Inside the Audi A8 cabin, things were pretty much the same as I had left them during a test drive a couple of years ago. An almost obstinate consistency has always been an Audi trait, and for once I was thankful for it!
Design and dimensions
The Audi A8 I was testing was the mid trim and missed Audi’s flagship features like matrix headlamps, but the full-size sedan from the German marque has everything that actually matters – the spaciousness, the luxurious ride and the serious signature of accomplishment.
The grille with the four rings at the centre looks awesome with emphatic ornamentation, while the Audi A8 continues to demonstrate how the power of subtlety can be translated to ‘powerful’. The rear lamps spread from end to end, with a code-like line break at places. The only embellishment in the profile is the distinct shoulder lines and the sharp antenna other than the elegant 19” wheels.
In recent times, many of Audi’s rivals seem to have assumed a rather loud persona with flashy light shows. However, upholding its subtle character, the Audi A8 is still for those who wish to celebrate modern art in their garage.
Dimensions: 5190 x 1945 1473 mm
Boot space: 505 L
Cabin and comforts
Inside, the sand-coloured Nappa leather seats spread a familiar canvas in the generous space tailored for four executive travellers, along with a capacious boot that can accommodate their business class luggage. The cabin storage isn’t that extensive but adequate with seatback pockets and central armrest storage.
The dashboard has been revisited with a dramatic unveiling of the air-conditioning vents as the wooden panels roll back as soon as the ignition revs up the car. The combination of classic leather, authentic wood and aluminium panels on the dashboard and door-side trims define the cabin aesthetics. Being the flagship, Audi A8 comes with automatic soft-close doors.
The console is just wide enough to be called wide, with cupholders and the armrest. Under the armrest there is space to tuck away your mobile. In there, a symbol for NFC was embedded but the induction charger seems to be missing. The spec sheet, however, clarifies that it can be an option. The power output was still on conventional mode with a plug-in cigarette lighter styled source. The addition of a USB charging port only as optional equipment and the missing wireless charger would be the only drawback to be pointed out among cabin conveniences.
On paper, the Audi A8 offers an individual temperature setting for all its four passengers. However, the mid-trim seemed to be a dual zone setting with adjustable blowers in the rear. The in-house Audi music system is on par with the international brands that used to be here once.
I usually harp on the luxury of quietness in a cabin, equally priceless for merger conversations and long family rides. With acoustic glass, road and wind noise are almost absent within the A8 cabin. Aided by air suspensions that can be set to four levels with regard to driving and access height, this large car can cruise on soft balloons.
Cabin tech
The Audi ‘virtual cockpit’ features Audi’s characteristic circular gauges with a neatly arranged driver information space in between. The controls are split between two screens. Below the screen for multimedia interface and camera is the one for air-conditioning controls. But what is interesting is the switchover that happens when a command requires verbal input. This space transforms into a writing pad, a neat piece of tech that hugely impressed me when I experienced it in the A6 when it was launched. My handwriting, sometimes hard for my friends to make out, was well received by the Audi brain – especially the address inputs and casually squiggled numbers, which made navigation and telephone commands as easy as ABC. For those who still quirkily prefer a QWERTY, a keypad is available.
The camera offers a top angle perspective with a 3D view that offered an all-round assessment of the surroundings. The guidelines in the extra wide camera could at times be confusing but along with the 3D rendering, they make for perfect parking aids.
The Drive
The Audi A8 55 TSI Quattro is powered by a 3.0L V6 engine good for 340 hp and 500 Nm of torque. The quiet and luxurious ride is the highlight but the reassurance the car offers a driver is equally impressive.
Even though Matrix LEDs aren’t there, the automatic headlamps switch between dim and bright according to surrounding brightness and oncoming traffic. Driver assistance tech includes a host of passive safety features like blind spot monitor, adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, cross traffic alert and emergency braking – everything working just the way it should – neither being intrusive nor lackadaisical. (I refrain from calling in the cliché “German, after all!”) There was a brief interlude of blind spot on the side mirror but the flashing yellow on the mirror anyway alerted the driver to any car closing in.
Audi A8 promises 13.4 km per litres and often fulfilled it with a close 9.5 kmpl, unless the flagship floated in traffic clocking close to 7 kmpl.
The essential Audi A8
The Audi shift to electric cars is obvious in the rapid ascent of e-tron models. A6 too is following suit but there isn’t similar word on the A8 yet. With fewer options from the European stables that offer classic luxury that respect the art of subtlety, Audi A8 is more like the final frontier of ‘pristine luxury that is timeless’.
Warranty: 3 years unlimited manufacturer’s warranty | Service package: 5 years or 75,000 km
Price: AED 419,900 onwards
