PJB

audiusa.com states the S8 does "Zero to 60 in just over six seconds". audi.com states "The sprint from zero to 100 km/h takes the S8 a total of 5.4 seconds". This is a pretty big gap, even more so when you consider 100km/h is a higher speed than 60MPH.

I then checked the specs on the German site and discovered it has 430nm of torque and compared to the US version which has but 317.

It seems the US is getting a significantly detuned engine compared to other geographies. Why is this? Is there a way to upgrade to euro spec?

QuattroFamily

I think I can answer this question

The euro spec S8 has the 6 speed manual. With a proper launch you can get a 5.4 second 0-60. It is not recommended to do all the time because it will toast the clutch. They attain those numbers revving it up high and letting out quickly, and the quattro hooks up hard!

The U.S. spec only comes with Tiptronic. They changed the final gear ratios a bit. It didn't change that much however.

The reason there is a discrepancy between the numbers is that you can launch a 6 speed much better. I believe we get the same engine specs.

Regarding the power situation. The US version has 317 ft/lbs of torque, and in europe it is 430 NM (Newton meters). They are the same.

Ali B

I guess it's not that surprising since the S8 has only 15 lb-ft more peak torque (317 at 3400 rpm vs 302 @ 3000-4000 rpm for the A8). The extra 50 hp will not help much in 0-60 launches. I'm still surprised that the car is not faster than 6.3 since the U.S. version is supposed to have lower gearing than the European S8 to improve low speed performance.

Audi USA's official 0-60 times are 6.3 for the S8 and 6.7 for the A8. I did a price comparison, taking into account the $1700 gas guzzler tax imposed on the S8 and the s;oightly different standard equipment contents. By my calcualtions, the S8 with Premium Package costs $9150 more than an A8 4.2 quattro equipped with the 17" wheel option and the Premium Package.

For this $9150 premium, you get 18" wheels/tires instead of 17's, better brakes, sports suspension, chromed exhaust tips, silver mirrors, sport front seats, 3-spoke steering wheel and the engine upgrade. The real life price difference is likely several grand more, as the S8 will likely command full MSRP due to its limited availability. The A8 can probably be had for a couple grand over invoice.

I don't think the performance gain is worth nearly 15 grand in real life price.

Cameron

The change from the Euro six-speed which requires two shifts to hit 100kph (all European "S" models supposedly hit 100kph at redline in 2nd gear) to a U.S. automatic which makes several shifts and, as you stated, cannot start the sprint at the same RPM levels as the manual, will reduce 0-60 times significantly.

For further comparison, look at the CLK55 Brabus GTR/STOCK versus the U.S. spec CLK55 AMG. The only difference is that the Brabus car has a six-speed manual and the U.S. spec AMG car has a five-speed automatic. Similar 0-60 discrepancies can be found, though the Mercedes automatics tend to be better off the line than the ZF-sourced "HP1" series of transmissions used in Audi's line.

Cameron

DavLPHS

your forgetting that Nm is a different measurement that ft. lb's of torque. I also noticed the gap in 0-60/62 mph time in audiusa.com and audi.com

D3AeighT

Where can us already A8 owners get ahold of those chromed exhaust tips that are coming on the S8?