AUDI S8: THE SILENT ASSASSIN FROM INGOLSTADT. HERE'S ALL FOUR GENERATIONS IN A HEADS-UP DRAG RACE.
Since its debut, the Audi S8 has quietly carved out its place in the world of fast executive saloons - not by shouting the loudest, but by delivering serious performance wrapped in a finely tailored suit. Think of it as James Bond in a business meeting: all business on the outside, but ready to kill when provoked. Across four generations, the S8 has evolved from a high-revving V8 bruiser to a cutting-edge tech-heavy powerhouse. Each generation brought more speed, more luxury, and a bigger price tag - and now, thanks to a brilliant heads-up drag race vid from Mat Watson and the Carwow crew, we can see just how far it’s come. But first, let’s rewind to where it all began.
D2 Audi S8 (2001) – The Original Sleeper
The first S8 made its official debut in 2001, but it had already been turning heads in Europe since the late ‘90s. Audi took its lightweight aluminium-bodied A8 and dropped in a naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8, good for 265 kW and 430 Nm of torque. That power went to all four wheels via Audi’s quattro system and a 5-speed automatic transmission. It was understatedly fast. No huge spoilers or flared arches, just clean lines and subtle S badging. At 1,750 kg, it wasn’t a featherweight, but the combo of V8 grunt and quattro grip made it seriously capable. Back in 2001, it cost less than the equivalent AMG or BMW M car. And if it looks familiar, it’s probably because this was the car Jason Statham flung around in The Transporter. A proper gentleman’s express with a license to thrill.
D3 Audi S8 (2005) – The V10 Symphony
By 2005, Audi had turned things up a notch. Enter the D3 S8, packing a 5.2-litre naturally aspirated V10 derived from the Lamborghini Gallardo. It produced 331 kW and 540 Nm, and although this version was heavier at 1,940 kg, it was more muscular and mature. The gearbox was upgraded to a 6-speed automatic, and of course, quattro came standard. It was a continent-crushing luxury saloon that could rev clean and fast to 7,000 rpm. It felt like a high-performance yacht that just happened to have leather seats, sat-nav, and a massive Bang & Olufsen sound system. The D3 held its own with style, and today it’s a cult favourite thanks to that glorious V10 soundtrack.
D4 Audi S8 (2012) – Twin-Turbo Takeover
The 3rd-gen S8, the D4, launched in 2012, and it marked a serious change of direction. Gone was the screaming V10, replaced by a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8, producing 382 kW and a massive 650 Nm of torque. Paired with a quick-shifting 8-speed auto and sending power to all four wheels, the D4 delivered devastating performance in a straight line. Despite weighing in at 1,975 kg, the D4 could sprint from 0-100 km/h in a mere 4.1 seconds. That made it faster than a Ferrari 360 Modena, while still offering massage seats and adaptive cruise control. And with cylinder deactivation tech and better efficiency, it was also greener than its V10 predecessor - on paper anyway. It wasn’t cheap, but then these things aren’t for the average man. In the world of high-performance executive cars, this was the one that didn’t need to shout.
D5 Audi S8 (2019–Present) – The Luxury Weapon
The current generation D5 S8 took everything the D4 offered and turned it up to eleven. Still powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, this version kicks out a healthy 420 kW with a monstrous 800 Nm of torque - numbers that put it right in the crosshairs of the Mercedes-AMG S 63 and BMW M760Li. Despite tipping the scales at a hefty 2,220 kg, the D5 can launch itself from 0-100 km/h in around 3.8 seconds, helped along by all-wheel steering, predictive active suspension, and a reworked quattro system that sends more power rearward when needed. Inside, it’s peak Audi: dual touchscreen displays, haptic feedback, soft-close doors, ventilated massage seats - and the kind of whisper-quiet refinement that makes you forget you’re piloting a monster. It’s luxury on another level, with mad pace.
This Carwow vid brings all four S8 generations together in a straight-line showdown - a rolling timeline of Audi's high-performance luxury evolution. Unsurprisingly, the newer models pack more power and technology, but what the video captures so well is how each generation reflects the priorities of its era. Which is your pick of the Audi luxobarge contingent?
Take a look at the YouTube video from Mat Watson and the Carwow crew that sees they pit all four generations of the longest Audi in the lineup, the limo-like A8, but in the top-spec S8: Every Audi S8 DRAG RACE | carwow
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