2013 Audi S8 engine tech laid bare in new videos

Here's one for the tech geeks: Earlier this month we drove the 2013 Audi S8 sedan, where we came to the conclusion that the 520-hp, 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 was just right for the executive-class cruiser. The S8 is a heavyweight, but it moves like a cruiserweight or better. The 0-to-60-mph sprint takes just 3.9 seconds, or about the same amount of time it takes to sneeze, wipe your nose and get blessed. To show how the S8 makes its magic, Audi posted a few new videos on its media site. The first graphically explains how the cylinder-on-demand function works, leading to the S8's 26 mpg rating on the highway. The second video is called “V8 engine concept transformation.” It starts with graphics of a bare block, after which parts slowly trickle in and attach themselves. The process actually looks less complicated than it sounds. Unfortunately, there's no audio of the big engine revving up. The last video shows how air gets into the engine through the two airboxes and makes its way to the turbochargers. After that it gets cooled and rerouted to the intake manifold before fuel is added for oh-so-glorious ignition. It's pretty cool to watch how all the technology works in slow motion and easy-to-understand graphics—even if you already know how everything works.

By Jake Lingeman