Performance Review: Audi A8 S8 4.0 V8 Turbo - [2011]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Audi A8 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Audi A8 S8 4.0 V8 Turbo is the 8 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2011. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2011 SSC Tuatara 6.9L V8 Twin Turbo.This particular Audi A8 has a 3993cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 8 cylinders in a V formation.

Alternative Petrol V8's includes the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The A8 shares its Petrol V8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the A8's All Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 2050 kgs (4519 lbs) this makes the Audi A8 S8 4.0 V8 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2022 Ferrari Purosangue 6.5 V12 or the give or take 50kg.

The Audi A8 shares the same bhp with the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (500 bhp)

In terms of power the 3993cc 32V V8 engine produces 513 bhp (382 kW) @ 5800 rpm similar to the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (500 bhp) or the 2023 Porsche Boxster Spyder RS 4.0 982 (493 bhp).

The Turbo V8 throws out 479 lb-ft (649.4 Nm) @ 1700 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (470 lb-ft) or the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 5.5 V8 C8 (460 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Audi A8 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2017 Maserati Quattroporte GTS 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo (275.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Audi A8.

The Audi A8 has a Power to weight ratio of 250.2 bhp per ton and 233.6 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2011 A8 competing with the 2017 Maserati Quattroporte GTS 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo (275.2 bhp per ton) or the 1989 Dodge Viper 8.0L V10 (275.1 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Audi A8 generating around 233.6 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2013 BMW 4 Series M4 (258.2 lb-ft per ton) or the 2021 BMW 3 Series M3 Competition 3.0 Bi Turbo xDrive G80 (258.2 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.20 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.3 secs, this made the Audi A8 S8 4.0 V8 Turbo as fast as the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (4.20 secs) the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive 3.0 Turbo G42 (4.20 secs) the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 5.2 V8 (4.20 secs) the or the 2020 Lotus Elise Sport 220 1.8 Supercharged (4.20 secs). This Audi A8 S8 4.0 V8 Turbo is also faster than the 2023 Lotus Eletre 603 bhp (4.30 secs) the 2023 Lotus Emira First Edition i4 2.0 Turbo (4.30 secs) the 2022 BMW Z4 M40i 3.0 Turbo (4.30 secs) the and the 2022 Lotus Eletre S 603 bhp (4.30 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the A8 and the 1948 Ferrari 166 MM

When talking about the performance of the Audi A8 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.57 secs @ 108.8 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1948 Ferrari 166 MM (12.52 secs), the 2017 Land-Rover Velar 3.0 V6 Supercharged 360 (12.52 secs), and the 1992 TVR Chimaera 4.0 (12.53 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2011 version of the Audi A8 S8 4.0 V8 Turbo has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2011 A8 equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2011 Audi A8 S8 4.0 V8 Turbo then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2011 A8 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Audi

Car Comparison