Subtly loud

Starting the S8 during a cold start has to be one of the coolest noises I’ve ever heard. All you can hear is the starter motor running for around half a second longer than a conventional car and once it does turn over, the exhaust note barks and burps until the engine is sufficiently warm for takeoff. The noise sends tingles down your spine, making you – and anyone standing around – rightfully aware of the stupendous powerplant under the bonnet.

The Audi S8 – and all of Audi’s ‘S’ cars – are subtly loud. Unless you were a diehard Audi fan, you wouldn’t pick the S8 from a regular A8. Upon closer inspection though, a few things become obvious. There’s the massive 20” wheels, quad exhaust pipes and dual V10 badges, these are the S8’s dead giveaways.

Audi S8 rear seats

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A multitude of luxuries exist in the cabin too. One of the S8’s boasting points is the spectacular 1000W Bang & Olufsen sound system. Available as a $18,900 option across the A8 range, this ripper sound system is standard equipment in the S8. I’ve already covered the finer details of this sound system, but suffice to say, it’s the best in the business – hands down. The level of clarity and supreme bass is second to none. You could be playing classical music or you could be playing the latest techno number, both result in ear massaging, high quality sound.

Audi S8 V10 5.2 S

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The S8 uses fingerprint recognition, along with a key proximity sensor to operate the vehicle. After setting up the vehicle, the driver simply approaches, grabs the door handle and sits down. Once settled and buckled, stab the fingerprint reader with the pre-programmed finger and the car fires to life – it’s that easy. There are a theoretical infinite amount of driver settings for different drivers, as each drive has a unique fingerprint. Sure, it’s more of a gimmick than anything – but you’ve got to admit, it’s pretty cool!

Audi S8 interior

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So the whole time I’ve been harping on about the features. What’s the thing like to actually drive? Well…in a word – disappointing. Having driven the rest of Audi’s ‘S’ range, the S8 was particularly dreary in comparison. It’s certainly no slouch, that’s for sure, but on that same token it doesn’t handle like a sports car should. Come into a corner with speed and the whole body wallows. The steering wheel feels too big in the hands and doesn’t offer the same feel and response as its other ‘S’ siblings.