2018 Audi A8L 4.0T Sport Review

2018 Audi A8L 4.0T Sport Review - Development has actually continued apace at Audi, as shown by impressive new versions of the Q7, A4, and also TT. Each of these revamped models brings even more sharply wrinkled sheetmetal, as well as tech-savvy insides, crisper characteristics, and also new systems below. Comparable modifications are coming soon for the Q5 crossover and also the A5 sports car.

Yet some old Audi still exists within the lineup, also at the top. The current-generation A8 car, which first got here in 2010, is starting to look outdated compared with its fresher display room friends. But, despite its age, the most significant four-ringed four-door deals plenty to such as for the full-size-luxury-sedan purchaser.

Any type of Wheelbase You Like, So Long as It's Long
As it nears completion of its life process, the U.S.-spec A8 lineup shrinks for 2016. The short-wheelbase version is gone, as is the ignominious TDI diesel (for now, a minimum of), leaving just the long-wheelbase A8L offered with a six-, 8-, or 12-cylinder engine. The 4.0 T is the sole A8 version to pack a V-8 (excepting the short-wheelbase S8 And also variation), and all 4.0 Ts embrace the new "Sport" designation for 2016. That suggests somewhat more-aggressive front and rear fascias and also a 15-hp bump for the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 to bring horsepower up to 450.

2018 Audi A8L 4.0T Sport Review

2018 Audi A8L 4.0T Sport Review

Even more power was almost the last point the A8 needed. The last 2018 Audi A8L 4.0T Sport we checked recorded a blistering zero-to-60-mph time of 3.9 seconds and also ran the quarter-mile in 12.4 seconds. In spite of packing a little additional power, this set matched those numbers specifically. It still leaves the equivalent V-8-- powered BMW 7-series (the 750i xDrive) car, which hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, in its dust.

Your guests, cosseted as they could be by the hedonistic rear seats with home heating, air conditioning, and massage therapy features, will never presume that the A8L is capable of Corvette-rivaling velocity runs. The powerful V-8 deals with its organisation with no dramatization whatsoever, with power provided easily throughout the rev array and also only a slight hint of polished complexity entering the otherwise peaceful cabin.

Passersby will not take much notice of the A8L, either, even in this Sport trim. Its clean, purposeful lines and also restrained use of chrome mean that the Audi does not have the panache of its opponents from in other places in Germany. We value the subtle technique, however some could error it for an extra plebeian A6. If an attractive, head-turning Audi is just what you want, select the a lot more rakish A7 (or among its S7 and RS7 variations) rather.

Lithe as well as Spry for a Large Person
The Audi's luxurious flight and also nearly silent inside are par for the course in this course. A lot more special is the automobile's agility. The A8L's steering wheel really feels light in your hands but uses accurate reactions to inputs, while well-controlled body movements help avoid any kind of feeling of floatiness while travelling or catching alike. Clear vehicle driver sightlines also make the A8L simple to place into turns, avoiding the ungainliness you could expect from a 207-inch-long, 4672-pound car. It's just as comfy rushing down a curvy roadway as it is slipping into a car park area at the supermarket (a 360-degree video camera system aids in the last regard, also).

Audi pioneered the idea of a lightweight deluxe barge when the aluminum-bodied, first-generation A8 arrived in 1997, however rivals such as the Jaguar XJL and also the newcomer Cadillac CT6 also currently utilize huge quantities of aluminum in their frameworks-- as well as to greater result. The likewise sized XJL and CT6 are both a minimum of 200 extra pounds lighter than the Audi, and also both offer even sharper, sportier handling for the unquestionably couple of buyers in this sector that are searching for that sort of point.

Odd as it seems for a vehicle coming close to 6 figures, the A8L is a sort of budget alternative to the BMW 7-series and also the Mercedes-Benz S-class. Our test auto, geared up with conventional four-wheel drive, a rear-seat convenience plan, and lots of active safety functions, rang in at just $96,175-- that's a few thousand less than the beginning rates of the equivalent all-wheel-drive Mercedes S550 4MATIC and BMW 750i xDrive versions. Load up the Benz and also Bimmer with alternative bundles, and also you're quickly approaching the $120K mark.

The Audi's interior discovers as a bit behind the times. Specific littles plastic trim aren't on the same level with those in the base S-class, and the standard shiny wood garnishes look more passé than, say, the classier matte wood that's readily available as an alternative. Audi's MMI control interface still functions well ergonomically, however its onscreen graphics haven't changed in the last 5 years or so. Neither Apple CarPlay neither Android Car abilities are supplied, and also it's inappropriate that anything at this price doesn't have a solitary USB port. That's not really proper of Audi's Vorsprung durch Technik ("improvement through innovation") punch line.

Still, that Audi's flagship sedan doesn't rather jibe with the brand name's techy, modern image does not diminish the A8L's various other beauties. Certain, it could not excite the neighbors as high as would certainly an S-class, and also it's not the sportiest vehicle in its soaring section, yet the A8L continues to be classy, extravagant, as well as a lot more rewarding to own than a lot of its opponents. It could be nearing retirement, however the A8 has matured with dignity.

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