Unveiling the Powerhouse: 2024 Audi S8 Review & Performance Showcase

2024 Audi S8
Starting at $121.695

Highs: Potent twin-turbo V-8, deluxe cabin, agility-boosting rear-wheel steering.
Lows: Not particularly fuel efficient, sedate styling, six-figure price tag.
Verdict: The S8 combines sports sedan handling and luxury car splendor in a stealthy package.

What's New for 2024?

Like the regular A8 sedan, the S8 gains an app-based remote-start feature for 2024 as well as a new suite of apps designed to improve access to entertainment and navigation. Otherwise, the S8 is unchanged for the 2024 model year.

Pricing and Which One to Buy
The price of the 2024 Audi S8 starts at $121.695.
S8: $121,695

That six-figure starting price is steep, but the S8 comes well-equipped even by luxury car standards. We'd suggest the Comfort Plus package as it adds heated rear seats, a leather-wrapped dashboard, a head-up display, and fancier LED headlamps; the Executive package is also appealing and comes with blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist, and 21-inch wheels.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The S8's sole engine choice is a potent one: a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine making 563 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, and the transmission is an eight-speed automatic. Audi claims a top speed of 155 mph, and there are fuel-saving systems, too, including cylinder deactivation and a mild-hybrid setup with a small electric motor and battery. At our test track, the S8 blasted to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds. An active suspension system can control each wheel individually to improve ride quality, and it is tuned differently than that of the standard A8, delivering improved cornering prowess thanks to reduced body roll. Audi also includes equipment such as a torque-vectoring rear differential and rear-wheel steering to increase agility; powerful carbon-ceramic brakes are optional.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Fine materials line nearly every square inch of the S8's cabin, including leather upholstery, a faux-suede headliner, and a stitched leather dash cover. The front seats offer standard heating, cooling, and massage, while the rear cabin offers tons of space for passengers to stretch out. To pamper those in the back seat even more, consider the Rear Seat Comfort package, which adds power-adjustable outboard seats with heat, ventilation, and massage, plusher headrests, heated armrests, and a remote control for the car's infotainment system. Four-zone automatic climate control is standard, as is a multi-color ambient interior lighting system. The trunk is generously sized and identical to that of the A8, which proved its mettle in our testing by holding six carry-on suitcases. For comparison the Mercedes-Benz S-class held 5 and the BMW 7-series just three.