New Audi S6, S7 and S8

New Audi S6, S7 and S8
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Competes with: S6 with BMW 550i; S7 with BMW 550i Gran Turismo; and S8 with Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG

Looks like: The A6, A7 and A8 with “S” badges

Drivetrain: 420-horsepower, 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 with seven-speed automatic in S6 and S7; 520-hp version with eight-speed automatic in S8; all are all-wheel drive

Hits dealerships: Spring 2012

You can kiss goodbye the V-10 engine in the former S6 and S8, as a smaller and more efficient V-8 becomes the most notable feature to the high-performance version of the luxury sedans, as well as the new S7 hatchback. Audi is introducing the three at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

All of the new S models use a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine. In the S6 and S7, the boosted V-8 makes 420 horsepower, while the S8’s V-8 packs a more potent 520 hp. This is a 110-hp jump from the A6 and A7’s existing 3.0-liter supercharged V-6, and a 148-hp increase from the A8’s V-8.

In the S6, the new engine is 25 percent more efficient than the outgoing V-10, Audi says, thanks to features like cylinder deactivation, which switches between four- and eight-cylinder operation.

Teamed to the S6 and S7 are all-wheel drive and a seven-speed automatic transmission. The S8 comes with an eight-speed-automatic transmission. All include a form of adaptive air suspension with variable dampening and selectable driving modes....READ MORE