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Audi has produced two generations of the Audi S8 quattro, a high-performance Luxury Car. The S8 was first produced in 1996, and compared to the standard A8, it has tuned, the 335 hp V8 engine to 355 hp, a re-tuned suspension, with larger alloy wheels and upgraded tires, uprated and enlarged brakes, and a re-calibrated version of the five-speed tiptronic automatic transmission. A six-speed manual transmission option was available, but this was not offered in North America. Torsen-based quattro permanent four-wheel drive was standard. Production of the first-generation S8 ended in September 2002.

In the last quarter of 2005, Audi previewed the second-generation S8, now called the Audi S8 5.2 FSI quattro, powered by a 444 bhp 5.2 FSI V10 engine. Full production started in June 2006. The S8 is comparable to Audi's top-of-the-line long-wheelbase A8L W12, though the W12 is more expensive, and has more torque. The S8's top speed is electronically limited to155.3 mph.

It is anticipated that a third-generation Audi S8 is expected to go on sale in 2011 as a 2012 model, released one year after the all-new 2011 Audi A8. Recent reports suggested that the S8 would use the new 4.0L FSI biturbo V8 engine, with 512 hp.

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