New Audi A8 will spawn S8 versions with more than 600bhp of PORSCHE power

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The newly revealed Audi A8 will lead to new Audi S8 and S8 Plus models which will come with Porsche power – and Porsche hybrid power in the S8 Plus.

The new Audi A8 has only just been revealed, but now thoughts turn to the new versions of the performance versions – the Audi S8 and S8 Plus – which are expected to arrive in 2018.

The current S8 and S8 Plus models make use of a 4.0 litre twin-turbo V8 delivering a fulsome 513bhp in the S8 and a rather bonkers 597bhp in the S8 Plus. But that’s going to change with the new models.

According to Evo, Audi is helping itself to Porsche’s toybox for the new S8 models, and that’s going to mean a jump in power and a plug-in hybrid.

It seems the regular S8 will come with the new V8 turbo found in the new Panamera Turbo, where it delivers 542bhp and 568lb/ft of torque.

Evo reckon Audi will have to tune it down a bit for the S8 so Porsche still has the headline power, but that will still mean around 530bhp for the new S8 and a 0-62mph in around 4.0 seconds.

Things get more interesting for the S8 Plus, with Evo claiming it will get the recently announced powertrain for the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid with 671bhp and 627lb/ft of toirque.

Again, this will be dialled down a bit for the S8 Plus, but is still expected to get around 630bhp and be able to get to 62mph in a time not much different to the Panamera’s 3.4 seconds.

The new Audi S8 and S8 Plus are expected to be revealed in early 2018, with a public debut expected at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show.