If you think the Audi S8 will rapidly whisk you away from the sports car status quo, wait until you get your hands on the S8 Plus. The German carmaker raises the bar on driving performance with its new model, which boasts more than 600 horsepower and delivers grin-inducing acceleration.

Back in 1996, the automaker introduced a performance sedan known as the Audi S8. Based on the brand’s A8 full-size vehicle, the model — according to Autoevolution — was born out of a need to challenge the Jaguar XJR in the large luxury car segment. Fast-forward to the present year, and the 2016 S8, with its 4.0-liter eight-cylinder turbocharged (TFSI) engine, packs 520 horses and 481 pound-feet of torque.

Its new and sportier sibling, on the other hand, offers a substantial gain in power. In fact, the ‘Plus’ that was tacked on to the original S8 name represents a car that “defines the pinnacle of sporty performance in the segment.” According to Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, a board member for Technical Development at Audi AG, “That is why ‘plus’ appears in its name.”

Stuff.co.nz says the new Audi S8 Plus for sale delivers the type of performance that is awfully close to supercar range. That’s because the vehicle, which is fitted to an upgraded 4.0 TFSI (V8 biturbo) engine, generates as much as 605 ponies and 516 lb-ft of torque. In overboost mode, Audi says that last number jumps to 553.2 — an increase of 35 lb-ft.

It’s no surprise then, that the automaker claims its new model is the highest powered sport sedan in the premium segment. Which means that rivals equipped with a V-8 unit (such as the Jaguar XJR) are outmatched in this department — the one exception being the 2015 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG and its 664 lb-ft, torque-producing 5.5-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine.

That being said, the Audi S8 Plus will sprint to 62 mph in 3.8 seconds and reach a top speed of 189.5 mph. The large sedan comes paired with an eight-speed tiptronic with quattro all-wheel drive and sport differential. And it features a 509-pound mostly aluminum body that is based on the automaker’s lightweight Audi Space Frame.

The carmaker’s new sedan will be available this November in Europe with a starting price of 145,200 EUR — the equivalent of around $159,280 USD, based on current exchange rates.