2022 Audi S8

The 2022 Audi S8 gains a number of visual changes for the latest model year. For starters, the S Line exterior package is now standard. This includes special air intakes on the front fascia that are dressed up with unique blades. An insert of a new design filling the wider single-frame grille is included, too.

Gone are the bright, horizontal bars that ran across this opening in previous years. LED headlamps are standard, as are customizable OLED taillights. Yep, this car lets you change its rear lighting signature, which is neat. The A8 also gains a new rear diffuser insert.

As for the high-performance S8, it, too, gains a wider grille, one enhanced with angular chrome accents for a brighter look. Quad exhaust outlets at the rear hint at this car’s ground-pounding performance.

The 2022 Audi S8 is available with Digital Matrix LED headlamps. Each assembly features 1.3-million micro-mirrors that allow the light beams to be controlled in unique ways. These lamps can also display unique animations when the car is started or turned off.

In the future (if US regulations permit), the S8’s optional Digital Matrix LED headlights can also automatically illuminate lane markers and even selectively dip their beams to avoid blinding driers in the oncoming lane.

ENGINE AND IMPLEMENTATION

The 2022 Audi S8‘s sole engine choice is a potent one: a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 engine making 563 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel drive is standard, and the transmission is an eight-speed automatic.

Audi claims a top speed of 155 mph, and there are fuel-saving systems, too, including cylinder deactivation and a mild-hybrid setup with a small electric motor and battery. At our test track, the 2022 Audi S8 blasted to 60 mph in just 3.2 seconds.

An active suspension system can control each wheel individually to improve ride quality, and it is tuned differently than that of the standard A8, promising improved cornering prowess thanks to reduced body roll.

Audi also includes equipment such as a torque-vectoring rear differential and rear-wheel steering to increase agility; powerful carbon-ceramic brakes are optional.

ENERGY AND REAL-WORLD MPG

Even though the 2022 Audi S8 is technically a hybrid, buyers shouldn’t expect Toyota Prius-level fuel efficiency. The EPA estimates that the best we can expect is 22 mpg on the highway, with the city rating dropping down to just 13 mpg.

We haven’t had the chance to test the S8 on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route, but when we do, we’ll update this story with results. For more information about the 2022 Audi S8’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

INTERIOR, CONVENIENCE, AND BOOTH

Fine materials line nearly every square inch of the 2022 Audi S8‘s cabin, including diamond-stitched 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 offers tons of space for passengers to stretch out.

To pamper those in the back seat, even more, consider the Rear Seat Comfort package, which adds power-adjustable outboard seats with heat, ventilation, and massage, plus her headrests, heated armrests, and 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 S-class held 5 and the 7-series held just three.

PHOTOS

FULL SPECIFICATIONS