One uber quick flagship Audi S8 -- First Drive: Running backs are fast. Defensive linemen are big. Motorcycles are nimble. Freightliners are cumbersome. Simply put, fast in straight and curvy lines usually correlates with small and lean, while brute power is typified by big and brawny. They seem mutually exclusive to a large extent, but not in the eyes of Audi engineers.
Hence, the creation of the 2007 S8, a sport-tuned A8 last sold in the U.S. as a 2003 model. Thanks to the generous use of aluminum in its construction, the S8 (and A8) is relatively light, which allows its 450-horsepower, Lamborghini Gallardo-derived V10 to be all that much more effective. In fact, that sophisticated piece of hardware, when coupled with S8's standard quattro all-wheel drive and six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, allows this most athletic rendition of Audi's flagship to reach 60 mph in only 4.9 seconds. Those are impressive figures, and are sure to catch the attention of large sedan lovers and well-paid executives everywhere, those who won't shy away from the S8's base price of $94,020 when it arrives in November. But they'd best be satisfied with that exceptional straight-line performance, because in the corners the S8 is more oversized linemen than evasive running back. For the total performance package, including outstanding balance and handling, buyers would be best served to take a gander at the smaller S6 sharing space on the Audi showroom floor, or one of the S8's top-notch competitors.
Audi's
eighth Le Mans triumph in just ten races! This
puts
Audi in third place – just one
victory short of Ferrari
– on the perpetual list of
winners of the endurance classic
which has been staged since 1923
.
Audi
accidents prevent outright win in Salt Lake City
-Both Audi R10 TDI cars involved
in collisions just before the end
-Lucas Luhr/Marco Werner
win LM P1 class -Frank Biela/Emanuele
Pirro third in class despite premature
exit within the race.
1-2
fininsh at Long Beach for Audi -First
victory of the Audi
R10 TDI at Long Beach
-Second consecutive
victory of Audi TDI power on street
circuit
-Lucas Luhr/Marco Werner
extend championship lead
Villeneuve
handed Le Mans chance
The Canadian,
35, will drive the new diesel car the French company hopes will end
Audi's domination of the race.
