without third-party mediation. At low
speeds, steering effort is marvelously
light—“downright delicate,” one tester
opined—but it increases too little as cornering forces build. The CD changer is
tucked behind a flimsy panel that habitually plunges to the trunk’s floor like a discarded picnic plate. And the brakes squeal.
As this is written, the S8’s closest competitors are probably the 370-horse Jag
XJR and the 354-hp Benz S55 AMG. With
its 5.3-second 0-to-60 capability, the
which all tuners hereafter adhere. Not a
whiff of hot-rodishness or tacked-on
brutishness. Only a small degradation in
ride. Not one erg’s loss of around-town
graciousness or civility. The newfound
AUDI S8
Vehicle type: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 5-passenger,
4-door sedan
Price as tested: $80,588
Price and option breakdown: base Audi S8
(includes $1700 gas-guzzler tax, $1470 luxury tax, and $550
freight), $76,220; Premium Trim package (includes Alcantara
and leather upholstery), $3500; Premium package (includes
heated rear seats, power rear-window shade, side shades, and
ski bag), $700; luxury tax on options, $168
C / D TEST RESULTS
ACCELERATION
Seconds
Zero to 30 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.1
40 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.1
50 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.5
60 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.8
70 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.7
80 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9.6
90 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.6
100 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14.6
110 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18.1
120 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22.0
130 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26.3
140 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31.7
Street start, 5–60 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2
Top-gear acceleration, 30–50 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.2
50–70 mph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.1
Standing 1/4 -mile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14.4 sec @ 99 mph
Top speed (governor limited) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146 mph
Major standard accessories: power steering,
windows, seats, locks, and sunroof; A/C; cruise control; tilting
and telescoping steering wheel; rear defroster
Sound system: Bose AM/FM-stereo radio/cassette/CD
player and changer, 10 speakers
ENGINE
Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .V-8, aluminum block and heads
Bore x stroke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.33 x 3.66 in, 84.5 x 93.0mm
Displacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .255 cu in, 4172cc
Compression ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.0:1
Engine-control system . . . . . . . . . . .Bosch Motronic ME7.0 with
port fuel injection
Emissions controls . . . . . . .3-way catalytic converter, feedback
air-fuel-ratio control
Valve gear . . . . . . . .belt-driven double overhead cams, 5 valves
per cylinder, hydraulic lifters,
variable intake-valve timing
Power (SAE net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .360 bhp @ 7000 rpm
Torque (SAE net) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .317 lb-ft @ 3400 rpm
Redline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7000 rpm
BRAKING
70–0 mph @ impending lockup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .173 ft
Fade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .none light moderate heavy
HANDLING
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.88 g
Understeer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .minimal moderate excessive
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-speed automatic with lockup
torque converter
Final-drive ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3.73:1, limited slip
Gear
Ratio
Mph/1000 rpm
Max. test speed
I
3.57
5.5
38 mph (7000 rpm)
II
2.20
8.9
62 mph (7000 rpm)
III
1.51
13.0
91 mph (7000 rpm)
IV
1.00
19.6
137 mph (7000 rpm)
V
0.80
24.4
146 mph (5983 rpm)
FUEL ECONOMY
EPA city driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 mpg
EPA highway driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 mpg
C/D-observed fuel economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 mpg
INTERIOR SOUND LEVEL
Idle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 dBA
Full-throttle acceleration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .74 dBA
70-mph cruising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 dBA
70-mph coasting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69 dBA
CURRENT BASE PRICE* dollars x 1000
DIMENSIONS AND CAPACITIES
Wheelbase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113.4 in
Track, F/R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62.6/62.2 in
Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198.2 in
ACCELERATION seconds
0—60 mph
1/4-mile
BRAKING 70—0 mph, feet
acceleration, grip, brakes—all seem to
have materialized as if by magic and at no
penalty. Well, there’s that pesky $12,480
premium, of course. You might call that a
penalty.
Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .79.0 in
Height . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55.8 in
Ground clearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5.0 in
Curb weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4031 lb
Weight distribution, F/R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60.0/40.0%
Fuel capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23.8 gal
Oil capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8.0 qt
Water capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.6 qt
CHASSIS/BODY
Type . . . . . .unit construction with 2 rubber-isolated subframes
Body material . . . . . . .welded and riveted aluminum stampings,
extrusions, and die castings
INTERIOR
SAE volume, front seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 cu ft
rear seat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48 cu ft
luggage space . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 cu ft
Front seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .bucket
Seat adjustments . . .fore and aft, seatback angle, front height,
rear height, lumbar support
Restraint systems, front . . . . . .manual 3-point belts; driver and
passenger front, side, and
head airbags
rear . . . . .manual 3-point belts, side airbags
General comfort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .poor fair good excellent
Fore-and-aft support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .poor fair good excellent
Lateral support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .poor fair good excellent
SUSPENSION
F: . . . . . . . . . . .ind, 2 diagonal links and 2 lateral links per side,
coil springs, anti-roll bar
R: . . . .ind, unequal-length control arms with a toe-control link,
coil springs, anti-roll bar
STEERING
Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .rack-and-pinion, power-assisted
Turns lock-to-lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.7
Turning circle curb-to-curb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40.2 ft
BRAKES
F: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13.6 x 1.2-in vented disc
R: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11.0 x 0.9-in vented disc
Power assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .hydraulic with anti-lock control
WHEELS AND TIRES
Wheel size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8.0 x 18 in
Wheel type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .cast aluminum
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dunlop SP Sport 8000, 245/45ZR-18
Test inflation pressures, F/R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32/32 psi
ROADHOLDING 300-foot skidpad, g
EPA CITY FUEL ECONOMY mpg
JAGUAR XJR
BMW M5
BMW M5
BMW M5
JAGUAR XJR
BMW M5
JAGUAR XJR
MERCEDES-BENZ E55 AMG
MERCEDES-BENZ E55 AMG
MERCEDES-BENZ E55 AMG
MERCEDES-BENZ E55 AMG
MERCEDES-BENZ E55 AMG
JAGUAR XJR
AUDI S8
AUDI S8
AUDI S8
AUDI S8
AUDI S8
JAGUAR XJR
BMW M5
0
20
40
60
80
100 0
3
6
9
12
15
*Base price includes freight, any performance options, and all applicable luxury and gas-guzzler taxes.
MAY 2001
140
150
160
170
180
190
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
1.00
0
4
8
12
16
20
75