2023 Audi S8 Performance

Don't let the Audi S8's size and weight deceive you: this German battle tank is brisk. Seriously brisk. Under the hood, you get a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 supplemented by a 48-volt mild-hybrid electric system. The total power output is 563 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. Take all that power and channel it through Audi's quattro AWD system and you're left with a mini limousine that can sprint to 60 mph in only 3.8 seconds (real-world tests have proven that it can go even quicker) and top out at an electronically limited 155 mph. The eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel steering make it easy to drive fast, and out on the streets, few will be able to catch this heavyweight out the blocks.

Under the hood of the S8 you'll find a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 engine and a 48-volt mild hybrid system that delivers a bone-crunching 563 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to Audi's legendary quattro AWD system and rear sport differential via an eight-speed automatic transmission.

In town, the Audi S8 feels brutally fast. Just dab the throttle, and the V8 engine comes alive, and the mild-hybrid system does an excellent job of filling any gaps left by turbo lag. All that low-down torque, combined with AWD traction, makes the S8 deceptively quick, and once on the highway, you'll sail past the massive majority of cars, even when fully loaded with your lawyer and accounting buddies. The eight-speed automatic features steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and shifts with razor-sharp confidence. Left to its own devices, it is a comfortable transmission that strikes a satisfying balance between alertness and refinement.

With a 563-hp V8 engine under the hood, an AWD drivetrain, and a curb weight of over 5,100 lbs, the Audi S8 was never designed to return good fuel figures. If you're looking for a full-sized sport sedan that offers this kind of performance and good fuel economy, we'd recommend looking at a Tesla Model S or Porsche Taycan. According to the EPA, the Audi S8 will deliver 15/23/18 mpg on the city/highway/combined circuit. The 21.7-gallon tank will get you 390 miles out of Reno before needing a top-up.