Although the modern performance SUV can trace its roots to the Mercedes-AMG ML55 of the late 90s, it’s actually been honed over the last decade. It took tire and active suspension technology advances to truly button these heavy machines down, allowing them to be more than just utilitarian but genuinely sporty. And while carmakers will happily build them to satisfy the market’s strong appetite, this trend has shifted the spotlight away from their sedan counterparts.
Lest we forget, the performance full-size sedan also benefitted from this progress. While SUVs evolved from being more than performance cars on stilts, fast sedans quietly made a leap in versatility and athleticism. Buyers no longer have to choose between a fast executive four-door and one with a world-class ride. The Audi S8 is an example of this new breed and an underrated one. Combining a predictive air suspension system, a 563-horsepower twin-turbo V8, and an elegantly trimmed cabin, the S8 balances luxury and performance by leaning heavily on the former and only hinting at the latter.
It’s rare for a car’s driving experience to hinge on purchasing a single optional extra, but it does in the S8’s case. 2024 starts at $121,696, including a $1,095 destination fee. However, this tester finished in a delightfully bright shade of District Green Metallic stickers for $141,845. The most crucial line item within its list of selected options is its $6,000 Predictive Air Suspension. A system comprised of cameras, electric motors, and air shocks that do most of the heavy lifting (quite literally) to make this technically “sporty” sedan feel like a genuine luxury limousine.
It works by incorporating a forward-facing camera that scans the road ahead. The data gathered is then fed to four active suspension controllers, effectively small electric motors positioned by each wheel, that can make individual on-the-fly adjustments. These alter parameters like the car’s ride height while shocks firm up or soften to best absorb oncoming road imperfections. And despite its complexity, the system works seamlessly in the background, eliminating unwanted body motions while reducing the vibrations and roughness felt in the cabin.
At higher speeds, the S8 utilizes its camera to scan for potential bends, allowing it to lean slightly into turns, improving its stability. Click up to its sportier drive modes, and Audi’s flagship reduces brake dive while eliminating rear-end squat during heavy acceleration. More importantly, it does so without spoiling its ride, which is plush but never floaty. Despite what the “S” that adorns its trunk and grille might imply, the Audi S8 showcases only hints of sportiness, and it’s all the better for it.
Open any of its doors, and this predictive system will raise the Audi S8 by up to two inches, facilitating ingress and egress, should your knees not bend like they used to. Although it comes across as gimmicky initially, seeing this 5,126-pound four-door perk up instantly effectively bridges the accessibility gap between sedans and SUVs. However, it settles into its natural ride height once you close its door in seconds.
Press its start button, and its 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 won’t roar into life with fervor, producing a low, burbly note that sounds distant from the driver’s seat. It’s the result of a hushed exhaust paired with a well-isolated cabin. You wouldn’t expect it from what is positioned as the sportiest version of the carmaker’s flagship sedan, but this restraint contributes to its luxury limousine persona.
It’s much the same once you get going. Although it generates an impressive 563 hp and 590 pound-feet of torque, the S8’s V8 fades into the background in most driving scenarios. It delivers power quietly while an eight-speed automatic moves through gears seamlessly. Given its high torque output at low revs, downshifts rarely need to pick up speed while cruising.
However, ask more from its right pedal, and the Audi S8 will respond. This is still, after all, quick for its size and weight. Thanks to its standard all-wheel-drive system, it’ll sprint to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and max out at an electronically set 155 mph limit. It does so in a matter that’ll feel familiar to anyone who has driven other Audi Sport products. It kicks off with a strong wave of low-end torque, aided by a quick-shifting transmission, which makes the S8 rapid and effectively translates the feeling of speed to its driver.
As with its optional predictive suspension system, the S8’s sporty intentions end when its burst of acceleration is over. Its steering is ultra-light, feeling almost disconnected from the car below. A con of a proper sports sedan but a plus in a full-size luxury car. Although robust enough to confidently slow this over 5,000-lb machine, its brakes are easy to modulate thanks to lengthy pedal travel. Even its exhaust system remains nearly silent regardless of the situation, with the primary note you hear coming from its speakers, not its quad pipes.
This laid-back approach carries over to its cabin, which is characterized by large, cushy seats adorned with a diamond-stiched pattern. This tester’s Cognac Brown interior complements its green exterior, creating an elegant color combo without being muted. Subtle carbon-fiber and gloss black accents contrast nicely against the tan leather, while suede inserts in its door panels introduce additional textures. The result is a space that both looks and feels expensive, effectively subtly incorporating traditionally sporty materials like carbon fiber.
Like the rest of the brand’s flagship lineup, the Audi S8 includes a configurable digital instrument cluster paired with two central screens. The upper display serves as its infotainment system while the one below it controls vital features, including its air conditioning, seat cooling, and heating features. Although physical buttons would make these easier to adjust on the move, they create a sleek aesthetic within the cabin.
Whether you consider its interior, its engine calibration, or its clever predictive suspension system, the Audi S8 is a car built with full-size luxury in mind and sportiness on the back burner. It delivers excellent straight-line acceleration without asking you to put up with a punishing ride. Its cabin is quiet and plush; even its engine note settles into a subdued role.
While sales of performance SUVs will likely continue to grow as they become more capable and versatile, this tech has allowed the luxury sedan to make a significant leap. Thanks to these advances, the Audi S8 can be a luxury limousine through and through. It just so happens to hide a 563-hp engine under its nose, and you wouldn’t want it any other way.