|
Audi’s S8 has always been an automotive anomaly. It’s big
and luxurious, and yet it’s powerful and capable enough to
go on the prowl for supercars. The only thing as rare as this
breed of automobile is the people who buy them; wealthy
folk who want the comfort and space of a full-size car, yet,
would rather be behind the wheel than stretching out in back.
Ah, but it is best not to confuse this car with the regular
A8. True, it’s a big car with a lot of rear legroom, but the
S8 is only available in short wheelbase format, unlike the
4.2-liter model. And if it is creamy smoothness that you're
looking for, the 6.0 W-12 quattro might be better suited.
Some might say it’s also the showoff's choice, as it is the
only sedan currently in production to offer this engine,
aside from the vastly more expensive Bentley Continental
Flying Spur – a reality that comes in handy when you're
handing over the keys to the valet.
Big, fast Audis have always been stealthy machines. Their
power is intimated by the subtlest of details with which the
S8 brims. It has the usual big wheels, plus brushed aluminum
mirrors and sportier bumpers as well as side skirts.
The nose is most imposing – a handsome yet menacing face.
A sight indeed in the rearview mirror of a more mortal
machine. That grille now sports extra chrome on the vertical
spars, clearing the fast lane of those in the know.
Yet the S8 doesn't just move forward, it lunges with
accuracy and finesse. Step on the rightmost pedal and its
Lamborghini-sourced V-10 wakes up from its slumber, a
throbbing sensation that seeps through double-glazed windows
to give its occupants a hint of what's beneath the bonnet.
Catch an earful of S8 flying by at full chat and you'd
sports-tuned air suspension that rides 20 mm lower, with
resultant firmness in all settings. The effect on the way the
car drives is marginal and barely noticeable; the A8 was
never really communicative and neither is the S8.
On the other hand, there's a huge difference in the air suspension.
The big Audi sedan is immune to body roll and, provided
that the road is reasonably smooth, it rides no worse
than a regular A8. But show it anything resembling broken
pavement and you're in for a surprise. "Comfort" isn't all that
comfortable, and "Dynamic" just multiplies the crashy
effects. Some of that is traceable to the fact that it rides on
20-inch wheels wrapped in 35-profile tires, which contribute
to the choppiness; something I've noticed in other A8s. It
could do with a little weight at the helm to match the meaty
nature of the primary controls. There could also be a bit more
travel on the go-pedal to match that in the brake, which incidentally
has pedal feel and eye-popping stopping force.
Indulgences? There are plenty in the S8, from the
stitched leather dashboard and Alcantara headliner to its nokey-
needed access-and-start button. Plus there’s its oh-so
stylish Bang and Olufsen sound system that’s as much a
treat to the ears as it is to the eyes. The speaker cabinets are
made of aluminum, but unlike the car it's deliberately eyecatching
with tweeters that rise up out of the dash.
Elsewhere the S8 is an A8 with more pizzazz. The
optional carbon fibre trim is right at home, spread across the
cabin and around the shallow center console. The seats are
wonderfully supportive and infinitely comfortable without
being excessively bolstered. Even after five years the interior
design is still timeless; step out from a 7-Series or SClass
and you can see how characterless and sterile their
driving environments are with forced minimalism. It also
doesn’t reek of the old-world pretentiousness of the Jag or
Maserati. This could very well be the most tasteful car on
the market, earning big marks in my book.
For more on this article and much more grab a copy of Auto Aficionado Magazine on newsstands nationwide!
|
