Old-fashioned but also tech savvy
The flagship Audi luxury car is still a sedan, not an SUV, writes Richard Bosselman.
New-age ga-jiillionaire arrives at futuristic secret lair or world headquarters to lay out world-altering grand plan. This is the car he rolls up in. Meted every advanced technology Audi can lay hands on, with luxury and a quality of finish befitting the price tag, the A8 is a pinnacle of achievement.
Um, why’s a sedan the flagship when we all prefer SUVS now?
Yes, huge high-stepping wagons are top status symbols in many parts, New Zealand included, but in the really key markets – Europe, North America and China – large limos retain higher kudos, so remain first for latest, glitziest tech. Audi is not alone. BMW, Mercedes-benz and Lexus also stick to this tradition.
This will restrict appeal, Audi New Zealand agrees, yet while expecting the annual count will be modest, it still reckons the car earns its keep.
This is genuinely premium, operating with quiet yet absolute authority. We see only the longwheelbase edition, 167mm longer than its predecessor, yet appearance is so balanced it is neither overly ostentatious nor in need of ‘‘Beast’’ plates.
It’s a whole new model, not a facelift?
Confusion understood. This fourth gen is something of a fourth revision of a formulaic shape, but it has changed massively.
It looks properly expensive, even in tiny details. The body length ‘‘tornado line’’ gently blending into the boot is a wee yet assuredly complex, costly detail.
The interior astounds. Buttons, dials physical switches … pah, who needs those? Instrumentation represents on massive high definition colour haptic touchscreens, the largest for the infotainment, satellite navigation and various connected services, along with controls for the car’s setup; the lower containing comfort controls. When not required, the biggest display can be switched off and its black panel technology makes it blend almost invisibly into the panel that surrounds it.
Touch-sensitive buttons mean hands-off for just long enough to impress or alarm, depending on how much of the route the scanners can ‘‘see’’ and adjust to.
It’s certainly brilliant to be a passenger – from a pair of massaging and reclining rear seats you can control the premium sound system, raise or lower window blinds and mess with the HD matrix reading lights – but cool to drive, too.
Swishing down motorways is a cinch; where A8s stand taller than other big limos is with their secondary road confidence, thanks to quattro and light (for the type) kilo count. Grip and traction are always there and with carbon fibre reinforced underpinnings and almost two-thirds of the construction still being from aluminium, it is almost nimble. Beyond that there’s adaptive air suspension; serene in Comfort to quite sporty, though not, of course, Rs-like.
Steering weight can be adjusted and while it feels very light to the touch and digitised, the tight turning and rear-steer influence will be welcomed by those doing hotel and embassy pickups.
Isn’t a V6 a letdown?
Previous A8s here have been V8 – as will next year’s S8 – but. though no bahn-burner. the six is fine for our environment, appealing with easyflowing torque, good power, decent economy and refinement.
The drivetrain features a 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain, with a belt starter/generator that chimes in with 12kw of power and 60Nm of torque. This aids a quick-smart 0-100kmh time and also allows engine-off coasting under light load and when stopping from slow speed.
No plugs are involved, as the lithium-ion battery recharges through driving, nor driver interaction as on-board cameras detect suitable conditions and act accordingly.
Is it good value?
The previous edition cost close to $250k and had less spec than this S55 edition. You can enhance with laser and OLED lights for $8k, a 3D sound system for – cough – $15k and a rear seat package at just $7500, but it’s really a complete car from the box.