2014 AUDI S8 FACELIFT IN DETAIL

Gee, it seems like just the other day when Audi presented the S8 sports sedan to Mzansi. Now there’s a new version of the luxury good, an updated facelift model based on the new facelift A8. The S8 is of course the sportiest A8 in the range and this upgrade has ensured such status remains intact.

Protagonist of the whole thing is the 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 motor, currently used by the S6, RS 6 Avant, S7 Sportback, RS 7 Sportback and Bentley Continental GT V8. For the purposes of the S8 it is tuned to deliver a most satisfying 380kW at 6000rpm and 650Nm of torque between 1700rpm and 5500rpm. Some of its mates include quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD), a sport differential and an 8-speed automatic gearbox.

Thanks to all of the above, plus the fact that it’s not a very heavy car, Audi reckon it will shoot off from 0 – 100km/h in just 4.2 seconds and reach a governed top speed of 250km/h. An average fuel consumption figure of 10.1 litres per 100km, corresponding with C02 emissions of 235g/km, can be expected, according to its maker.

Über S8, being a super executive ride, has to feature some serious kit for the interior to be at least acceptable. And so the usual list starts off with the MMI infotainment system featuring a touchpad for writing with your finger and Google Earth navigation among others. Your S8 can be turned into a WiFi hotspot through which other devices can connect to the internet. There’s a full leather interior with a selection of carbon twill copper inlays, Alcantara on the roof, side pillars and door inlays, and a 1400W Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System featuring those self-raising twitters on top of the dashboard.

But that’s not all, because you can also specify rear seat entertainment that includes two TV display units, a DVD player and Bluetooth wireless headphones. Something called Active Noise Cancellation (ANC – yes, we know) is apparently a technology that helps reduce cabin noise.  

Lastly the exterior is subtle, yet outstanding in its application of the “minimalistic but sporty” philosophy of design. Front grille is a multi-storey affair with S8 badging, LED daytime running lights and headlights to its upper flanks, and honeycomb detailing on the lower flanks. Side mirrors are cased in aluminium just above a “V8 T” badge. The rear is characterised by four chromed oval tailpipes, a chrome strip across the tailgate and an aluminium finish around the tailpipes.

We can expect to see the S8 in Mzansi at the 2013 Johannesburg International Motor Show in October, with sales commencing sometime before June 2014 at a price we guess will be around R1.36 million.