle rear deck spoiler in carbon fibre) and night vision assist to name just some of the items available.

Impressive really doesn’t do it justice, but it’s a starting point. Just sitting in the S8 plus tells a good part of the story in terms of the superb finish and attention to detail, but to appreciate the full story, a stint behind the wheel is the only way.

Yes, this is a luxury conveyance of the highest order, but it is so much more than that besides. 

That a large, luxurious sedan can perform and handle like this defies logic, but then the S moniker has always stood for something very special indeed.