Audi A8

Overview

The full-size all-luxury sedan manufactured and marketed by the German automaker (Audi), Audi A8 is harmonious, comfortable and luxurious delivering the huge amount of performance, royalty and excellence. Audi A8 is a luxury sedan, placed comfortably on the top on Audi A series line-up, and so it is a given that Audi A8 delivers superior panache in everything embedded on it from exterior to interior. This four-door car is fitted with an entire array of advance technology to make your driving experience as serene as possible. The latest Audi A8 is made available in Malaysian market under a single executive variant Audi A8L. This drive is powered by a very powerful V6 TFSI engine with direct fuel injection and mechanical charging. The maximum power output delivered measures 310 bhp between 5200 to 6500 rpm. Alongside this power output the maximum torque measures 440 Nm between 2900 to 4750 rpm.

This five-door top-end luxury sedan is extremely comfortable, technologically advanced and feels impeccably comfortable while driving. Truly, be it comfort, functionality, excellent design or the overall sportiness of the drive Audi A8 excels at everything. The interior is surrounded with leather upholstery which truly displays a different class, every corner is filled with mechanization to make your every penny spent worth it. But Audi A8 is not all about style and the sedan features various safety equipment too, including Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Pre-sense system, Cruise Control, Tyre pressure loss indicator and integrated head restraint system. For more access to fun and driving, the new Audi A8 is fitted with multi-accessories and entertainment functions including MMI(R) radio plus which is appointed with triple tuner and phase diversity for improved sound, Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound system consisting subwoofer with its own amplifier and Bose Surround Sound enclosing 12-channel amplifier and 14 loudspeakers. All in all, the new Audi A8 is integrated harmoniously into a masterpiece work of art.

Mileage and Fuel economy

As mentioned before, the new Audi A8 is equipped with a beast of an engine. The V6 3.0-litre TFSI engine delivers a very impressive mileage count of 7.9 L/100 km (12.7 km/L). These are pretty decent figures, considering the size of this giant saloon car and the big engine embedded on it. The Recuperation Energy recovery system employed across this sedan, is probably the biggest contributer to the fuel economy of Audi A8 despite such a gigantic size, this system converts the braking kinetic energy to an acceleration assist power which overall reduces the strain off the alternator and in turn increases the overall efficiency of the drive.

Power

Audi A8L in the Malaysian market is launched with only one petrol engine variant. The 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with direct fuel injection and mechanical charging module delivers a maximum power output of a massive 310 bhp between 5200 to 6500 rpm. The maximum torque output to compliment this motor measures 440 Nm between 2900 to 4750 rpm.

Acceleration & Pickup

The huge body of Audi A8 despite its size is made to race through the air. The acceleration count (0-100 kmph) of this luxury measures a meager 5.9 seconds. When it comes to the top speed count of Audi A8, it is electronically limited to 250 kmph which may leave you wondering, how fast the drive really is.

Exterior

The newest generation of Audi A8, being on the top of array, truly stands out as one of the most luxurious sedan on the road. Its appealing exterior style and everyday practicality opens the door to discover the world around. The distinctive front design embracing body colored front bumper and grille detailing goes long with the new LED headlamps styling. The latest Audi A8L also comprises of amazing equipment including Audi matrix LED headlights (combines the camera system with adaptive light distribution control), LED rear lights with dynamic indicators, dark tinted rear windows, power assisted door closing and side sill trims. Exhaust tailpipes embracing dual-branch design with trapezoidal chrome surrounds and integrated into the bumper is also an impressive exterior insert of Audi A8L.

Exterior Measurements

We wouldn't be wrong in saying that Audi A8 is probably one of the most massive sedans to have stepped foot on the Malaysian market. The dimensions will prove our claim, with the overall dimensions measuring 5265mm x 1949mm x 1471mm (L x W x H), it is just a massive chunk of excellence. The wheelbase employed is also 3122 mm, for a 2 row arrangement there is more cabin space than you could possibly ask for.

Interior

The new Audi A8 presents a well organized, top-quality and business like environment to its prospective occupants. It is very unlike to find many better cabins than the one that Audi A8 comprise. Audi A8 is embedded with advance standard equipments including interior lighting package (reading lights, footwell lighting, door trim lighting, vanity lighting, side-mounted reading lights and luggage compartment lighting in LED technology), Ambient lighting (It is an anti-glare background lighting during the long journey), door sill trims with aluminum inlays, vanity mirrors, leather covered multi function steering wheel, electric slide and tilt glass sunroof and panoramic glass sunroof. Alongside, it also has deluxe automatic air conditioning system for both driver and front passenger, 4-zone deluxe automatic air conditioning for rear passengers, auxiliary heating or ventilation, ioniser, 230V/115V/100V socket for charging your laptops, mobile phones or other AC equipment, driver information system for color display, MMI(R) navigation with 8-inch MMI touchscreen, Bose Surround Sound, Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System. Also, as an optional for amazing entertainment facility, Audi A8 comes enclosing two high-resolution 10.2 inch LCD displays in the rear seat to make your ride a class apart.

Interior Comfort

On the inside, the Audi A8 maintains their reputation for providing their consumers, the best interiors design and comfort. The steering wheel is leather covered, comes with 4-spoke design and employs paddle shift. With its amazing leather seats that can be heated or ventilated, and even though comes with massage functions is more likely to be quite comfortable. The double or acoustic glazing that provides improved exterior noise insulation and theft protection, and comfortable centre armrest for the front passengers to make their ride more relaxing. Overall, the latest Audi A8 is one of the most pleasing cars money can buy, while those lavish seats are soft and highly supportive.

Interior Measurements

The Audi A8L's considerate dimensions commences space and comfort of the vehicle. It offers a maximum boot volume of 520-litres. With a huge 3122 mm wheelbase, the cabin space offered is one of the best in class and understandably so for a top-end luxury drive.

Engine and Performance

Across the Malaysian market, Audi A8L is launched with one petrol engine embedded only. The 3.0-litre V6 petrol engine with direct fuel injection and mechanical charging module delivers a maximum power output of a massive 310 bhp between 5200 to 6500 rpm. The maximum torque output to compliment this motor measures 440 Nm between 2900 to 4750 rpm. Bundled with this engine the 8-speed Auto transmission with Dynamic Shift Program (DSP) ensures much faster gear changes without any sort of interruption in the flow of power of this drive. The TFSI technology embedded ensures dynamic performance coupled with amazing efficiency.

Stereo and Accessories

On board, Audi A8L is equipped with advance stereo/music or audio system i.e. MMI(R) radio plus which is appointed with triple tuner and phase diversity for better sound, TP memo function (automatic storage of traffic messages), single DVD drive, 2 SDHC memory card readers and 20GB storage capacity. This advance system is controlled by an 8-inch touchscreen up top the dashboard and supports MP3, WMA and AAC audio formats, as well as MPEG-1 to MPEG-4,WMV, Xvid video formats. Moreover, this luxury sedan comprises digital audio broadcasting, Digital TV reception, Audi music interface (USB connectivity and Aux-in interface), DVD/CD changer, Audi sound system (equipped with a combination of 6-channel amplifier with a total output of 180 watts and 10 loud speakers), Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound system (comprising subwoofer with its own amplifier channel), and Bose Surround Sound (12-channel amplifier with total output of over 600 watts and 14 loudspeakers).

Wheels

Appointed with large and substantial wheels, the new Audi A8L signifies its toughness. The size of these 15-spoke polished cast aluminum rims measure 19 inches with a tyre size measuring 255/45 R19.

Braking and Handling

This full-size luxury sedan owes its sporty aspects in the large part of the classy chassis. It is installed with Audi drive select system which varies the function in with different modes including auto, comfort, dynamic, efficiency and individual. It offers adaptive air suspension and adaptive air suspension-sport that regulates the vehicle automatically with adaptive damping. The power steering of Audi A8 uses an efficient electromechanical drive which combines precision and comfort with exceptional energy-saving technology. Dynamic steering, which helps you to improve handling and ride comfort by dynamically controlling the steering based on the speed driven, and ventilated and perforated carbon fibre ceramic brake discs (front and rear) are also provided by latest Audi A8. In addition, quattro(R) (permanent all-wheel drive with self-locking centre), quattro(R) with sport differential, tiptronic (8-speed automatic transmission with Dynamic Shift Program (DSP)), secondary collision brake assist and Anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) are add-on features of this luxurious sedan.

Safety and Security

Plenty of hi-tech safety equipment are fitted in the latest evolution of Audi A8 as standard features, including six airbags, advanced anti-lock braking system, electronic stability control (ESC) which improves the vehicle's stability by detecting and decreasing the loss of skidding, cruise control, tyre pressure loss indicator which monitors the amount of pressure inside the tyres and integrated head restraint system. In addition, the A8 is equipped with a system called Pre-sense, which closes the windows, activates hazard lights and strains the seat belts, if it detects a collision. Also, it has Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), ISOFIX child seat mounting and top tether for the outer rear seats and Side Impact Protection, complementing A8's occupants with advance safety features.

Pros

All-luxury drive
Best in class Hi-tech equipment
Very Comfortable and quiet

Cons

Competitors are a tad-bit exciting
Availability of only petrol engine