02 Dec 05
It does it by being far and away the best-looking big saloon on the market, a status only enhanced by the imposing new radiator grille, 20in wheels and aluminium wing mirrors that the S badge brings to the standard A8.
Inside the cabin is effortlessly classy, unlike the Merc S-class; very modern in a way that the Jag XJ could not imagine; and so easy to use that anyone arriving from a 7-series BMW will scarcely believe what they've been missing. The carbon dash and sports seats of the S8 only add to this impressive effect.
Then there's the fact that this car - which would do 185mph were it not electronically restricted - rides at least as well as any other A8 and can swish down the autobahn with the same fabulous levels of refinement. Then there's the unique howl of the V10 engine at your disposal, whenever you want to be reminded that, even by the lofty standards of the A8, yours is very special indeed.
In short, the S8 is cool, something I cannot say about any other big saloon save the Maserati Quattroporte. But where the Maser's appeal lies mainly in the driving, the S8 is all about owning. It's about leaving London for the country on a dark, wet, congested Friday afternoon and knowing there's barely a car on the road in which you'd rather tackle such unappetising conditions: it's about blasting to the South of France for a fortnight in the sun knowing you'll earn appreciative glances from every doorman you meet.
Most of all, it says uniformly positive things about its owner. Drive one of these and people will consider you a purveyor of the fine things in life, so long as they are discreet, not flash and effortlessly tasteful. The S8 is all these things.
Looked at this way, I'm not surprised at all I liked it so much.
