Tag Archives: V8
Next-Gen Audi S8 To Be Available This Year
Reports are suggesting that the next-generation Audi S8 will become available later this year. Based on the information currently available, it looks like the new S8 will be using a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, the same one found under the hood of the Porsche Panamera Turbo.
The newest Audi S8, however, will not get to enjoy the same power that V8 is bringing to the Panamera Turbo. Instead, it will make 535 horses, seven fewer horsepower that the same engine makes in the Porsche. On the upside, it does have 22 horsepower more than the last standard S8.
This information from Autoblog revealed and might have confirmed one thing: Audi is effectively ditching the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 that it designed together with Bentley and used in the current D4 S8. The present S8 can produce 597 horses, making the possible 535 horsepower such a plummeting dive for Audi. Why then would it decide to go this route?
Just to remind you, this new-generation S8 is a standard S8. The current one in the market is the S8 Plus. This sounds awfully like mobile phones right now, huh? The S8 Plus was introduced in 2016 as a replacement for the then-current engine—a 513-horsepower-churning machine. It looks like this next-generation S8, which will probably come off as a 2020 model, is going to be measured against that first car.
A separate report, however, indicated that there will be another version of the S8 Plus. The Panamera was created to exist alongside Audi’s A8, as well as the S series. The models agreed to share parts. And since the Panamera has a hybrid powertrain in the form of the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid, experts believe that this would also be present in the upcoming Audi S8.
Instead of wearing the S8 Plus badge again, it will be more than likely that the new vehicle will carry the name of S8 E-Tron. Presumably, it will be able to produce 621 horses, down 49 horsepower from the Panamera counterpart.
Now, the question would be if Audi would sell both versions or simply replace the standard version with the E-Tron? Let’s wait and see.
Aston Martin V8 Supercar To Arrive In 2022
Aston Martin has a new business plan, and it will culminate in the building of the V8 supercar by 2022. Company executives revealed that Aston’s “second century plan” includes releasing a new model every year until 2022, when the range will be completed and model replacements will begin.
What will generate the most interest among Aston Martin enthusiasts is the mid-engined supercar that is set to arrive in 2022, according to Autocar. This will be the final car in the company’s plan. But instead of being too out-of-this-world, Aston’s design boss Marek Reichman said that the mid-engined supercar will be “more mainstream” compared to the limited edition AM-RB 001 hypercar currently being developed by Aston Martin and Adrian Newey, Red Bull Racing’s chief technical officer.
When it goes on sale, the Aston Martin V8 supercar will sit just above or at par with Ferrari 488 GTB. According to Reichman, all car designers “dream” of designing a mid-engined supercar, which should include a smaller fronter area, lower nose, shorter overhangs and smaller wheels.
Aston Martin last showed interest in building midengined cars in 2014 when it introduced the DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo at Goodwood. This 800bhp mid-engined GT racer was specifically created for the Gran Turismo 6 computer game and the theoretical twin-turbo V12 was also made available for download.
But the DP-100 project is far from being just available in the online world since Reichman revealed that the design cues used on the DP-100 could very well be applied on sports cars Aston Martin will launch in the real world.
Coupled with the developments in the AM-RB 001 project, the DP-100 concept could very well be used to engineer and design Aston’s mid-engined supercar. No doubt, the V8 supercar we are expecting in 2022 will have the same design aesthetics to the AM-RB 001 and the DP-100 concept.
Aston Martin Working On Limited Edition Vantage GT8
A spy shot of the Aston Martin GT8. (Source: Autocar)
When Aston Martin decided not to bring its hardcore Vantage GT12 to the United States last year, everyone was dumbfounded. How could the company take away something that breathtaking from Americans?
That one was closely aligned with the V12-powered Vantage GT3 race car. But like mentioned above, this was never experienced in the United States.
Apparently, a new and completely redesigned Vantage is coming next year. But before that, Aston will send out the current model with another hardcore, limited edition model.
This will be called the Vantage GT8, and it will be aligned with the V8-powered Vantage GTE race car. According to reports, this car will be packed with a series of weight-saving measures that include carbon fiber body panels and a stripped out cabin.
This means the race-inspired GT8 will be incredibly faster and lighter than its contemporaries. This would easily be the lightest Vantage ever.
Inside, you can expect a contemporary race-inspired interior, which makes any trip feel like you’re on the race track.
Its power will come from the 4.7-liter engine that is fitted in all V8 versions of the Vantage. The Vantage GT8 will be offered in both manual and automatic transmissions—particularly a seven-speed manual or Aston’s SSII automatic.
Production of the Vantage GT8, however, will be limited, so you have to get your hands on it fast. Aston Martin only built 100 examples of the Vantage GT12. The GT8, sources say, will have 150 units out in the market as soon as production is finished.
The GT8 has already been witnessed by potential customers that Aston Martin invited for an exclusive unveiling last week. The invitation purportedly included a sketch of the car that included a road-scraping front splitter, big rear wing, and large diffuser.
Remember, the GT8 will only be the first from Vantage this 2016, so expect more in the coming months and more importantly, next year.
2017 Bentley Flying Spur V8 S To Arrive At Geneva Motor Show
The 2016 Geneva Motor Show next month is shaping up to be the best one so far, especially for Bentley buyers who can check out the new Flying Spur V8 S that is expected to debut there.
As the name suggests, this new power machine will have the same powertrain as the Continental GT V8 S, but with a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that can deliver 521 horsepower and 502 pound-feet of torque.
Do you remember the Flying Spur V8 in 2015? That the same V-8 that would be used in this version, although that one had a slightly subpar 500 horsepower and 487 lb-ft. With this extra boost in engine power, Bentley claims the V8 S could accelerate to 60 mph from rest in mere 4.6 seconds, which is 0.3 second quicker than the Flying Spur V8.
The top speed for the V8 S would be 190 mph, Bentley added.
The Flying Spur V8 S also has an eight-speed automatic transmission, rear-biased all-wheel-drive system, and a unique setup for the suspension and the electronic stability control. Then, it also boasts of the returned system that allows increased wheel slip at higher speeds.
According to Bentley, the suspension setup is designed to deliver a more focused driving experience.
Those who wants a faster performance can also get the Flying Spur with a twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W-12 with 616 hp and 590 lb-ft. However, the extra weight of the engine won’t have the feel of a sports car as compared to the V8 and V8 S.
As for the aesthetics, the Bentley V8 S has a black radiator grille and rear diffuser, a grille insert, and a 20-inch open-spoke painted wheels. Inside, you can expect piano-black wood veneers, three-spoke sports steering wheel, a knurled gear lever with matching knurled shift paddles, and multiple “V8 S” logos, even on the headrests.
The Bentley Flying Spur V8 S will begin deliveries this summer.