End of an Era: The 2022 Audi S8
The rolling hills and forests of southern Germany are the stomping grounds of every great big Teutonic sedan that has ever roamed the Autobahn. Here, nestled between Czechia to the east, France to the west, and the jagged tips of the Alps to the south, is the home of Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsche. The number of land yachts capable of hitting 250 km/h that these firms have collectively churned out is almost incalculable. And if you find yourself driving from Munich in any direction along the Autobahn, these uber-sedans suddenly appear in the rearview as soon as the speed limits end. Unlike on Canadian highways — where the leftmost lane is, apparently, reserved for anyone who cares to cruise in it — drivers on German highways tend to be alert, quickly moving over to the right to let faster cars through.
Recently, however, the sorts of cars a tourist will see on the highways of southern Germany have changed. Rather than giving off a V8 rumble, many of the cars now emit no sound at all. The German purveyors of fast cars have, in recent years, fully embraced electrification.
2022 Audi S8
2022 Audi S8
2022 Audi S8
That makes the newly updated 2022 Audi S8 something of an endangered species, a fact that was underlined on a recent Autobahn blast. As I was cruising at an easy 200 km/h in the S8, enjoying the mellow, simmering burble of its V8 engine, Audi’s new all-electric flagship super sedan — the e-tron GT — streaked past me like greased lightning. It looked to be comfortably doubling the Canadian speed limit burning nothing but battery power. Times are changing, and fast.
That’s not to say the new S8 is outmoded or without charm — far from it. This is still the de facto flagship of Audi’s lineup, and the largest, most luxurious, most gadget-stuffed sedan the company makes. The Audi A8 — on which the hotter S8 is based — can trace its roots back to 1994. At the time, it was a statement of intent from Audi, a shot across the bow of BMW and Mercedes warning that the unchallenged reign of their 7 Series and S-Class sedans was coming to an end.
2022 Audi S8
2022 Audi S8
2022 Audi S8
2022 Audi S8
All these years later, it’s abundantly clear that Audi made good on the original threat of its flagship sedan. The A8 carved out a nice chunk of the market for itself, garnering an especially loyal following in China, where almost 60 per cent of all A8s are now sold. Now in its fourth generation, the big Audi has matured and developed a character all its own. Compared to the brand’s usual rivals, it’s a minimal and understated type of luxury sedan that eschews aggressive design and overt statements of wealth.
Revised for 2022, the latest speedy S8 has a slightly more distinctive front grille with horizontal chrome streaks, new wheels and matte colour options, and — because this is Audi — some new high-tech lights. Opt for the full digital OLED rear light package and you can customize them with three different “light signatures” that play out whenever you lock the car. It sounds silly, but it’s oddly satisfying to see the dazzling little lightshow, like the car is waving goodbye as you walk away.
2022 Audi S8
2022 Audi S8
2022 Audi S8
2022 Audi S8
2022 Audi S8
On the Autobahn, on Bavarian backroads, or in a parking lot, the driving experience is dominated by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, which is unique to the S8. (The 2022 A8 makes do with a turbo V6.) It’s a testament to how quickly the auto industry is shifting toward electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids that a powerful V8 feels like a rare treat these days. With 563 horsepower and, more importantly, 590 lb-ft of torque, the S8 is effortlessly powerful. The car is fast, doing 0–100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, but it always feels relaxed. Maybe that comes down to how smooth the motor is, building speed like it’s riding a wave. Flex your right foot even a little and the simmering burble from the V8 becomes a cultured baritone hum. It’s never loud, but the engine makes sure the driver is always aware of its presence.
In Canada, the 2022 S8 is only available as the stretched “L” model, which gives rear-seat passengers a properly limo-like lounge to kick back in. They can enjoy a heated foot-massage and infinitely adjustable reclining seats. Despite such luxuries, the S8 doesn’t drive like a limo. Thanks to the fact that it has four-wheel steering and predictive air suspension that pre-emptively reacts to upcoming bumps and leans into corners, the S8 drives like a much smaller car, carving corners with ease. It’s unflappable.
Land yachts like this are fast becoming all-electric or plug-in hybrids. When the next all-new next-generation Audi A8 and S8 finally debuts in middle of this decade, there’s a decent chance they’ll be battery-powered and look a lot like the Audi Grandsphere concept study unveiled late last year. Frankly, we can’t wait — but it also means it’s likely the end of an era for big old school V8-powered Autobahn-stormers like the S8. Get ’em while you can.
Learn more about the Audi S8 here.
