AUDI A8 L Review

When Audi launched the fourth generation of the A8, the board members didn’t want to hear any excuses based on the argument that the competitors had years of tradition behind them when the company introduced the first A8. The pedigree was already there now, so they expected the customers to love their model unconditionally.

Being Audi employees, the staff knew they couldn’t use any sci-fi design or engineering shortcuts to achieve the aforementioned goal, so they wiped the sweat off their foreheads and started working on every little detail of the luxury sedan.

Audi’s engineers don’t get the occasion to go wild very often, but this is exactly what happened when the A8 got its 2013 model year update. The men grabbed a few cranes and tore some of the engines away. These were replaced with fresh downsized units and, among other changes, this led to the A8 receiving a new entry-level powerplant.

We’re talking about the 3.0 TFSI supercharged V6, the unit that powered our test car. Nevertheless, we wanted to be fair with the A8 and let it demonstrate its full potential, so we went for the Long version.

Audi’s been building its flagship sedan out of aluminum for almost two decades now and the same goes for fitting the vehicle with its quattro AWD system, so we’re expecting to be nothing less than impressed by the A8.

Before we start our drive there’s a bet to be made and it all has to do with the decision of choosing the A8 Long model. If the beefier version turns out to be a good choice, the editor who selected it lives to see another driving day. Should the extra wheelbase bring too much trouble, the one who made the choice has to clean the car after the test drive. All by himself.

The Audi A8 L puts all its Long-ness into its wheelbase, with the overhangs keeping their size. And the extra 5.1 inches (130 mm) of the car allows it to give the rest of the Audi range a superior look.

It's not a secret that Audi's models are too closely related in terms of design - the company itself has admitted this. Well, the A8 Long has more personality than the standard car and while you may be forgiven for confusing the A8 with an A6 from the distance, the problem is smaller in the case of the A8 L.

For reasons that the engineers still keep hidden in a bottle, the A8 L is also 0.08 inches (2 mm) higher than the normal A8, while the width was left unchanged.

The robotic, uptight face of the Audi A8 feels like it had been waiting for the increase in length, so that it could impose even more respect.

Alas, nothing could be done for the rear end. Things are unchanged here and while the styling cues still encourage you to keep your white collar on, the resemblance with lesser Audi models, such as the A4, is most obvious here.

Of course, the elongation means that the Audi A8 enters the so-called limo segment and the rest of its styling fully supports this.

Just like Audi's visual DNA makes the R8 special in the supercar segment, the Audi A8 Long has a well-defined place in its league. The lines bond to give an impression of elegance, but Audi's 'Vorspung Durch Technik" motto shines through the aluminum of the design.

As you open the rear door, you’ll be impressed by its length (the door has been elongated). The process reveals a cabin that looks ready to accommodate your business apparel, but doesn’t try to impress with overly flamboyant elements.

Nevertheless, once that door closes and you get to spend a few minutes inside the Audi A8 L, you’ll be surprised by the perfect ergonomics hidden behind the tastefully restrained shapes. There are a few exceptions, elements that like to stand out and the most striking is the set of eye-catching rear ashtrays.

In the back, headroom is up one inch, legroom is boosted by 4.2 inches. But these are just numbers and the Audi A8 L has much more to offer. The overall control layout is intuitive and there seems to be just the right amount of dedicated buttons.

There are many reasons for ordering the optional individual rear seats and the separate full-length rear console. We’d do it for the sheer fun, just like we would play with that meddling little button that allows you to control the front passenger’s seat. By the way, the console can come with a folding table or a refrigerator. And while they don’t supply the drinks, you can get a panoramic glass roof that’s made of two separate transparent panels featuring with a elegant textile covers. These bring a bit of extra sun into a cabin that’s already well lit.

Fun and games here in the back are a nice way to spend your day, but somebody has to drive the car, so we’re moving to the front. The dimensions here are identical to those in the regular Audi A8, which means that you get plenty of space.

Captain Obvious will notice that after you’ve been inside the A8, you won’t want to spend your time in any other Audi in the line-up. We get the same cabin-wrapped-around-both-occupants feeling from the Audi A7, but there are many elements that make you say that this is the complete experience.

The front area follows the same principle as the rear one: look at it from outside and you won’t imagine how refreshingly comfortable those seats can be. There is one problem with the front seats though, as the headrests are way too firm.

The driving position lets you know you’re in command, but it’s also a bit sporty. Feel free to relax when looking in front of you or to the sides, but do take care when aiming to take a peek behind you, as the angle of the rear window partially limits the visibility.

The 18 cubic feet (510 liters) of the A8’s trunk were considered enough, so the Long version doesn’t get an upgrade. However, if you do end up in a situation where your luggage exceeds the capacity, you can always leave it there and ask the driver to take care of the situation.

Let's be honest, the Audi A8 wasn't exactly a car designed for the ever-growing urban frenzy. Thus, anybody who complains about the extra length of the A8 L version affecting the city driving capacity of the car is malicious.

And if we're talking numbers, we'll tell you that the A8 L comes with a turning radius of 41.7 feet (12.7 meters), which is extremely close to that of the normal A8.

While you're driving the thing, you don't really feel like you're in a car that's designed to spoil its rear occupants. The Audi A8, even in the Long version, has a certain agility, an asset that allows you to negotiate your way through the urban traffic.

The size of the car is partially concealed by this and with the introduction of the supercharged V6 here, things just got better.

We've been falling in and out of the rush hour madness today and we've found that the low-end torque provided by the supercharger is our best friend in this kind of situations.

The eight-speed auto isn't bad either. The gearbox is very well mannered and it doesn't miss any shifting opportunity to demonstrate its education.

There really isn't much time to play with the various driving modes of the Audi A8 L in these ever-changing driving conditions, so it's best to leave them all in "auto".

We're in the back now and the world suddenly looks a bit further away. We don't care if it's raining outside or if the newspapers talk about a dim future. Today we're spoiling ourselves and the A8 Long is a good tool for this.

Of course, there comes a time in a man's life when the car has to be parked. The A8 L is no friend of the tight shopping mall parking spaces, but you'll get over the unpleasant moments pretty fast. You will be annoyed by the gear shift operation though. That’s because the design makes it very easy to put the car into neutral instead of reverse or vice-versa.

Upon slotting it nicely in between two cars that now look "average", we exit with one thought in our minds - Audi's A8 Long doesn't ask the driver to pay too much for all the treats it offers to those in the back.

The 2013 Audi A8 L is the kind of car you’d choose for a trip across the country, so this is exactly what we did. Right now we’re ignoring the lack of a “Q” in its designation, as we’re using all 207 inches (5.27m) of it to navigate our way through the desert. All we’ve done is release a bit of air from the tires and the car seems to be just fine with driving on the paths the camels created in the sand.

The dunes look menacing, but we’re not straying from our line and the car feels extremely balanced. The air suspension is doing a great job down there and everybody in the car, including the driver, is relaxed. This is the ultimate test for the Audi A8 L’s comfort and it’s been passed with flying colors. Even the coffee in our cups has decided to stay inside.

We’ve had the suspension in Comfort mode, but now we’re back on the road and we can tell you that it’s best to leave it in Auto. The same goes for the steering, which only gains artificial weight if switched into Sport.

Despite its elongated nature, the car is surprisingly keen on the turn in. You really don’t feel that you’re driving the Long model, as the vehicle stays planted through the corners. This is just the kind of dynamics such a vehicle needs. As long as you stay within certain limits, the Audi A8 L is pleasantly responsive.

Of course, if you drive it past seven or eight tenths, you’ll feel the understeer that’s been planted within the setup. You’ll also want some extra feedback from the steering

Speaking of limits, if you didn’t like the 155 mph (250 km/h) Gentleman’s Agreement in Germany, you should know that the US legislation puts an annoying 130 mph (210 km/h) leash on this car.

We spent our test drive with the entry-level engine, but the 3.0 TFSI supercharged V6 offers more than enough grunt for going past the aforementioned limit. It doesn’t take an IQ above average to figure out that is this engine is enough for the Audi S4, it will do in the A8, with or without the L part.

Nevertheless, it’s admirable to see the V6 at work. It may be a bit short on power compared to the naturally-aspirated 4.2-liter V8 it replaces, but it more than makes up for this through the meaty low-end torque. From 2,000 rpm onwards you feel like you’re walking a pretty mean dog.

And the relaxed nature of its linear power deliver means that the 3.0 TFSI fits the Audi A8 L perfectly. You should only opt for a bigger engine if you’re the kind that asks himself in-gear acceleration questions on the way to the office.

And we’re not the only ones that appreciate this unit. The eight-speed automatic Tiptronic gearbox also likes it - otherwise it wouldn’t it do such a good job at channeling its power.

The shifts are seamless and, if you’re in a hurry (read: full-throttle shifting), the transmission sends a little shock when upshifting just to let you know it’s got the picture.

The powertrain has the technical elegance to allow you to also drive it in Sport mode all day long if that’s what you want. The engine and gearbox modes are the only ones we liked to handle on our own and these really make a difference. For example, the Sport mode allows the engine to clearly change its voice, not a bad treat at all.

Since we’re downsizing here, we must also talk fuel efficiency and, to put it shortly, the change is worth it. Driving in a manner that won’t upset the people in the back does allow you to stick to the 21 mpg combined (11.2 liters per 100 km) EPA figure. We, however, had a little problem with our ankle and thus we averaged 17 mpg (13.8 liters per 100 km).

The Audi A8 L may be designed to bring pleasure for those using its back seats, but if you have a driver, you may want to fire him, as this is the kind of luxury sedan you’ll want to drive yourself.