Audi A8 L W12

[EXTRACT]#EANF# Thus far as I will see, and I accept some subtle point could have escaped me, people that go around in flagship limousines such as this new Audi A8 L 6. 0 achieve this for a similar reason they buy gold Rolex watches. And I will see but one point to using a gold Rolex : to let those around you will know you convey more money than they‘ve. And thus It‘s using this A8. Such as the aforementioned shiny timepiece, you can’t miss it, because of the domineering new grille Audi has slapped on its hitherto discreet snout and, should that somehow eludes your attention, the chromed W12 badge should leave you in little question at everything his really is bigger than yours. Fair enough. This can be a car that could sell in tiny quantities and when Audi reckons it may shift ’em, we’re not about to mention it shouldn’t. Indeed, if you’d never travelled in a other A8, you can well escape from your afternoon together with the W12 thinking it was eventually one among finest ways of receiving in one spot to another yet devised. But it’s not. Here’s why. At £75, 775, it costs £17, 440 greater than the next-most-expensive A8, the similarly long-wheelbase A8 L 4. 2. For the you’re buying greater than the W12 engine of VW Phaeton and (in turbocharged form ) Bentley Continental GT fame. Options towards the worth of £6970 are included inside the standard equipment list, however this includes £1250 for different 18in alloy wheels but still values the engine at over 10 grand. It is simply difficult to discover how it’s worthwhile. Yes, the W12 will hit 62mph from rest in 5. 2 instead of the 6. 4sec from the 4. 2, but is that this really essential in this car? Both will reach a similar electronically limited 155mph, as the W12 slurps unleaded at 20. 5mpg combined, when compared with the still scarcely frugal 23. 5mpg from the 4. 2-litre car. But even this really is not likely the point. What it is that we found hardest to accept was the undeniable fact that the 444bhp W12, far from the paragon of refinement you may expect from this type of flagship limo, is really more intrusive compared to the V8s of lesser A8s. We don’t remember significant engine noise with a 90mph cruise in V8 A8s but inside the W12, it’s there on a regular basis. Audi’s engineers may or might not have the ability to produce sound readings to prove the W12 is quieter at such speeds than its eights, but on the qualitative assessment, to these ears, the V8 is that the smoother, sweeter engine. Our final gripe concerns ZF’s six-speed automatic gearbox, a unit we‘d presumed, until now, could do no wrong. We’ve driven Jaguars, BMs and Bentleys (to not mention other A8s ) equipped using this gearbox and been unable to locate fault by it. But inside the W12 A8, at least inside the car we drove, it inexplicably held onto gears longer than we wanted, again not something you would like in this car. Having now trashed this A8, allow us that will put it into some context. We believe the A8 range remains subsequent best thing to that from the S-Class Mercedes, so we remain talking relative merit. These cars are limousines and the greater you purchase them, the greater limousine-like they ought to be. Whenever that extra 17 grand brought new levels of ride and refinement towards the A8 rather than dubious performance, we’d little question feel rather differently about this. However it doesn’t. The ride, thus far once we could tell upon the smooth-ish German roads in and around Ingolstadt where we drove the car, isn‘t any better inside the front or the rear but refinement appears to possess taken a backward step. In fact, the A8’s many other talents have survived intact – the brilliant driving environment, superb MMI infotainment system and beautiful cabin being chief among them. The 130mm stretch inside the wheelbase has also been effortlessly integrated into the planning without spoiling the proportions. Inside the back, legroom is wonderful, even for any 6ft 4in adult sitting behind a 6ft 4in adult. But you may enjoy all of the primary attributes of the long wheelbase without having to invest over 75 grand – it’s a £3370 option on several A8s save, curiously, the 3. 7-litre V8. Briefly, the A8 L 6. 0 is that the most disappointing from the A8s we’ve driven. Turning it from your inspired large saloon into your limousine pushes the car inside a direction during which it doesn‘t care to travel. The fundamental and well-documented limitations from the A8’s merely reasonable ride don‘t suit the limo treatment while, during this application, the W12, for many its fine specification and impressive power, is neither sufficiently smooth nor special. And though there will be certainly those inside the Autocar office who discover the grille perfectly agreeable, the very best thing I will say about this is, mercifully, it’s not likely going to be a feature of other A8 – for time being a minimum of. Its role, then, can be as gold to some Rolex – and much more evidence to suggest that cash and taste tend to be inversely proportional. None of the will worry Audi. This can be a car it had to construct to match the equivalents from Mercedes and BMW and it’s entirely realistic about its chances inside the showroom. Orders for UK cars happen to be being taken at this time and it is going to be happy if this receives two a month. Inside the meantime, Audi’s reputation like the luxury car manufacturer using its star most firmly inside the ascendant continues to become bolstered by another less-expensive A8s, such as the quite excellent 4. 0 TDi, the very first luxury car which comes near rivalling and, in areas, bettering the mighty S-class. It’s only a pity that such an otherwise capable range is finished off having a stumble, not really a flourish.   EXTRACT#EANF# Audi A8 L W12