The D5 S8 (US-market 2020-onward) is the current flagship: a 563 hp 4.0L twin-turbo EA825 V8 with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, 8-speed automatic, quattro, predictive active suspension, rear-wheel steering, and the full tech suite (OLED taillights, Matrix/laser headlights, long-wheelbase available). Owners treat it as the 'RS8 that never was' — brutally fast and, they argue, underrated relative to the RS6/RS7 despite sharing the EA825 engine family with the Cayenne Turbo, Urus, and Bentayga. …
Library / Audi
Audi S8 (D5)
8 sales analyzed · 3 topics from real Bring a Trailer & Cars & Bids comments.
“because this is an RS8 already.”abe530 · Apr 28, 2023
- The 'RS8 that never was' — stupid fast and underratedownership-experienceOwners describe the D5 S8 as wildly fast — effectively the RS8 Audi never built — and lament that it flies under the radar next to the RS6/RS7. The shared EA825 V8 (also in the Cayenne Turbo, Urus, and Bentayga) underpins both the performance and the 'so much car for the money' value case. …
- So much car for the money — and a styling standoutvalue-and-marketThe D5 packs an enormous tech and luxury suite (predictive active suspension, rear-wheel steering, OLED taillights, Matrix/laser headlights, available long wheelbase) and trades well below original ~$135k MSRP. Owners also rate its understated design far above the contemporary BMW 7 Series. …
- Buying recent: warranty, title, and early wearbuying-adviceThese are late-model cars, so confirm remaining factory warranty (and the cost of extending it), and do normal recent-car diligence: a water pump was replaced under warranty on one low-mile example, and another had recurring electrical/voltage-converter issues and a lemon title — which carries a real resale penalty. The 2020+ port+direct injection eases earlier carbon worries. …