Audi will pull out all stops for the 2006 Melbourne Motor Show, displaying its superb S8 sports limousine for the first time in Australia.

Due for local launch around October 2006, the new Audi S8 will be unveiled at the Melbourne showcase, complete with the superb ‘Advanced Sound System’ developed for Audi by Danish luxury brand, Bang & Olufsen.

A sports car of the very highest calibre, the Audi S8 stands for exceptional dynamism, expressed by its engine, transmission, suspension and design, as well as exclusivity and superb luxury. Where the new Audi A8 set the benchmark for sports luxury performance, the new S8 takes this claim even further with its brand new V10 engine.

Capitalising on the expertise of the Lamborghini Gallardo super sports car, this ten-cylinder engine delivers 331 kW (450 bhp) at 7,000 rpm and 540 Nm of torque – the latter available from just 3,500 rpm – from a capacity of 5.2 litres.

As on the Le Mans winning R8, the most successful racing car in the world, FSI petrol direct injection assures superior power output in the Audi S8. This luxury saloon sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.1 seconds, and is electronically governed at 250 km/h.

The advantages of this combination are clear to see:

• very spontaneous response, short reaction time
• shorter shift points, quick gear changes
• sporty, throaty sound when accelerating
• beefy torque curve even at low engine speeds
• sporty behaviour thanks to engine speeds up to 7,000 rpm
• combination of sporty driving pleasure and comfort on long journeys

The driveline and aluminium chassis of the S8 have been modified to suit the engine’s power. The latest generation of quattro permanent four-wheel drive with asymmetric/dynamic torque split transmits this power to all four wheels.

The firmer settings of the ‘Adaptive Air Suspension – Sport’ and a more direct steering ratio ensure that the power and dynamism of the drivetrain are put to the road with precision.

The S8 is equipped with a six-speed tiptronic transmission. The final ratio of this automatic transmission is lower than on the A8, its management is optimised to change gear more dynamically.

The design of the new S8 completes the picture – Audi’s sportiest top model even has the looks of the most athletic luxury saloon car. Its front end is adorned with the single-frame grille bearing the S8 badge and comprising vertical struts with a chrome-look finish. Three flat air inlets accentuate the front apron and the large inlets under the headlights feature a honeycombe-pattern grille.

Badges on the front wings, door handles with aluminium trim strips and aluminium-look mirror housings are indications of the exceptional status of the S8. The tail of the S8 has a rear spoiler integrated into the luggage compartment lid and the exhaust system features four oval tailpipes.

There is also an atmosphere of luxurious elegance inside the car. The door sill trims are adorned with S8 emblems, the inlays are in brushed aluminium and carbon. The leather multifunction sports steering wheel has colour-contrasting stitching and S-badging and the shift paddles have an aluminium-look finish.

The needles on the instrument dials are in white, their scales in light grey and their digits in italic script. The Valcona leather sports seats are finished in a two-colour look.

Generous equipment, including the headlight technology known as adaptive light and Audi advanced key, ensure the S8 is a technology leader, enjoying an exceptional position compared with the competition.

One particular highlight that is available as an option for the S8 is the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System. The fully digital system from the Danish high-end manufacturer integrates 14 speakers, each energised by its own output stage. Two amplifiers provide more than 1,000 watts of power. The front tweeters use what is known as Acoustic Lens Technology, and act as point sound sources.

Pricing and specification for the new Audi S8 is not yet confirmed for Australia.

The car is expected to be launched, locally, around October 2006.

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