German carmaker Audi need not wonder why A8 sales have dropped significantly from last year, and it all has something to do with engine power. But now, Audi is expanding the flagship 2020 A8 lineup with an available turbocharged V8, a high-performance S8 version, and a V6-powered plug-in hybrid model.
2020 Audi A8: specs and pricing information
Such a large, cosseting and sporty luxury limousine deserve an equally huge and powerful engine. The base A855 TFSI starts at $85,200 (excluding $995 destination charge) and has a twin-turbocharged V6 engine producing 335-horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque.
Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system is standard along with a slick-shifting eight-speed automatic gearbox. Other standard equipment includes adaptive air suspension, LED headlights and taillights, 19-inch wheels, and a rearview camera.
For 2020, the Audi A8 is making a bigger impact with an available 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 with 453-horsepower and 487 pound-feet of torque. Apparently, those numbers are enough to propel the A8 from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5-seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.
The V8-powered A8 60 TFSI with active suspension, Quattro all-wheel-drive, and eight-speed automatic starts at $96,800.
Both models can be ordered with an available Sport Style Exterior package including 20-inch wheels, revised front and rear bumpers, and sportier side sills. The Sport plus package (exclusive to the V8-powered A8) throws in all-wheel steering and predictive active suspension for a sportier driving experience.
The new Audi A8 is also available as a plug-in hybrid
Unsurprisingly, the new Audi A8 is also available as a plug-in hybrid. It starts with a standard twin-turbocharged V6 mill along with an electric motor integrated into the 8-speed automatic gearbox. Also included is a 14.1 kWh battery pack located under the luggage compartment.
The result is a combined output of 443-horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, enough to propel the car from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9-seconds, which Audi claims is 0.7-seconds faster than the standard V6-equipped A8.
According to Audi’s press release, the hybrid A8 – also called the A8 60 TFSI e – is capable of an all-electric driving mode to maximize fuel economy. In this scenario, the car emits an audible electronic sound to warn pedestrians of an arriving A8 in full EV mode.
Audi failed to discuss the range and fuel economy figures of the A8 PHEV, but the vehicle may be eligible for federal tax credits including additional state incentives.
Standard on the A8 PHEV model is 19-inch wheels, signature lighting in the front bumper, and a new MMI display screen. The A8 TFSI e also has a boost function to provide added bursts of torque over limited time periods.
The 2020 Audi S8 is the star of the show
If you desire maximum performance from your A8 luxury limousine, you need to take a closer look at the 2020 S8. Until a proper RS8 arrives in the future, the S8 is the closest thing you’ll get to a racing-inspired A8.
The new S8 makes good use of a retuned 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 motor with 563-horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. And with standard Quattro AWD, dynamic all-wheel steering (similar to the one found in the RS6 Avant and RS7 Sportback), active suspension, and a Quattro sport differential, the S8 only takes 3.8-seconds to rush from zero to 60 mph.
Standard equipment in the new Audi S8 includes sporty details in the bumpers and side sills, available 21-inch wheels, and HD Matrix headlights. The interior receives dual-pane acoustic glass for better noise reduction, Valcona sport leather seats with diamond stitching, and an in-cabin air ionizer.
The 2020 Audi S8 starts at $129,500. The vehicle will debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show starting on November 20.
