All-New 2025 Audi S8 V8 571 hp In depth Review Interior Exterior Start Up Exhaust Sound

Audi’s S8 performance sedan is the very definition of a sleeper. A near doppelganger for the for the A8 on which it’s based, the S8's discrete exterior shrouds a 563-hp twin-turbo V-8, giving it a 228-horsepower advantage over the V-6 A6 luxury barge. In addition to being a straight-line rocket, the S8 can dance in the twisties with help from a torque-vectoring rear differential and rear-wheel steering. When it’s time to be driven, you can relax from the comfort of the cavernous rear seat, which can be outfitted with all manner of comfort and technology, making this a quick mobile executive suite. The S8 exists in a relatively niche corner of the market; its closest competition in the quick big car space comes from the much-more-expensive, 791-hp Mercedes-AMG S63 E Performance. Audi’s RS7 Sportback and RS6 Avant, both of which feature a 621-hp version of the S8’s engine, are slightly smaller, slightly showier, slightly quicker, and a good deal more practical thanks to their hatches. What's New for 2025? 21-inch wheels and the Extended Leather package are standard on the S8 for 2025. The Executive package expands to include a head-up display and heated power rear seats. The Luxury package now comes with Digital Matrix-design LED headlights, rear outboard seats with ventilation and massage, a remote control for back-seat passengers, and rear Matrix LED reading lamps. Audi has also added physical buttons for the Homelink garage door opener, which was previously controlled through the infotainment screen. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo Fine materials line nearly every square inch of the S8's cabin, including leather upholstery, a faux-suede headliner, and a stitched leather dash cover. The front seats offer standard heating, cooling, and massage, while the rear cabin provides abundant space for passengers to stretch out. To pamper occupants in the back seat even more, consider the Rear Seat Comfort package, which adds power-adjustable outboard seats with heat, ventilation, and massage, plusher headrests, heated armrests, and a remote control for the car's infotainment system. Four-zone automatic climate control is standard, as is a multi-color ambient interior lighting system. The trunk is generously sized and identical to that of the A8, which proved its mettle in our testing by holding six carry-on suitcases. For comparison the Mercedes-Benz S-class held 5 and the BMW 7-series just three.