Seductive Styling and Sinful Performance
Whoa! The A8 might be the most beautifully styled sedan currently being made. Of course I tend to like the understated, with a leaning towards contemporary design. To me, each crease, bend and fold is perfectly executed. One angle after another the car speaks to my soul, stimulating my senses.
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| The A8 might be the most beautifully styled sedan currently being made. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
It's not hard to tell I'm a car guy, but even if you're not it'll be difficult to argue over the A8's appearance. I found the same discriminating good taste inside as well. Understated elegance; the two words I most frequently refer to when people ask me to describe it. The gorgeous palladium burr walnut veneer, finely detailed metal trim accents, beautiful cream colored leathers, it's really a feast for the eyes.
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| The 330-hp 4.2-L V8 sends the 1,995 kg (4,398 lb) A8 L to 100 km/h in 6.4 seconds. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, Canadian Auto Press) |
Compared to the electronic keys of its top-tier rivals Audi's once state of the art switchblade key fob now seems a little archaic, nevertheless it ignites a powerplant that is anything but commonplace. The new 330-hp 4.2-L V8 with 317 lb-ft of torque pushes and pulls the car briskly via quattro all-wheel drive, arriving at 100 km/h in a surprisingly quick 6.4 seconds. Why do I say 'surprisingly quick' when it's actually slower than the BMW 745i, Lexus LS 430, Mercedes-Benz S500 and Infiniti Q45? Because the only A8 available in Canada is the much longer A8 L, a commodious stretched wheelbase version weighing in at 1,995 kg (4,398 lbs).
Despite its limousine-like rear seat compartment, the A8 L's takeoff is hardly smooth unless babying the throttle. It jerks away from standstill even in its regular 'D' transmission setting, not properly fitting its luxurious mission. On the positive, when shifted into its quicker reacting 'S' mode the big Audi is incredibly entertaining. Gear changes are snappy and precisely executed all the way from first to sixth. The transmission allows sequential manual shifting too, via the console mounted gear lever. But where are the steering wheel controls? I've become used to the convenience of tapping thumb buttons or pulling back on paddles, features available in rival luxury cars, and expected something similar to be part of the A8 package.