Audi lacked a high performance full size luxury sedan for a very long time but not too long ago they released the S8, a higher performance version of the usual A8 but still slightly less powerful than its arch rival, the AMG S63 AMG. In order to be able to compete with the latter, a few days ago at the LA Auto Show they released the 2016 Audi S8 Plus which is the even higher performance version of the high performance version of the A8. The car still uses the same engine as before but this time they worked on the chassis and suspension system as well as they tweaked the engine in order to deliver a lot more power.
The price for the car has been set at $115,000 for the base model without the optional Dynamic package which is very surprising because it means that the S8 Plus is around $15,000 cheaper than the RS7, a car which features the exact same engine as it. The new 2016 Audi S8 Plus will be ready for sale by the end of this year but Audi will likely start delivering the cars in the first quarter of 2016.
2016 Audi S8 Plus Exterior
The exterior of the 2016 Audi S8 Plus is quite similar to that of the usual S8 and for an untrained eye it may even look identical. For now we are aware only of a couple of new color options such as the white on the showcased model as well as a new type of blue which has also been released on the RS7. The updates for the exterior consist out of a new type of headlights with a full LED matrix while the rear end received a new exhaust system with blacked out tailpipes. The wheels of the Plus model are unique to it and slightly larger than those of the S8. These also come with the same tires as those found on the RS7 so the car should provide its driver with a lot more confidence.
Interior
The interior is identical to that of the S8 and very similar to the one in the A8. The car is nowhere near as luxurious or as comfortable as the AMG S63 Mercedes but in our opinion it does have a lot more character than that car. The dashboard is nicer to look at and even though is doesn’t have all the technology of the S-Class, the S8 Plus is very well equipped with a chronograph-style instrument cluster, a pop-up LCD screen in the center console as well as an interior covered in leather and carbon fiber which looks great and feels even better.
2016 Audi S8 Plus Specs
Engine wise, the 2016 Audi S8 Plus comes equipped with the same 4 liter twin-turbocharged V8 as the usual S8 or most other high performance Audi models. In this tune, the engine makes a healthy 605 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque which will increase for a limited amount of time to 553 lb-ft of torque via an overboost function. The interesting part is that it is the same engine as in the RS7 but in the A8 it is even faster. The 8 speed automatic and quattro all wheel drive system will allow the S8 Plus to get to 60 MPH in just 3.5 seconds and up to a limited top speed of 155 MPH.
The optional Dynamic package will likely be chosen by most buyers as it increases the car’s top speed to 190 MPH, the same as the RS7, and on top of that it adds an upgraded suspension system, larger carbon-ceramic brakes with anthracite brake calipers as well as slight upgrades to its interior such as a Bose sound system and a four zone climate control unit.
