Here comes the 597bhp Audi S8 Plus

According to Audi, “the pinnacle of sporty performance” is about to crown the luxury car market. The S8 Plus will cost around £97,700, which is nearly £17,000 more than for the standard S8.

The engine is basically the same as in the normal S8, but the 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 has power boosted by 84bhp to 597bhp. Torque rises to 516ft lb but if that’s not enough, then an overboost function can briefly raise that to 553lb ft. These figures, Audi claims, mean the S8 Plus can do the 0-62mph rush in just 3.8sec, the fastest ever for an S8.

An optional dynamic package will raise the limited top speed of 155mph to 189mph and, reassuringly, that dynamic package has carbon-ceramic brakes as part of the package.

A modified sports exhaust is also included.

You also gain ambient lighting, full leather in the cabin, power-assisted doors and a DVD player.

The S8 Plus will take on rivals such as the 577bhp Mercedes-AMG S63 when it goes on sale in January 2016.