With 605hp and 0-100km/h in just 3.8sec, the S8 plus is Audi's most powerful S model yet

Can a luxury car ever be too fast or too powerful? The good folks at Audi certainly don’t think so. In what must surely be a sign of an impending model refresh, the introduction of this new range-topper means busy executives will be even less likely to be late for that company board meeting.

The S8 plus uses the same 4.0-litre twin turbo V8 as the ’regular’ S8, but thanks to some fettling by quattro GmbH (makers of Audi’s RS models as well as the R8 supercar), now produces just over 600 hp — 85 more than before. Modifications made include a new ECU system, tweaks to the electronic valves in the exhaust and revised inner geometry for the turbos. Long story short, they basically turned the boost up to 11.

That prodigous power is sent to the wheels through the same 8-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox as before, with a sport differential helping to make the handling less nose-heavy as fast Audis of yore. Then again, that may well be a moot point, considering how much grip the enormous 21-inch rims and 275-section tyres would generate.

Like all other brisk German cars, top speed is officially limited to 250km/h, although you can also opt for a Dynamic Package that increases that to 305km/h. Combine that with its sub-4 second century sprint timing and you can be assured almost nothing will be able to keep up with you out on real-world roads.

For all its performance claims though, the coolest aspect of the S8 plus is just how unassuming it looks. Even to the seasoned aficionado the normal S8 looks virtually identical to a base A8, so you’d probably need a bionic eye or cybernetic implants to spot the sprinkling of gloss black or carbonfibre accents dotted around the grille, various air intakes, window trim and side mirrors. Having said that though, the matte-effect Floret Silver paint finish that is unique to the S8 plus does look absolutely dashing.

The S8 plus is currently on sale in Europe for the base price of €145,200 (S$225,660). No word yet if any are earmarked for Singapore, but we’re quite certain you’d be hard-pressed to notice one even if it was parked right in front of you.