S8 Handling & Control

Drive Select

A ride to suit you

Not all driving situations are the same. The Audi drive select system on the Audi S8 changes handling and response at the touch of a button to suit how you want to drive. There are four preconfigured modes: comfort, dynamic, auto and efficiency; as well as the individual mode. 

For long distances, comfort adjusts your set-up to create a more relaxing ride. Dynamic changes the settings for a sportier driving experience, adjusting steering and throttle response. The auto mode adapts the system depending on the current driving situation, while efficiency supports an economical driving style. Individual mode can be used to adapt vehicle characteristics to the personal preference of the driver.

Adaptive Air Suspension

A standard feature of the S8 Saloon is 4-corner adaptive air suspension permitting even sportier driving and precision handling. The suspension system, working in conjunction with the electronically controlled damping system, adapts to the immediate driving circumstances. In this way, top-class driving dynamics are combined with optimal comfort.

By using the MMI system, the suspension can be configured via Audi drive select, depending on the situation and your requirements. The shock absorbers and ride height are adjusted via its 4 different modes: Auto, Dynamic, Comfort and Efficiency.

Additionally, there is a further 'lift' mode to raise the vehicle by 20mm above the normal ride height, in order to overcome difficult gradients.

Enhanced Braking

Superior stopping power

Huge high-performance and fade-resistant brakes sit behind the standard 20-inch alloy wheels. The powerful brakes deliver truly impressive stopping power whenever required, along with first-rate pedal 'feel'.

The matt black brake callipers - with the S8 logo - grip the front vented disc brakes with four-piston callipers. At the back vented disc brakes stop the car in a balanced, safe and highly effective way.

8 speed tiptronic transmission

A ratio for everything

The 8 speed tiptronic transmission is a technical tour-de force.

Selection of the drive programs are facilitated by the new selector lever, which can be trimmed in a wide range of leather or wood to perfectly complement the S8's elegant interior. The lever communicates with the gearbox 'by wire', i.e. without any mechanical connection, so a brief push, or nudge, is all it takes to select the drive program after which the lever returns to the central position. The driver can also change gear manually by using the paddles mounted on the steering wheel.

Management of the new tiptronic is handled by the innovative dynamic shift program (DSP, which is networked with the detailed route data delivered by the MMI navigation system). The DSP uses this information to incorporate approaching corners or junctions into its shift strategy, so the days of an automatic gearbox changing gears mid-corner are behind us. Vorsprung Durch Technik.

Ceramic Brakes

Incredible braking performance
Compared with conventional steel discs, ceramic brakes not only last four times longer, but also offer high braking performance, even when driving at the limit, as well as high resistance to fading. Braking performance is not diminished even after repeated braking, when driving down a mountain pass, for example. The unsprung rotating masses at the wheels are reduced by a total of around 20 kilograms or 50 percent compared with conventional brake discs, resulting in noticeably improved handling and agility.
Compared with an identical brake disc made of steel, this material lasts four times longer: the high abrasion resistance of ceramic discs means that they will last for up to 190,000 miles. The extreme surface hardness of the composite ceramic also means that the brake discs are unsusceptible to solid and liquid road salts as well as to corrosion and rust. There's virtually no brake dust either - so alloy wheels don't get blackened and dirty.

Ceramic brakes are optional on the Audi S8.

Dynamic steering

Progressive steering technology

Dynamic steering adapts its steering ratio and boost to the vehicle's speed, making for sporty steering and driving style. The ratio spread can be determined by the driver via Audi drive select. Dynamic steering also works with the ESP when the vehicle is over or under steering and can increase vehicle stability by active steering interventions.

Better control with ESP

Audi's electronic stability program (ESP) is a combination of advanced technologies that helps keep the car under control in more extreme situations such as when you need to avoid an unexpected obstacle in the road. ESP is especially helpful in adverse weather conditions.

When you need to turn quickly and sharply, ESP identifies your intended direction and responds by applying the brakes to individual wheels.

Brake disc wiping - for shorter stopping distances

In the wet, the ESP system also dries the brake discs by applying the brake pads lightly. You and your passengers won't notice but, compared with conventional braking systems, your stopping distances on wet roads will be considerably shortened.