An Audi won, but which Audi?
As a Hollywood star, the first-generation Audi S8 S2 It was Sam’s choice ride, as he was played by Robert De Niro during the hit action thriller Ronnie. You would be able to recall how fast the S8 was back in those days if you were old enough.
However, that was 1998. It has been more than 20 years since the original film. Since then, many Audis have been introduced to the world. We think the S8 would be a disadvantage compared to these newer Audi cars. We thought so.
CarWow presents this drag race story in which the Audi S8 D2 is pitted against an S3 Sportback, and an A8 diesel Quattro. The numbers show that the S8 isn’t the underdog.
The turbocharged 2.0-liter four pot engine in the S3 hot hatch produces 296 horsepower, 280 pound-feet torque and a 6,800 RPM redline.
The 3.0L V6 diesel engine powers the A8 diesel. The engine produces 282 horsepower and 442 lb-ft of torque. It is probably the most heavy of the three due to its Quattro all wheel-drive system, and long wheelbase.
The S8 is the champion of the race. It has a 4.2L gasoline engine producing 335 horsepower. Although it is the most powerful of the three, the S8 isn’t a lightweight car. It’s also almost two decades old, so that’s another plus.
In a quarter-mile standing race, rolling drag race and brake test, can the S8 hold its own against Audi’s newer cars? To find out, watch the video at the top of this page.