Elegantly Enhanced

FACT spent the day in the new Audi S8, a high-end luxury saloon with all the right parts in all the right places.

The Audi A8 has been a symbol of status and prestige for the brand since 1994. The fourth generation of this luxury saloon was released in 2017, raising the bar to a new level concerning power, look and equipment. As an initial design model, many enthusiasts agree that the A8 revealed the future design language of this world-renowned German car manufacturer, consequently becoming the progressive face of the brand until the present day.

Audi recently launched the new A8, an enhanced version of this iconic motor vehicle. This month we had the good fortune of test-driving the latest generation (2024) Audi S8, compliments of the team at Audi Centre Bahrain. This sporty version of the A8 proved to be nothing less than a user-centred symbiosis of masterful comfort and dynamic handling, jam-packed with high-value technology and intelligent functions.

Distinguished Exterior

Design Despite the Brilliant Black colour of our S8 endowing our test drive model with an understated yet classy appearance, once we started inspecting the model, we were taken by the reworked exterior design, one that exudes a sense of both confidence and athleticism.

The singleframe grille of Audi’s flagship vehicle is now wider, adorned with chrome angles that increase in size from bottom to top. We also noticed that the side intakes are now freshly styled and in a more upright position. The HD Matrix LED headlamps are another noticeable update, further accentuating the car’s refreshed appearance.

From side-on, we found the luxury saloon’s progressive character particularly eye-catching. We immediately appreciated the stretched lines of the body that emphasise the model’s extended wheelbase, along with the wide wheel arches that hint at the standard quattro drive system. Enhancing the dynamic look of the S8 is the rocker panel area with its concave shape, ending in a blade pointing towards the road. The aluminium-look side mirrors add yet another touch of class to the striking exterior.

Once at the rear, we were captivated by the wide chrome clasps, the customisable taillight signature with digital OLEDs and the continuous, segmented light strip. We found the diffusor insert in the bumper to be delicately accentuated, now redesigned with horizontal bars. One of the characteristic sporty design details exclusive to the S8 is the four flow-optimised pipes under a circumferential contour.

Refined Interior

Slipping inside the S8, we were instantly taken by the spacious and tailored feel of the cabin. This area is accentuated by the abundance of natural light from the glass panoramic sunroof. At night, this open and welcoming space is enhanced by the Ambient Light Package Plus that elegantly stages the interior.

We found the seating in both front and back to be of exceptional quality, providing the perfect balance of support and comfort. Black with red trim, these classy-looking seats feature Valetta leather upholstery, velvety leather headrests and precise perforations in the seat covers. The power-adjustable front seating proved particularly impressive with its memory function and ventilation features.

The cockpit offers a near-perfect layout, with a well-designed centre console and all controls located in practical positions. The leather-wrapped, multi-function steering wheel has been masterfully designed and feels great in hand. No matter where we looked, our eyes were greeted by high-end materials, first-class trimmings and upscale finishes.

Adding to the day-to-day convenience of the vehicle is an electronically opening and closing luggage compartment lid and effective four-zone climate control.

High-end Tech & Infotainment

Once able to tear our eyes away from the intricacies of the interior design, our attention settled on the exceptional tech.

The new S8 features the brand’s MMI touch response operating concept, accessed through two displays (10.1-inch and 8.6-inch) and natural voice operation. All we had to do to engage this system was to say the words ‘Hey Audi’!

Further accentuating the tech-savvy nature of the S8 is the completely digital Audi virtual cockpit, with the optional head-up display. This user-friendly feature displays important information directly in the driver’s line of sight, thereby removing the need for eyes to be taken off the road.

But wait, it doesn’t stop there. We were soon captivated by the standard MMI Navigation Plus, supported by the third-generation modular infotainment toolkit, MIB3. The likewise standard online services from Audi Connect augment the navigation system, ensuring a practical and efficient setup.

We soon discovered a rear seat remote mounted in the centre armrest via which we could control many infotainment functions. This control unit features an OLED display and is about as big as a modern smartphone.

Another must-mention feature is the exceptional Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System. A 1,920-watt amplifier drives 23 speakers, delivering cinema-quality sound that helped to deliver the perfect soundtrack for our on-road testing.

“This sporty version of the A8 proved to be nothing less than a user-centred symbiosis of masterful comfort and dynamic handling, jampacked with high-value technology and intelligent functions.”

Imposing Power & Performance

Despite how beautiful this car is inside and out; it was engaging the ignition that was our highlight of the day. The new S8 makes all the right noises with sound flaps in the exhaust system ready to sharpen the roars when desired.

Our test drive model was powered by the Audi S8 TFSI quattro drive system, featuring a 4.0-litre, twin-turbo V8 mild-hybrid technology (MHEV) engine that delivers an impressive 571hp and 800Nm of torque and it’s connected to a fast and gently toggling eight-step Tiptronic transmission.

As soon as pressure was applied to the right pedal, we were hard-pressed against our seats as the luxury saloon raced from 0-100km/h in just 3.8 seconds! Add an electronically capped top speed of 250km/h to the equation and you have one capable car.

With the abundance of power on offer, we were grateful for the inclusion of the predictive active suspension, sport differential, dynamic all-wheel steering and an anti-lock braking system that helped to keep this mechanical beast in check.

Throughout our day, we thoroughly enjoyed the smooth and powerful drivetrain of the S8 that provided a responsive yet serene driving experience, over which we always had full control. An extensive range of driver assistance systems and safety features added to our complete confidence in the vehicle.