Performance Review: Audi A8 S8 4.0 V8 Turbo - [2012]

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 2012. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2013 W-Motors Lykan HyperSport 3.7L Twin Turbo.This particular Audi A8 has a 3993cc Twin 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 1975 kgs (4354 lbs) this makes the Audi A8 S8 4.0 V8 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2021 BMW 5 Series M5 4.4 V8 Turbo F90 or the give or take 50kg.

The Audi A8 shares the same bhp with the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (542 bhp)

In terms of power the 3993cc 32V V8 engine produces 520 bhp (387 kW) @ 6000 rpm similar to the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (542 bhp) or the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (500 bhp).

The Twin 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 2019 BMW 8 Series M8 Gran Coupe 4.4 V8 Turbo F93 (288.0 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Audi A8.

The Audi A8 has a Power to weight ratio of 263.2 bhp per ton and 242.5 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 A8 competing with the 2019 BMW 8 Series M8 Gran Coupe 4.4 V8 Turbo F93 (288.0 bhp per ton) or the 2017 Vauxhall-Opel VXR8 GTS-R Automatic (287.7 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 242.5 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 2016 Aston-Martin Vanquish S 5.9 V12 (267.3 lb-ft per ton) or the 2011 Mercedes C Class 63 AMG Coupe Black Series (267.2 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.00 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.1 secs, this made the Audi A8 S8 4.0 V8 Turbo as fast as the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (4.00 secs) the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged Auto (4.00 secs) the 2021 Audi e-tron GT Quattro (4.00 secs) the or the 2020 Lotus Evora GT410 3.5 V6 Supercharged (4.00 secs). This Audi A8 S8 4.0 V8 Turbo is also faster than the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (4.10 secs) the 2022 BMW XM 4.4 V8 Twin Turbo G09 (4.10 secs) the 2022 BMW 2 Series M2 3.0 Twin Turbo G87 (4.10 secs) the and the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged (4.10 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the A8 and the 1994 Audi 80 RS2 Avant

When talking about the performance of the Audi A8 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.37 secs @ 110.6 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1994 Audi 80 RS2 Avant (12.31 secs), the 2012 Porsche Boxster S PDK (12.32 secs), and the 2017 Mercedes C Class 43 AMG Coupe (12.32 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2012 version of the Audi A8 S8 4.0 V8 Turbo has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2012 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 2012 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:

2012 A8 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Audi

Car Comparison