This is the new... I mean revised Audi A8
Singapore - Audi’s very aluminium flagship sedan, the A8 returns, and is now only available in its long wheelbase body style. As expected, Audi has kept the redesign understated, mainly with tweaks to the grille, reshaped air intakes, and restyled headlights.
Speaking of headlights, the Digital Matrix LED units (similar to those on these EVs we recently drove up north), which are optional on the A8 L and standard on the S8, benefit from DMD (digital micromirror device) technology; with each headlamp containing around 1.3 million micromirrors, which break the light into pixels. The resulting effect is a “carpet of light” which illuminates the lane in-front of the car with exceptional brightness.
The A8 L will come with a standard chrome exterior package, and for the first time, the S line exterior package will be made available as an option; meaning that you can have yourself a make-believe S8. With the facelift, there are now eleven regular paint options available, including four new colours, metallic district green, firmament blue, Manhattan grey, and ultra blue. Also new here are five matte finishes - Daytona Grey, Floret Silver, District Green, Terra Grey, and Glacier White.
On the inside, the A8 L is coated in upholstered with Valcona leather, and owners can expect luxurious electric many-things, from 22-way adjustable seats to four-zone automatic air-conditioning. The 4.0 V8 and S8 cars are also fitted with back massage functions, as standard equipment for all four seats.
The A8 L retains its twin MMI touchscreen displays for its infotainment, consisting of a pair of stacked 10.1-inch and 8.6-inch screens. The infotainment system which can respond via voice activation, is powered by Audi’s current MIB3 firmware. Buyers of the 4.0 V8 also benefit from a pair of 10.1-inch screens facing the rear seats, while this is an option for the S8.
Ride quality is also high on Audi’s design brief, where all cars are equipped with a standard adaptive air suspension with controlled damping. Buyers of the A8 L can also have the option of a camera-aided predictive active suspension, which regulates damping on individual wheels, while the camera scans the road ahead for dips and peaks. The predictive suspension is standard kit on the S8. As part of the suspension system, additional power can be fed to each wheel, through the assistance of an electric motor, to help in balancing out the chassis. Additionally, when driving in Comfort+ mode, the curve tilting function activates, leaning the A8 into the direction of the turn up to an angle of 3 degrees, to reduce the effects of cornering.
Getting in and out is also made easer, as the body raises up to 50mm, when the doors are opened.
All cars are also equipped with progressive steering, and also benefit from dynamic all-wheel steering for added tighter steering circles and smoother lane changes.
The “base” A8 L gets its power from a 3.0 TFSI V6, which delivers 340ps and 500Nm, while the 4.0 V8 produces 460ps and 660Nm. The latter also features a cylinder on demand system (COD), which temporarily deactivates one bank of cylinders during low engine loads, to reduce fuel consumption.
The higher-powered S8 utilises a twin-turbocharged version of the V8, which generates 571ps and 800Nm, and boasts a 3.8-second century sprint. The S8’s V8 also gets the same COD system found in the A8 L V8.
The S8 additionally gets a set of sound flaps in the exhaust for a sportier sound profile.
The facelifted Audi A8 L and S8 are *priced (inclusive of COE) as below:
Audi A8 L 3.0 TFSI - $516,677
Audi A8 L 4.0 TFSI - $684,675
Audi S8 - $719,546
PHOTOS Audi Singapore
Audi A8 L 3.0 TFSI
Engine 2995cc, inline4, turbocharged
Power/rpm 340hp/5000-6400rpm
Torque/rpm 500Nm/1370-4500rpm
Transmission 8spd tiptronic auto
0-100km/h 5.7secs
Top Speed 250km/h
Fuel Consumption 10.6l/100km
Audi A8 L 4.0 TFSI
Engine 3996cc, V8, Turbocharged
Power/rpm 460hp/5500rpm
Torque/rpm 660Nm/1850-4500rpm
Transmission 8spd tiptronic auto
0-100km/h 4.5secs
Top Speed 250km/h
Fuel Consumption 12.4l/100km
Audi S8
Engine 3996cc, V8, twin-turbo
Power/rpm 571hp/6000rpm
Torque/rpm 800Nm/2050-4000rpm
Transmission 8spd tiptronic auto
0-100km/h 3.8secs
Top Speed 250km/h
Fuel Consumption 12l/100km
*accurate at time of publication
