July 19, 2012 at 1:57pm by Justin Berkowitz
Audi will launch a version of the A8 later this summer aimed directly at the BMW 750Li and Mercedes-Benz S550. The A8 4.0T borrows a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 from the Audi S6 and S7; it makes 420 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. A higher-output version of this engine is used in the 520-hp S8. Like all A8 models in the U.S., the A8 4.0T will feature an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive.
At $81,795 for a short-wheelbase car, the A8 4.0T slots above the $73,095 V-6–powered A8 3.0T. Ordering a long-wheelbase A8L 4.0T adds $6300 to the price. This results in the new 4.0T cars costing almost $2200 more than the discontinued A8 4.2. It also positions the A8 4.0T far below the S8, which clocks in at almost $111,000.
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In terms of competition, the revised-for-2013 BMW 750i has 445 hp and should be priced at about $87,000 when it hits the market later this year. Mercedes-Benz’s S-class occupies another realm entirely. The 429-hp S550 starts at more than $95,000—and historically has been the top seller in the segment.
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Tags: Audi, Audi A7, Audi A8, Audi S7, Audi S8 |