Ciprian Florea wrote:To say that the current 2015 Audi A8, which was launched in 2009, is a bit long in the tooth is an understatement. Sure, the German sedan is still one of the most popular choices in the full-size market, but both Mercedes-Benz and BMW have redesigned their competitors for this demanding niche. The A8 desperately needs a modern interior and an exterior design that will attract new customers. Same goes for the performance-oriented 2015 Audi S8.
The A8’s overhaul, however, won’t happen until 2017, and this basically means an updated S8 won’t arrive until 2018. The good news is that the next A8/S8 will borrow their styling from the gorgeous 2014 Audi Prologue Concept. Granted, the new design language is still evolutionary rather than revolutionary, but it’s a breath of fresh air nonetheless. Meanwhile, Audi will probably continue to make the best of the current model with mild updates and special-edition models. The most recent of these is the S8 Plus, which, as the name suggests, is a more powerful version of the already familiar S8.
Audi’s Plus line goes back to 2004, when the company sold a final, limited-edition version of the RS6. It had increased engine output, added standard features, and various other goodies inside and out. The same recipe was applied again in 2012 on both the 2014 Audi R8 V10 Plus and the 2012 Audi TT RS Plus, which makes the S8 the fourth Audi to receive this package and the first S model to get the "Plus" badge.
Exterior:
Though the S8 isn’t the kind of sedan I’d describe as beautiful, I admit its clean and almost featureless body lines give it an elegant stance a lot of modern, full-size sedans can’t brag about. What I like more about the S8, especially compared to the 2014 Mercedes-AMG S63, is that it packs all the performance in a rather mundane shell, which basically turns it into a sleeper. The S8 Plus is pretty much the same, missing the overly aggressive body features that would alter its simple yet stylish design.
Simply put, aside from the spoiler lip on the trunk lid, there’s absolutely no hint that the S8 Plus packs significantly more power than its S8 sibling. Come to think of it, a spoiler lip is not even a hint these days, when so many cars are designed to look faster and more powerful than they actually are.
Getting back to the car in question, the said spoiler lip is standard equipment and comes painted in the same color as the exterior. However, Audi does offer the option of a carbon-fiber piece for a more upscale look. Speaking of carbon, the entire exterior design of the S8 Plus revolves around a blacked-out appearance. The trademark Singleframe grille is finished in gloss black, while the honeycomb mesh of the side air inlets are in matte black. Both the flaps in the inlets and the splitter-like piece on the front apron are made from carbon fiber.
On the sides, the S8 Plus features black window trim and mirrors caps that can be optioned in either gloss black or carbon fiber. The standard housings are painted in body color. Around back, the sedan received tinted taillights, a gloss-black diffuser insert with a carbon-fiber surround, and gloss-black exhaust pipes. Other features include "S8" logos front and rear, "V8 T" badges on the front fenders, and Matrix LED headlamps. The latter, however, are standard only in Germany.
The S8 Plus also comes with an exclusive exterior color, Floret Silver, in addition to all the shades offered on the standard S8.
Interior:
For the S8 Plus, Audi enhanced the S8’s already sporty interior with a number of features otherwise only available as expensive options. The black full-leather interior comes with contrast stitching and piping in Arras Red, while the headliner is finished in black Alcantara. There’s Black Piano trim on the center console, and aluminum and carbon-fiber inserts on the dashboard. The instrument cluster, on the other hand, is standard S8 business, with gray dials, white pointers, and an "S8" logo on the tach.
The extensive standard features list for the S8 Plus also includes ambient lighting, a convenience key with sensor-driven luggage compartment locking, the Alcantara package, power-assisted door closing, and a DVD/CD changer. German-spec models also get the assistance package with Audi pre sense plus, four-zone deluxe automatic air conditioning system, Bose surround sound system, and MMI navigation plus with MMI touch.
Drivetrain:
Fortunately, the Plus in the S8 Plus is more than just extra features inside and out. Thanks to an updated 4.0-liter V-8 that uses a bespoke engine control unit with "speed and charge pressure boosting," modified exhaust valves and revised inner turbocharger geometry, the S8 Plus throws down 605 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque (in overboost mode, the engine produces 553 pound-feet).
That’s an 85-horsepower and 35-pound-feet improvement over the S8, which makes the S8 Plus the most powerful full-size sedan Audi has built as of yet.
With the enhanced output also comes a quicker 0-to-62 mph sprint, now estimated at 3.8 seconds. This makes the S8 Plus a tenth-second quicker than the standard S8. Also, the sedan is faster than a wide array of sports cars and luxury grand tourers, including the 2014-2015 Aston Martin Vanquish, the previous-generation Audi R8, and the 2015 BMW M4, just to name a few.
Not surprisingly, the beefed-up V-8 mates to an eight-speed Tiptronic transmission and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system. other updates include 21-inch wheels wrapped in grippier tires, adaptive suspension, a tuned exhaust system and a sports differential.
DRIVETRAIN SPECIFICATIONSCode: Select all
Type 4.0 TFSI V-8 biturbo Output 605 HP Torque 516 LB-FT (553 LB-FT overboost) 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) 3.8 seconds Top Speed 155 MPH (189.5 MPH optional)
