Expecting us to wax lyrical on the Audi A8’s comfort? Think again…
[Not a valid template]| Driver's Log | |
|---|---|
| Date acquired: | January 2015 |
| Total kilometres: | 13,536 |
| Kilometres this month: | 2928 |
| Costs this month: | $0 |
| L/100km this month: | 14.1 |
The speed. Dear Lord, THE SPEED.
When we welcomed Audi’s flagship (read ‘premium’) A8 L onto The Management Fleet, we assumed the first ‘how’s it going’ report would concern the ride comfort, the 700km-plus fuel range, or – at a pinch – the ambient cabin lighting (there’s three options to choose from and everything). Focus on luxurious sofa-to-office cruising however leapt almost gazelle-like out the window when we first put Audi’s 4-litre V8 to the test on a lengthy and surprisingly empty stretch of road. A 0-100kph time of 4.6 seconds in today’s automotive world may not seem all that impressive, but make absolutely no mistake, Audi’s flagship premium saloon is properly quick.
The pull of those 3993cc from the off is phenomenal: slide the eight-speed Tiptronic into Sport (cue those faster shift times), plant the right moccasin, and you’ll be surprised just how violent this premium barge can be, and not just in the low revs. Flick down a couple of gears (tut tut Audi, those plastic wheel mounted paddles continue to let you down) and the pull is dramatic, even at cruising speeds. Be warned though, cruise control in this instance is crucial: the ride is ridiculously comfortable, the lack of wind or cabin noise negating almost all sense of speed at pace. Peer down at the speedometer and don’t be surprised to find yourself cantering towards the double ton without realising. No tickets yet fortunately.
Speed fascinations aside, the A8 L has also won many supporters at crankandpiston.com based purely on its looks – we particularly like the way the rear LED indicators scroll across the taillights rather than flashing simultaneously – and at the moment there are few qualms to speak of. Fast the Audi might be but there’s little feel in the overly power-assisted steering, and the lack of a USB port is actually more irritating than we first thought (those iPhones do run out of juice quickly). On the whole though, the big Audi is proving a sensation.
We’ll let you know if we still feel that way if/when the first speeding ticket rolls in.
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| Audi | A8 L |
|---|---|
| Engine: | V8 / 3993cc |
| Power | 435bhp @ 5100-6000rpm |
| Torque | 442lb ft ft @ 1500-5000rpm |
| Transmission | Eight-speed tiptronic automatic / Quattro all-wheel drive |
| Front suspension | Adaptive air suspension with four selectable modes |
| Rear suspension | Adaptive air suspension with four selectable modes |
| Brakes | Carbon fibre-reinforced ceramic brake discs front and rear |
| Wheels | 21” x 9J ‘5-arm Structure’ alloys front and rear |
| Tyres | 75/35 R21 front and rear |
| Weight (unladen) | 1975kg |
| Power-to-weight | 220bhp/ton |
| 0-100kph | 4.6sec |
| Top speed: | 250kph (limited) |
| Price: | $104,500 (base) / $125,200 (test model) |
