bruddah_man_matt
10-20-2005, 12:15 PM
http://www.autoblog.com/entry/1234000670064202/
Wow, spy pics and speculation regarding the upcoming S6 and RS6 have been floating around the net without much love given to the D3 gen S8 and all of a sudden Audi pulls a fast one on us. Well the odd thing about this S8 is that it is not the most powerful model in the A8/S8 line. The A8 W12 makes 450hp as well but is rated at 428 lb.ft. of torque whereas the S8 peaks at 398 lb.ft. of torque. The W12 is said to reach 60 0.1s quicker yet the S8 is some 450 lbs. lighter. Odd. This is similar to how the lineup for the big dog Mercs looked a few years ago when they introduced the blown V8 powered 55 AMG and 600 bi-turbo V12 models one after the other as the 6.0L bi-turbo V12 65 AMG products were still in development. While AMG has been out of control lately with its 65 AMG lineup of tuned bi-turbo V12 cars, I doubt Audi will do an RS8 as it's probably too big to qualify for an RS badge. Think of the A8 W12 and the S8 as the S600 and the S55 AMG of Audi's lineup. They both make the same amount of hp on paper, but the W12 is torquier and the car softer and more smooth whereas the more rev happy S8 is the bad boy of the lineup that is more tossable and engaging to drive.
On a side note, i'd say then that Audi is looking to cap hp for its largest saloon rather than let things get out of hand like Mercedes (Merc already has to limit torque in 1st and 2nd gear throughout its 65 AMG range) and focus on lowering the vehicles curb weight. This is a good move IMO as too much hp in a big ass car is only good for going straight.
Getting back the C6 gen S6/RS6, there were rumors that the S6 would get a 5.2L 450hp V10 derived from the Gallardo unit. I'd say that the D3 S8 pretty much confirms that. There were also rumors that the RS6 would get an even badder version of the Gallardo V10 displacing 5.5L or so and cranking out 500-550hp. This engine supposedly would be available with either a 6 speed Tiptronic, or a 7 speed DSG. My guess is that the DSG would be sourced from the Bugatti 16.4 Veyron which has at last finally become a reality. While I don't see Audi doing it at this point in time, If there becomes a demand for it, this bigger badder V10 could give way to an RS8 as well, but for right now, I don't think Audi wants to pull a Mercedes and whore out the RS badge, especially when the S8 looks to be plenty quick, plenty sexy and plenty expensive.
Wow, spy pics and speculation regarding the upcoming S6 and RS6 have been floating around the net without much love given to the D3 gen S8 and all of a sudden Audi pulls a fast one on us. Well the odd thing about this S8 is that it is not the most powerful model in the A8/S8 line. The A8 W12 makes 450hp as well but is rated at 428 lb.ft. of torque whereas the S8 peaks at 398 lb.ft. of torque. The W12 is said to reach 60 0.1s quicker yet the S8 is some 450 lbs. lighter. Odd. This is similar to how the lineup for the big dog Mercs looked a few years ago when they introduced the blown V8 powered 55 AMG and 600 bi-turbo V12 models one after the other as the 6.0L bi-turbo V12 65 AMG products were still in development. While AMG has been out of control lately with its 65 AMG lineup of tuned bi-turbo V12 cars, I doubt Audi will do an RS8 as it's probably too big to qualify for an RS badge. Think of the A8 W12 and the S8 as the S600 and the S55 AMG of Audi's lineup. They both make the same amount of hp on paper, but the W12 is torquier and the car softer and more smooth whereas the more rev happy S8 is the bad boy of the lineup that is more tossable and engaging to drive.
On a side note, i'd say then that Audi is looking to cap hp for its largest saloon rather than let things get out of hand like Mercedes (Merc already has to limit torque in 1st and 2nd gear throughout its 65 AMG range) and focus on lowering the vehicles curb weight. This is a good move IMO as too much hp in a big ass car is only good for going straight.
Getting back the C6 gen S6/RS6, there were rumors that the S6 would get a 5.2L 450hp V10 derived from the Gallardo unit. I'd say that the D3 S8 pretty much confirms that. There were also rumors that the RS6 would get an even badder version of the Gallardo V10 displacing 5.5L or so and cranking out 500-550hp. This engine supposedly would be available with either a 6 speed Tiptronic, or a 7 speed DSG. My guess is that the DSG would be sourced from the Bugatti 16.4 Veyron which has at last finally become a reality. While I don't see Audi doing it at this point in time, If there becomes a demand for it, this bigger badder V10 could give way to an RS8 as well, but for right now, I don't think Audi wants to pull a Mercedes and whore out the RS badge, especially when the S8 looks to be plenty quick, plenty sexy and plenty expensive.