I just found out something interesting

"sm70- why not Duesenberg?" (sm70-whynotduesenberg)
06/16/2014 at 22:50 • Filed to: None

The fastest BMW 7-series, the twin turbo V12 760Li, will get from 0-60 in 4.2 seconds. A V8 750Li takes 4.5. The fastest of the new starship S-Classes, the S65 AMG V12, also takes 4.2 seconds to reach 60, and the basic S550 takes 4.8. These are all very fast, impressive times for such large cars.

A second-to-base model Audi A8 4.o will get to 60 in 3.8 seconds. An S8 will do it in 3.5, also with a small V8. That's insane. It makes you wonder why the other two are so much slower, even with four extra cylinders.

EDIT: The S8 is also faster to 60 than the R8 V10. Seriously, Audi, what the hell?

2nd EDIT: It is also worth noting that the S8 starts at just $112,000, which is a huge performance bargain, as well as an all-around one.

DISCUSSION (36)

GeorgeyBoy > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 22:52

Quattro bro.

theloudmouth > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 22:53

All Wheel Drive.

Vicente Esteve > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 22:53

The S8 is in another leage of fast now.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > theloudmouth
06/16/2014 at 22:54

But you can get a Benz or a 7-er with AWD, and it makes them slower.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > GeorgeyBoy
06/16/2014 at 22:54

But you can get a Benz or a 7-er with AWD, and it makes them slower.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 22:55

Simple: VAG witchcraft.

Or more down low torque thanks to turbo chargers.

*Edit I can read I promise. It's witchcraft.

theloudmouth > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 22:56

You can't get the biggest engines with all wheel drive though, correct?

EDIT: Confirmed, the S65 AMG and 760Li are only in RWD. The reason the all wheel drive models are slower is the same reason the 335is was limited to not getting the 1M tune and down pipes, you cannot make a lower rung model faster than your top model in 0-60.... Regardless of how inane 0-60 is as a test.

GeorgeyBoy > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 22:57

Quattro isn't just all wheel drive, it's quattro.

But the S65 doesn't come in awd. The s63 is and it does 0-60 in 3.9, it also is way down on power compared to the S65.

jkm7680 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 22:58

Because Audi.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Vicente Esteve
06/16/2014 at 23:01

The list of cars slower than the S8 includes the new Ferrari California Turbo, the new V12 Vanquish, the Bentley Continental GT Speed, the Lexus LFA, the Mercedes SLS, and, most confusingly, the Audi R8 V10.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Logansteno: Bought a VW?
06/16/2014 at 23:04

The 760Li and the S65 AMG are both twin-turbo V12s.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > theloudmouth
06/16/2014 at 23:05

Yes, but a BMW 750Li X-drive is slower than a BMW 750Li RWD.

Vicente Esteve > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 23:05

Hahaha, I lost it with R8 V10. Someone at Audi must have recognized that their biggest, heaviest car has beaten their most performance focused sports car. Someone must have gotten slapped or something.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > GeorgeyBoy
06/16/2014 at 23:06

Yeah quattro!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > jkm7680
06/16/2014 at 23:06

That's been good enough for me for six years, and it still is.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Vicente Esteve
06/16/2014 at 23:07

I honestly don't think anyone in the entire VAG noticed.

theloudmouth > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 23:09

Then I'm stumped, I just get annoyed by 0-60 times in all wheel drive cars... This coming from someone with an AWD turbo and RWD turbo vehicle. The stat is sooooo misleading so often I jump to conclusions too quickly at times.

My only guess as to why the X-drive is slower is that the stall speed on the converter is so low you can't launch it high enough to make any use of the all wheel drive advantage at which point it just becomes dead weight.

Manuél Ferrari > Vicente Esteve
06/16/2014 at 23:11

The R8 V10 Plus with the DCT is faster:

0-60 MPH: 3.3 sec (mfg.)

Manuél Ferrari > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 23:12

The R8 V10 Plus with the DCT is faster:

0-60 MPH: 3.3 sec (mfg.)

StoneCold > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 23:12

The W12 model only does 4.4, so that gets me thinking the Audi V8s have a harshness the other Germans don't. Just specualtion, but a look at the torque curves of each would be enlightening.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Manuél Ferrari
06/16/2014 at 23:14

Yes, but the point is, you can get a V10 R8 that is slower. And that's sad.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > StoneCold
06/16/2014 at 23:15

It would.

Vicente Esteve > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 23:16

Its as fast as a 911 Carrera S! 2 Tenths of a Seconds Behin the Turbo! WHAT THE HELL

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Vicente Esteve
06/16/2014 at 23:17

I agree with Steno. WITCHCRAFT!

Vicente Esteve > Manuél Ferrari
06/16/2014 at 23:17

Still, That S8 has some serious balls.

Vicente Esteve > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 23:19

Its almost as wild as the V6 Rav-4. But no, nothing beats my amazement with the Rav-4.

Manuél Ferrari > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 23:24

What does the regular R8 V10 DCT do 0-60 in? I tried a quick Google search but didn't find it and too lazy to wade through Audi's website. It's probably about the same as the S8.

It is funny that the S8 is even in the same ballpark as the R8 V10. But it doesn't really make me sad at all. The R8 will still smoke it around the bends. And I value N/A revs and sounds over low end torque. A twin turbo V8 produces a lot more low end torque than a N/A V10. But that doesn't make me want the TT car more. Flooring it at every traffic light is a good way to go to jail for reckless driving. But occasionally redlining before upshifting to hear the V10 howl won't get you in trouble as long as you're not exceeding the speed limit. You can do this on the highway without breaking the law (by too much at least ;)

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Manuél Ferrari
06/16/2014 at 23:25

R8 V10 Manual- 3.7 seconds.

Manuél Ferrari > Vicente Esteve
06/16/2014 at 23:25

fo sho!

quattro + TT V8 = very fast 0-60 times

Manuél Ferrari > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 23:29

Cool, thanks

That is slower than the S8 but not terrible considering it's the stick. Shift times play a huge role in 0-60 launches.

I would be totally fine with 3.7S. Having that N/A V10 and the gated shifter would be bliss.

My only complaint would be how much Audi mutes the engine. Even the after market exhaust can't get the V10 to sound as good as it did in the 2nd gen Gallardo. I think VAG did some trickery to ensure you can't make an R8 V10 sound as good as a Lambo at a reasonable price. They had to make sure there was still a reason to spend more on the Lambo...

Vicente Esteve > Manuél Ferrari
06/16/2014 at 23:40

+SportmagnaDSRoboTranformerKittTronic Transmission!

Manuél Ferrari > Vicente Esteve
06/16/2014 at 23:42

Brought to you by VAG, conqueror of worlds and people!

Vicente Esteve > Manuél Ferrari
06/16/2014 at 23:44

Yay World Domination!

Kinja'd!!!

Now give me a HUG

Kinja'd!!!

Dslay04 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/16/2014 at 23:51

Audi's AWD system is different from MB & BMW

Manuél Ferrari > Vicente Esteve
06/17/2014 at 01:32

Haha that was awesome!

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
06/17/2014 at 04:45

0-60 test is almost completely useless. 5-60, 5-100, 40-70, etc. are all much better. Manufacturers will set their cars up specifically for common benchmark tests like 0-60 and be worthless at most everything else. I don't know about the 760, but Mercedes V12's are so incredibly torquey and smooth, it's an entirely different experience from a V8. You hit the throttle and before you know it you've more than doubled the speed limit but it still feels like you're doing 55mph. V8's talk, no, they yell at you about what is happening. They're rough and raucous. From what I've seen, people don't really cross shop V8's and V12's. Usually the question is, can you afford a V12?