Audi has launched the updated S8 in South Africa at a starting price of R2,759,000.
The executive sports sedan sees a revised exterior design as well as new standard equipment, with a powerful V8 engine under the bonnet.
What’s new
The premium S8 was on the receiving end of a new front end with the base of the grille now being wider and chrome finishes adorning the grid. The side air intakes are also larger and the headlight clusters have been redesigned with Audi’s distinctive lower contour line.
As part of the update, the sedan further sports Digital Matrix LED headlights and OLED taillights.
For the headlights, a new ability comes in the form of lane and orientation lights for highways, where the LEDs create a “carpet of light that illuminates the driver’s own lane particularly brightly,” said Audi.
Moving into the passenger compartment, revisions comprise the latest MIB3-supported infotainment system comprising a 10.1-inch driver’s display and 8.6-inch media centre with smartphone mirroring, voice operation, and online services.
A heads-up display is now also fitted as standard, projecting valuable information onto the windscreen thereby allowing the driver to keep their eyes fixed on the road ahead.
On top of this, the executive sedan boasts adaptive cruise control, Valcona leather upholstery with diamond stitching, seat ventilation and massage functions, and a Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system.
As an option, the rear of the cabin can now also be had with a three-seat system featuring two individual, electrically-adjustable seats with four-way lumbar support and memory functions, as well as with two 10.1-inch full-HD infotainment displays mounted to the back of the front seats.
Powering the updated S8 is a 4.0-litre, V8, bi-turbo engine capable of putting out a monumental 420kW and 800Nm.
Via an eight-speed tiptronic transmission, this grunt is delivered to the quattro all-wheel-drive system with a rear-mounted sports differential making the large four-door capable of sprinting to 100km/h in 3.8 seconds and topping out at 250km/h.
Also standard for the facelifted flagship are dynamic all-wheel steering and predictive active suspension, the latter of which adjusts ride height and body angles depending on the undulations of the road and selected driving mode.
Audi S8
Keyword: New Audi S8 now on sale – Official South African pricing and specifications