ryoung

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With all the discussion of the '04 A8 -- Excuse me, but we're forgetting something ...

PERFORMANCE !!

1. The new A8 has 335 HP, now only 7% less than the S8.

2. The new A8's track has increased 1.5", it's now 2% wider than the S8, and wider IS better.

3. The new A8 reportedly weighs 3902 lb. Depending on the source of the data, the A8/S8 weighed anywhere from 3815 to 4068 lb. Hopefully the '04 A8 actually lost some weight, perhaps up to 166 lb, and it may now weigh 5% less than the S8.

4. The 6-speed Tip will better allow keeping revs up near max HP, fully utilizing that wonderful motor.

5. Upgraded brakes - In the front, an 8-pot caliper squeezes a 2-piece 360mm rotor; and there's a 310mm rotor in the rear. The front caliper probably isn't monobloc, but except for that, this is better than my Alcon set-up. With a good pad, the brakes on the A8 will be excellent on the track!

6. The 60% stiffer frame will result in a significant handling improvement.

7. The variable dampers allow you to adjust handling/ride to your taste.

8. The optional active air suspension may result in no net weight savings, but air bags certainly weigh less than steel springs. This unsprung weight reduction, plus the 10 lb/corner savings with the 2-piece front rotor, will result in a significant improvement in both ride and handling.

9. The active air suspension allows for adjustable ride height, with the "sport" setting as low as the S8.

10. The front suspension has been moved forward 65 mm, improving front/rear weight distribution. Note that the increase in rear rotor diameter to 310mm from the S8's 280mm may be another indication of the improved weight distribution.

11. The bias ratio of the center Torsen differential has increased from 2:1 to 3:1, reducing understeer on full throttle corner exits.

Put this all together, and on the same tires ... the '04 A8 may very well outperform the S8. And on the track ... the MB S500, BMW 745 and even the M5 are only visible as shrinking images in the rearview mirror of the "old" S8.

For the record, performance was the main reason I bought my '01 S8 (plus quattro, understated styling, and aluminum ... I hate rust). Darn, I can't wait to see what Audi's going to do with the next S8.

A(va)nticipation

Everything about the car seems to be significantly improved, with one glaring exception -- the interior. All that great Audi technology everywhere else in the car, and then they make the interior look like it's from a mid-'70s American station wagon.

pikejerky

I love the new A8. Sure there are a couple things I would change but Audi doesn't make cars just for me. If they can't stay in business they can't build anything.

Besides I like *all* the big german sedans. Even like the new 7 series. I would smile every day if I could track an S8 just for kicks unfortunately the wallet says no... the kids might not get their education and the wife might leave me

We are enthusiasts! Lets get excited about what it is and stop complaining about what it isn't.

ryoung

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Heh, thanks for the complement!

You are absolutley right, though, they are all great cars -- just pick the one closest to your ideal. But I can't imagine why I haven't gotten a request from Audi for suggestions on the next S8 :-)

RCBENZ2

Re: Suggestions for S8. Tell us! You know you want to. :-)

Audi S5 TC

I think the new A8's heavily revised four cam 40V 4.2L V8 also has more torque....about 315-320 ft/lbs. That is 13-18 ft/lbs more than the current A8. The new A6 4.2 will receive all of these enhancements as well. Most of them standard, some of them optional on the A6 4.2. On the new A6 4.2, the hp and torque ratings are supposed to be the same as the new A8 instead of a little lower. For that car, that would be 35 more hp and 20-25 ft/lbs more torque. Because the new A6 has the same ASF as the new A8 with 60% better rigidity than before, it should weigh in at 200 to 225 pounds less than the current A6. The total performance of the new A6 4.2 should be as much as significant improvement over the current A6 4.2 as the new A8 vs. the old A8.

meem

man, those HREs look kick-***!

TM

The brakes on the '03 are probably the same as the S8- the 345x30 monsters they put on that car are probably not going to get any larger for the A8 and that would be an existing part, easy for them to use as an "upgrade," kind of like how the HP-2 brakes have been around since at least '93 on Euro UrS cars.

If the new car weighs only 3900lbs., that is very impressive.

TM

acadia

yeah, it's definitely a step up.

ryoung

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the tough part is coming up with a compromise between what I'd want to do ... and what a reasonably sane Audi engineer would do.

One example,

I assume to make room for the upgraded brakes, the '03 A8 uses slightly larger tires, 235/55-17 vs the 225/60-16 used on current A8's. Maintaining more-or-less the same OD for the new S8, you could use

255/45-18 on an 8.5" rim
255/40-19 on a 9" rim
265/45-18 on a 9" rim
265/40-19 on a 9.5" rim
265/35-20 on a 9.5" rim

Perhaps 255/40-19 is the best compromise, I'd prefer the 265/35-20, but ...

I'd also make sure that there's room for an 11" wide wheel. You could mount a 270/690-18, a full race slick, for track days :-)