Well, no names here but my dealer in the UK just took a deposit (£3000) on an S8 !!
Expected end Q1 very provisionally. 475BHP V10 with 7 speed auto !!
My lips are sealed......

That was be the euro engine, wont the cars coming to the states be slightly less than that?
I really need to know what they are asking. I would assume the normal A8 is $70-75, the S8 would be a $15k option right? $85-90k for the S8 would be quite a temptation.

How big is your house? ;-)

You guys have the cars too cheap !!
My dealer estimates the price to be around £73,000 GBP. This is SWB only car apparently so a premium of around £15000.

There really didn't seem to be that much point changing one 450 bhp A8 with sport suspension for another, unless there's something novel in it.

The W12 is a little under-utilised at 450 bhp IMHO, getting the same bhp/litre as the old S8's 4.2 V8 engine would give the W12 somewhere in the region of 514 PS, so I'd hope more than 450 would be possible without too much effort, so although 475 bhp would be nice, it's not really much to warrant an additional £15k over the 4.2, as even the W12 engine isn't that expensive, given that some W12 cost comes from all the toys it has as standard.

A 7 speed gearbox would qualify as novel enough, but I'd be surprised as I haven't noticed ZF bringing a 7-speed box out, and re-engineering the ASF for a different gearbox fit would take up a valuable 'slot' in the factory's capacity (when I went a year ago, there was one 'slot' spare for a future aluminium model, although the demise of the A2 might have released one, and Lambo production has ceased at Neckarsulm). We'll have to wait and see on that one.

Interesting price point too; similar to the W12. I wonder what the market differentiation will really be over the W12, seeing as the W12 comes with a lot of luxury features at that price. I'd like to see the S8 come with ceramic brakes in that price, but then I'd like to win the lottery too... ;-)

I'll have to sound out my A8 advocate, but he usually knows a lot less on these things than I do. I really should teach him to use the Internet!

In fact, the 5.2L FSI V10 in the S8 will produce 450 hp and 406 lbs/ft of torque. For it's first model year, the S6 and S8 will only come with the ZF 6-speed tiptronic automatic transmission (AL700 I believe). From their second model year onward, the S6 and S8 will only come with a 7-speed DSG transmission (the Borg Warner DL700 and not the Ricardo DL1,300 or DL1,400 from the Bugatti Veyron as that DSG won't fit in the C6 and D3 platforms). The DL700 and DL500 (both built by Borg Warner) were specifically designed for the C6, D3 and B8 platforms, the platform that the R9 (the production version of the LeMans) will be on and the platform that the Q7 will be on. The RS 6 will have the 7-speed DSG right from the start (either the Borg Warner DL700 or an all new DL800 by Borg Warner that would also be specifically designed for the C6, D3 and B8 platforms, the platform that the R9 will be on and the platform that the Q7 will be on).

I have clarified with my dealer. You are misinformed about the gearbox, it is definitley a 7 speed unit. My choice of automatic prob confused. It is DSG, but as you know this has an auto program.

Oh Ceramic brakes apparently as well (Optional)

Sounds like one should wait for the 2nd year S8 and get the DSG tranny. I'm not sure I want another ZF tranny since I was planning on keeping my next S8 for awhile past warranty. Does the '04D3 have the ZF AL700 as you described in your post?

have the ZF AL700 6-speed tiptronic automatic transmission with a maximum capacity of 516 lbs/ft of torque. The 3.0 TDI version of the D3 A8/A8L might also have the ZF AL700 6-speed tiptronic automatic transmission. All other versions of the D3 A8/A8L have the AL500 (with a maximum capacity of 369 lbs/ft of torque) or AL600 (with a maximum capacity of 442, 443 or 444 lbs/ft of torque) ZF 6-speed tiptronic automatic transmission. Most versions of the Q7 and D3 A8/A8L will get the Borg Warner DL700 7-speed DSG transmission with a maximum capacity of 516 lbs/ft of torque. Most versions of the C6 A6 and AllRoad and all versions of the B8 A4, Q5 and A5 will get either the DL500 (with a maximum capacity of 369 lbs/ft of torque) or DL700 Borg Warner 7-speed DSG transmission, depending on the engine. The V10 and TDI V10 versions of the Q7, the C6 RS 6 and possibly the W12 version of the D3 A8/A8L will get the DL800 (with a maximum capacity of 590 lbs/ft of torque) 7-speed DSG transmission built by Borg Warner. The TDI V10 produces 553 lbs/ft of torque (which is 37 lbs/ft too much torque for the Borg Warner DL700 7-speed DSG transmission).

the new DSG tranny in first year. What's your gut on tranny quality, longevity or problem free performance,etc of the ZF vs Borg Warner DSG in a 450HP S8? Some say the ZF problems were/are related to torque converters, will this be an issue in Borg trannys?

If you answer Borg Warner then I will be waiting or the S8 production to catch up ................

We need to change your call letters to TimbiltTranny....Where pre-tell did you obtain this vast knowlege of trannys. I know you googled it ( not )!lol

The information that I posted in my last message was passed on by another AudiWorld member (I don't remember who, though) a few months or several months back.

I believe that these product codes are from ZF, Borg Warner and all other transmission manufacturers.

does that mean that aftermarket tuning can fully realize the Gallardo specs?