December 2011

Vehicle Profile: The 2012 Audi A8

Sometimes, you have to shake up the status quo to introduce new ideas and new choices and to make new connections. That’s how Audi approaches the luxury market, and the results are obvious in Audi cars and SUVs that reject the “same old, same old” to offer new excitement. That refreshing thinking underpins the Audi A8 premium luxury sedan line, which for 2012 adds a new 12-cylinder powerhouse, the A8 L W12.
 
Both Car and Driver and Road & Track magazines pronounced the Audi A8
“Best Large Luxury Sedan” in comparison tests with the BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and others. Take a look at what makes Audi A8 models stand apart from the “usual suspects” in the premium-luxury category.
 
Start with design, an area that Audi aficionados feel truly sets the brand apart from competitors. From the moment you glance at the distinctive Singleframe® grille and the glow from the LED headlights, you know it’s an Audi approaching. The Audi A8 exudes elegant, yet athletic presence, and it does so without resorting to gimmicks such as bodylines and bulges added for no purpose.
 
The timeless design of the Audi A8 (MSRP $78,750) employs cutting-edge modern materials – an aluminum body structure and panels to enhance performance and efficiency. The extensive use of aluminum – now being adopted by some competitors – imbues the full-size, roomy Audi A8 with the structural stiffness and optimized weight balance needed for agile handling. In fact, the 49 percent front/51 percent rear weight distribution in the Audi A8, which is highly desirable for sports cars, is usually not achieved in large luxury sedans.
 
Audi finds that just-right balance between ride comfort and performance in the A8 using Adaptive Air Suspension and standard quattro® all-wheel drive, among other technologies. As others have followed the Audi brand’s lead in aluminum construction, so, too, have they expanded their own all-wheel drive offerings. Here, as well, Audi leadership pays dividends, not only for handling poor weather conditions, but also in providing exceptional road grip on perfectly dry and clear days.
 
The 2012 Audi A8 comes in two wheelbase lengths: Standard, at 117.8 inches, and long-wheelbase, at 122.9 inches. The longer wheelbase translates into additional rear-seat legroom – 42.9 inches of stretch-out room.
 
Moving the Audi A8 models down the road with exceptional vigor are your choice of two high-tech aluminum powerplants, a 372-hp 4.2-liter FSI® V8 and the new 500-hp 6.3-liter FSI W12. Packing 463 lb/ft of torque, the W12 truly sets Audi apart from competitors that use V12 engines. The “W” configuration is more compact than the “V,” which helps the 12-cylinder A8 retain the sports car-like weight distribution and handling agility of the V8 models.
 
In both cases, “FSI” means Fuel Stratified Injection direct fuel injection, one of the many advances helping to extract the most performance and efficiency. With its 328 lb/ft of torque, the 4.2-liter V8 offers substantial thrust for every day commuting or sporty driving. It’s teamed with an eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission, the combination yielding a best-in-class 21 mpg combined fuel economy rating.
 
Critics praise Audi interior designs and craftsmanship for good reason. Sitting in an A8, feeling the soft surfaces, precision controls and stunning finishes, you may feel like you’re in a far more expensive luxury model. You can choose from five interior leather colors (six in long-wheelbase models) including available Nappa leather with decorative stitching to get exactly the combination that suits your tastes.
 
The Executive Rear Seating Package available in long-wheelbase A8 models amplifies that impression, adding ventilated rear seats, a reclining right-side seat with a power footrest, four-zone climate control, a rear-seat entertainment system featuring dual 10-inch screens and even a refrigerator.
 
You could call the luxury craftsmanship in the 2012 Audi A8 “old world” in its quality, but the infotainment technology is strictly leading-edge. From available broadband WiFi to Google Earth™ integration with the Audi Multi Media Interface (MMI®) navigation system, the 2012 Audi A8 models help you get where you need to go and keep business moving along while traveling.
 
You will, however, appreciate that the 2012 Audi A8 line was designed to help you leave the office behind, too. Take the time to enjoy your favorite music artists with the standard Bose® Surround Sound System or the optional Bang & Olufsen® Advanced Sound System, and you might just turn off that smartphone.
 
Come in and see how the 2012 Audi A8 models reset the bar for premium luxury sedans.


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