There will be no changes in the powertrain department for the 2022 S8. This means that you get a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 as the sole option, but it is good enough for a total of 563 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque. The engine is supported by a 48-volt mild-hybrid electric system and the top speed of the sedan is limited to 155 mph.

The 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8 is a rather familiar motor, the car is pretty good off the line, there are no hints of any turbo lag thanks to the mild-hybrid electric system. As you keep building speed, the engine has a powerband wide enough so that you never have to think twice before making a move to overtake even the longest vehicles on the road.

The brilliant 8-speed Tiptronic automatic makes the most out of the engine and sees to it that you never feel the weight of the car and get frustrated. The gear changes are smooth and quick no matter what the driving situation is. However, if you still feel that you need a bit more control, you can do that through the steering-mounted paddles which make it all too eager to act swiftly on your commands without any hesitation.

The power is sent through all the wheels through the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Hence, this burly sedan can hit 60 mph from a standstill in just 3.6 seconds. Herein lies the marvel of modern engineering where the weight of the vehicle has almost negligible effects on athleticism. The S8 is also rumoured to get a Performance Plus version which is said to get a horsepower bump which makes the power output a whopping 700 hp.

The comparison is an example that proves that more numbers put out by the engine do not mean a faster car; the smaller V8 in the S8 is just as potent and quick as the M760i with the larger engine and four more cylinders. The Panamera GTS is also an equally capable machine with impressive performance despite the lower power output. The Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo but with a higher power output, performs a bit lower than the competition.

How does the 2022 Audi S8 Handle?

If you thought the acceleration is marvelous considering how heavy the S8 is, hold your breath. The sedan handles even better, Audi has made it seem effortless how the car reacts to your aggressive inputs and never feeling twitchy while delivering the alacrity. The sport rear differential at the rear ensures that there is tremendous grip and poise at all times and the S8 feels well-weighted and planted on any surface. But let's not forget that the S8 is meant to be a luxury sedan too, and the active suspension setup sees to it that it feels that way as well. 

The occupants of the S8 are incredibly isolated from any abrasions on the road as well as any noise disturbances. The 2022 S8 is also expected to be a great handling, more aerodynamic and stable machine just like the present version. We could also expect Audi to save some weight in the upcoming S8 which could result in an even better driving experience which is already pretty good. However, Audi needs to bring improvements when compared to the Panamera, in terms of handling.

This is that one area where you cannot hide the fact that this is a hefty vehicle. The S8 is a thirsty gas-guzzler and the mild-hybrid system makes no difference at that. Though you get a huge gas tank, the driving range is horrendous so do keep note of fuel stops on your interstate route. The 2022 version of the S8 is also expected to deliver similar mpg figures, being a performance oriented- luxury sedan.

None of the cars are very good with managing their fuel, but the Panamera GTS should be your car of choice if you intend to go on long cruises a lot, the difference is bought by the large fuel tank and a highly tuned transmission to deliver the best efficiency out of the twin-turbo V8. 

There should not be any major design revolution considering the sedan has already received an overhaul in 2020. The interiors should broadly stay the same, but you can expect changes with the infotainment system, and changes to the materials, trims, and other personalization options. The sedan has much more to offer than just a spacious cabin. And regarding the cabin space, even though the passenger space is more than enough, the boot of the S8 is on the smaller side.

The S8 gets all the premium features you can think of, heated armrests, heated steering wheel, heated, ventilated, and massaging sport seats, you get them as standard. Comfort is the name of the game here, especially those at the back. One can also opt for a 4-seat configuration so that the two chairs have unleashed luxury functions like 22-way power adjustment and a foot massage function, the last of which has to be opted for.

The S8 and the M760i provide an improved travelling experience with a larger cabin as well as a more luxurious interior. The S8 comes tech loaded and with a lot of interior customization options of offer. As Audi claims it does deliver a first class travelling experience. And comparatively the Porsche and the Maserati are less spacious even though they haven’t compromised on luxury.

The M760i might seem far more practical on paper based on its capacity but in reality, the shape of the trunk only makes a fraction of the volume usable. However, the sedan does not have an impressively huge trunk despite having an immense size as most of it is utilized for the rear legroom. 12.5 cubic feet of volume is suitable enough for some carry-on luggage, fortunately, the trunk is power operated.

• Heated armrests and steering wheel
• Four-zone climate control system
• 22-way power adjustability
• Heated foot massage function
• Heated leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel with shift paddles

2022 Audi S8: Infotainment and Connectivity

This is the area where the most changes are expected as far as interiors are concerned. The current model features a 12.3-inch display for the driver; the main infotainment screen is a 10.1-inch touchscreen unit that comes paired with a 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system.

The latest cars, specifically the newer Cadillacs and the S-Class now come with large curved displays housing the infotainment module, it will be interesting to see what Audi comes up with to compete with them. Audi is expected to put in updated, larger and maybe curved screens into the 2022 S8.

• 10.1-inch touchscreen display (in the 2021 car)
• 12.3-inch driver info display along with an 8.6-inch display (in the 2021 car)
• SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• 17-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system
• 23-unit B&O 3D Advanced sound system (optional)

Dozens of photographs of the pre-production prototype showcase a newly shaped single-frame grille, they take a squared approach in contrast to the horizontal chrome slats in the current car. The bumpers on the front and the rear are tweaked as well to keep them looking fresh. It is the headlights that grab the most attention, they are vaguely similar to the ones in the smaller A3. Things are sparsely different at the back, the tail lights feature new graphics and the bumper now hosts quad exhaust tips.

It is certainly surprising to see the heavier cars are a tad bit faster than the Porsche and the Maserati sedans which are lighter. The Audi is the longest and the heaviest of the group followed by the BMW and the Maserati which are quite similar dimension-wise. The Panamera is the most compact but because of the wider track width it’s also the widest.

• 21" 5-double-spoke S design wheels
• Aluminum trim around exterior windows
• HD Matrix-design LED headlights
• Quad exhaust outlets
• Dual-pane acoustic side and rear glass
• LED taillights with dynamic turn signals

The S8 is expected to be based on the same platform as the 2021 version of the car which is a superbly safe machine. It is expected to come with an advanced set of safety features expected from a luxury sports sedan like itself. We surely know that the Audi pre sense would be a standard feature which is responsible for tightening the seat belts, closing the front & rear side windows and sunroof while engaging braking assistance or full/emergency braking in case of a collision. Other than that the usual set of airbags coupled with other high tech features are also expected to be present in the 2022 Audi S8. The following are the high tech standard safety features expected to be in the 2022 Audi S8 -

• Traffic sign recognition
• Top View camera with Virtual 360 view
• Audi pre sense front and basic
• Lane departure warning
• Audi connect CARE assistance and security services (limited time subscription)

If you have always liked the S8 up till now, there is no reason why you won’t like the 2022 Audi S8 more. Audi has not tinkered with any of the strong points the car currently has and made it fresher, at least with the exteriors. The S8 is not one of the vehicles which sell a lot of models for the brand, so full marks for the brand courageously putting in efforts to refresh the luxury sedan and keep up with the cult-following of the sedan.