Movie stars are drying up better and better – and the S8 proves that the same goes for movie cars
Hey, isn’t that that Audi S8 from that one chase?
Yes Yes. It’s hard to see the first-generation Audi S8 – the D2, for the model coders – without thinking about the movies and series in which it starred. Next Ronin We don’t know exactly which ones they are, but he was often there. With gangsters in it and at high speed. Here we look at it separately from its film roles next to its modern namesake, the fourth generation S8, internally called D5 at Audi. Strange guys, those Germans. The S8 badge already appeared in 1996, but there are twenty years between these two models.
Might save some power then…
Natural. Both have a V8 and quattro drive. The Audi S8 D2 does it with 360 hp from a 4.2, the D5 gets 571 hp from a 4.0 with two turbos – a block that is known from every topper that the VW Group poops. Both cars are capped at 250, but the new generation flips from a standstill to 100 in 3.8 seconds; the old one shuffles to that speed in 6.6 seconds. Those are steps. A rather smooth-shifting automatic transmission in the new one is responsible for at least two seconds of time savings.
Is the old one aging nicely?
Secure. It has a wrinkle here and there, its navigation system with those grainy pixels is hilarious and that faded wood on the dashboard is nothing to write home about. Here and there plastic buttons have started to shine a bit more. But don’t pay attention to the details. Plant your bum in the regal driver’s seat (the one next door just as well, by the way) and look around: you’ll realize the way the old’s interior embraces you is similar to the new’s. Audi’s ergonomics and pleasant luxurious atmosphere go back further than you think.
Okay, but how do they drive?
Pretty much the same way, at least in some ways. Put the old S8’s five-speed automatic in D and you’re off in the same silky-smooth way as the 2021 eight-speed automatic. Both are capable of unduly hard acceleration, but the reality is they’re more encouraging to take it easy. to do. Even though it was quite different in the movies you remember with the Audi S8.
Nice though. But I want hard!
Do this in the old S8 and it handles it smartly: it doesn’t live up to any of the two ingrained Audi clichés (that it’s too stiff and has a lot of understeer). It just does what it’s supposed to do – be fast – while pumping a lovely V8 bassline into your ear. Yes, the naturally aspirated engine has to work hard to perform where the D5 can unleash shoveling power in every rev range. Funny: the S8 was Audi’s flagship in 2001 – the thickest and most expensive of the brand.
That’s not the S8 of today?
Well no. Or better: different. He now has the space to be even more limo. You have tons more space in the back than in the D2 while the four-wheel steering provides remarkable manoeuvrability. He’s not trying to be a fat, rowdy AMG rival; it’s more as whisper-quiet as an electric car – when you’re not pushing. And that electric is certainly also a natural next step for the S8. As welcome as its V8 sound is, many of the S8’s clever tricks would be just as impressive if they were delivered by batteries. Although you do get very quiet chase scenes in films and series that you don’t remember the name of later…
