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" Audi has a bewildering array of concepts and production cars on display here in Frankfurt, but there&amp;#039;s no doubt as to the big daddy of them all. The S8 luxury sedan is the range-topper in the Audi lineup, a sedan brimming with pace, grace, and enough luxury features to fill several technical journals. Don&amp;#039;t worry; we&amp;#039;ll only touch on a few of them here during the show.            Sure, the mid-engine R8 is sportier\u2014and the Urban Concept much weirder\u2014but few cars exude the presence you&amp;#039;ll find in the A8. There is plenty of smart thinking going on beneath the exterior, thanks to Audi Space Frame (ASF) technology. This aluminum platform keeps curb weight down to 4354 lb., hundreds less than a conventional steel chassis.   Pushing this precious metal down the road is Audi&amp;#039;s new 520-bhp twin-turbo 4.0-liter TFSI V-8 engine. Equipped with an 8-speed Tiptronic transmission, the S8 needs 4.2 seconds to accelerate from zero to 62 mph. Quattro all-wheel drive, a sport differential and driver-adjustable air suspension keep the power in control and the driving balance in tune with the driver&amp;#039;s whim.            Of course, it goes without saying that the S8 comes loaded with high-end features. These include adaptive cruise control with a stop &amp;amp;amp; go function, Audi side assist and Audi lane assist, night vision, and parking aid using a 360-degree camera. Sportier leather seats keep occupants firmly in place.   During a recent test drive of the S8, we tried to spot the moments when the car went into cylinder deactivation mode. Audi claims fuel savings of up to 11.5 percent with this system\u2014except we found it frustratingly hard to keep the car in eco mode during our drive.   Audi A8 Hybrid   If saving fuel is top priority, the A8 Hybrid is also on display here in Frankfurt. Audi promises the car will deliver the &amp;quot;power of a six-cylinder model, the fuel consumption of a four-cylinder&amp;quot; when it goes on sale next year. Audi estimates a mix of city and highway driving will net you 36.7 mpg. That sounds fantastic, except we&amp;#039;re inclined to remain skeptical until firmly ensconced behind the wheel for a test drive.            Powering the Hybrid is a gasoline-fueled 211-bhp 2.0-liter TFSI 4-cylinder engine, coupled to a disc-shaped electric motor and lithium-ion battery pack. Working together, the powertrain delivers 245 hp and a 0\u201360 mph time of 7.7 seconds. The A8 Hybrid can also travel approximately two miles on electric power alone, and at speeds up to 62 mph. That should get most owners from the front door of their villa to the end of their driveway.            An 8-speed Tiptronic automatic sends powers to only the front wheels, a sharp deviation from the ubiquitous fitment of Quattro all-wheel drive to all of Audi&amp;#039;s high end products. Like the edgier S8, the A8 Hybrid goes on sale next year. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-shows/frankfurt-auto-show/news/a17518/2012-audi-s8-and-a8-hybrid/>