Audi A8

On the inside, needless to say, the new Audi A8 has taken the game one level up by bringing new technologies on board, which make the car feel more luxurious and futuristic than before.

The new four-spoke steering wheel has been designed in a very unique manner and goes well with the new sleeker design language with sharper chrome-laden spokes and trapezoidal center boss. The instrument console, like in all the new generation Audis, is a fully digital colored unit with a host of information on the display.

What has seen the most drastic amount of change is the way the dashboard has been layout as well as the all-new futuristic looking center console. Like in every other flagship luxury saloon, you do get a host of multi-color ambient lighting, luxurious leather interiors, wood upper inlays and trim options with different color combinations to choose from.

The center of attraction is the futuristic looking center console. You do get two screens positioned one above the other, in slanting fashion, with both the screens getting voice guided controls for operating its host of functions and features. The upper 10.1-inch touchscreen provides ample information about your music system, navigation with 3D city models. On the other hand, the lower 8.6-inch touchscreen is for controls of automatic climate control and various other controls like massage function and heating as well as cooling of seats.

In terms of features and functions, one does get a plethora of equipment, the most prominent ones being the air quality package with two fragrances to choose from, high quality full leather interiors, rear seat entertainment functions with 10-inch removable screens behind the front seats and rear seat remote, exclusive coolbox in the rear seat, panoramic glass sunroof and a premium Bang & Olufsen premium audio system with 3D surround sound.

On the outside, the new generation Audi A8 is a far departure from the lesser spec Audi sedans and previews an all-new design language. The new tweaked design is sharper and angular to look at, yet maintains the sophisticated stance for which A8 has always been known for.

Starting from the front, the new Audi A8 has got an all-new hexagonal grille with sharper edges and bolder chrome slats than before. The headlamps too have ditched rounded edges for sharper ones with full Matrix LED pattern within them. The fog lamps have got a minimalist design, however, the thin strips of chrome garnish above and below them lend them a premium touch.

From the side, the Audi A8 impresses one with its immense profile with elongated length, especially in the long-wheelbase versions. This directly translates to a serious road presence which somehow the previous generations of the Audi A8 lacked a bit. The adequate usage of chrome around the windows and a long strip of chrome downwards the doors add into the sophistication of the car. You do get a host of alloy wheels to choose from, with the biggest of them – 20-inch ones – making the car look even more premium.

At the rear, the new Audi A8 brings in some even more drastic changes which previously no other Audi sedan has got. The sleeker-than-before full LED tail lamps now are adjoined with a long strip of OLED tail light with a chrome strip below it, much like the one which we have seen in new generation Porsches. This not only makes the rear look good when illuminated but also make the car look much wider than what it is. The rear bumper too gets elongated chrome strips in its lower portions.

Thanks to the precise Quattro all-wheel-drive system and a sophisticated fully electrically adjustable suspension system at both front and rear, the A8 handles and rides like a charm. You do feel almost negligible jerks and bumps while driving on the tarmac. The new dynamic four-wheel steering reduces a lot of effort while parking and maneuvering in city conditions. The suspension, as well as braking setups, can be manipulated as per the driver’s preferences via the Audi MMI interface within the instrument console. With this, you do get a number of personalized settings to choose from.

For the Middle East, Audi has ditched the oil burners and made the A8 available in two engine options for both standard and long wheelbase versions. Talking about the smaller engine first, the 3.0-litre V6 55 TFSI petrol engine develops 340 bhp of maximum power output and 500 Nm of peak torque. On the other hand, the 4.0-litre V8 60 TFSI engine pumps out a maximum power output of 460 bhp and a peak torque of 660 Nm. Both these engine options get an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox as well as permanent all-wheel drive Quattro system as standard. The car also comes with a mild hybrid system, which gets Belt Starter Generator for dual functions of an electric motor and alternator, in order to provide better efficiency and boost in power at the same time.

Being a flagship sedan, it is a no-brainer that the A8 is extremely loaded with the best of the world of safety equipment. Apart from the usual airbags and in-trend electronic safety and riding aids, the new Audi A8 also employs up to 41 radar-based assistance systems, cameras and ultrasound and laser scanner. This whole makes up a sophisticated and tech-packed safety package with minimal driver effort, thus ensuring the maximum possible safety of inner occupants.

Audi introduced the A8 for the first time in 1994 with a sole aim of making it its benchmark, in terms of luxury and technology. With the new generation Audi A8, it has only made that statement firmer, thanks to its futuristic appeal and tons of modern equipment and tech on offer. The new Audi A8 not only looks cool, but also has got that immense road presence which it always deserved, thanks to a new sharper and sleeker design language. In a typical Audi fashion, the new A8’s set of powerful petrol engines as well as Quattro driving modes aid in delivering a plush and extremely comfortable riding experience.