This 690bhp Audi S8 is ‘faster than a 992 Porsche’

We’ve always maintained that Audi’s rather delightful S8 would make a grand movie getaway car. Supernaturally powerful. Fast. Discreet. German tuner ABT agrees on that latter point because aesthetically, it’s only added a new rear spoiler to this modded luxo-barge.

Naturally, there are larger wheel options - 20in or 21in - available in matt black. It’s a very restrained upgrade inside, too: simply a new ABT start-stop cap, and shift knob cover. So, that’s pretty much it.

But wait.

There’s more.

More power. A great big lump of it. ABT has fitted a new ECU to control the S8’s 4.0-litre bi-turbo V8, and where it once delivered a really perfectly adequate 563bhp, it now delivers 690bhp and 650lb ft of torque.

This additional grunt really does chop the 0-62mph time by some margin: it takes just 3.4s (compared to 3.9s for the ‘standard’ car), and you can spec ceramic brakes and a higher top speed of 167mph, if you so wish. ABT helpfully points out this accelerative prowess makes it 'faster than a current 992 model' Porsche 911. Indeed, a 992-gen Carrera 4S does 0-62mph in 3.6s. So there's that.

Film producers, you know what to do.

Read Top Gear's review of the  Audi S8, here.