Where the Audi S8 stands in the world of high-performance sedans

Audi’s newly updated sports sedan – the S8 – is officially on sale in South Africa with prices starting at R2,759,000.

Those who are lucky enough to take home the upmarket four-door will be treated to only the most cutting-edge features at the manufacturer’s disposal.

The S8 is packed with a number of fancy equipment such as OLED taillights and digital Matrix LED headlamps – the latter of which has a new orientation ability where the lights create a “carpet of light that illuminates the driver’s own lane particularly brightly,” said the automaker.

Inside, the dash boasts a 10.1-inch digital driver’s display as well as an 8.6-inch infotainment unit with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, voice commands, online services, playing through Bang and Olufsen sound system.

If the driver’s display wasn’t enough, a heads-up display is now included as standard allowing the owner to keep their eyes on the road at all times.

Additional fittings take the form of adaptive cruise control and a Valcona leather upholstery with diamond stitching and ventilation and massage capabilities.

The high-end experience is not just limited to a luxurious cabin, though.

The executive Audi is also equipped with a powerful 4.0-litre, V8 engine supported by a twin-turbo system to produce a staggering 420kW and 800Nm.

An eight-speed tiptronic gearbox sends this power down to the quattro all-wheel-drive system to achieve a lightning-fast 3.8-second sprint to 100km/h, while top speed caps out at 250km/h.

Other performance-enhancing additions take the form of a rear sports differential, dynamic all-wheel steering, and predictive suspension which adjusts itself in accordance with the road surface and drive mode selected.

The competition

This is how Audi’s updated sports vehicle compares to other upmarket performance sedans.

Click on the underlined names for more information.

Power

Acceleration

Top speed

Pricing