The high-performance version of the Audi A8 sedan is the Audi S8.
Audi introduced the first S8 in 1996, based on the A8’s D2 generation. It combined discreet luxury-sedan styling with a more powerful engine, sportier suspension and standard quattro all-wheel drive. The first generation used a 4.2-liter V8.
Later generations became especially notable for unusual powerplants. The second-generation S8, sold from 2006 to 2010, used a 5.2-liter V10 related to the engine in the Lamborghini Gallardo. The D4 generation returned to a twin-turbo V8, while the S8 plus increased output to 605 PS.
A common mix-up is the Audi S6, which is the performance model related to the A6. The S8 belongs specifically to the A8 family; the separate RS models represent Audi Sport’s more extreme performance tier.