- 2011 Audi A8 L will debut at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show.
- Audi's fourth-generation flagship sedan is slated to arrive in the U.S. this fall.
- The new direct-injection 6.3-liter W12 engine won't be available in the States until spring 2011.
INGOLSTADT, Germany — Audi is formally unveiling its long-wheelbase 2011 A8 L next week at the 2010 Beijing Auto Show. The company said the fourth-generation flagship sedan is slated to arrive in the U.S. this fall alongside the standard-wheelbase A8, but a new direct-injection 6.3-liter W12 engine won't be available in the States until spring 2011.
The redesigned 2011 A8 was revealed earlier this year at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. Both the standard- and long-wheelbase models share a variety of hardware, including a standard 372-horsepower 4.2-liter FSI V8, eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive.
The new 6.3 W12 that will be shown next week in Beijing — it replaces the previous 6.0-liter unit — makes 494 hp and 461 pound-feet of torque. In combination with the eight-speed gearbox, Audi says the A8 L will accelerate from zero to 60 mph in less than 4.9 seconds and on the EU test cycle will return an average 20 mpg. Top speed will be electronically limited to 155 mph.
As with the standard-wheelbase version, the A8 L can be ordered with an optional sport differential and torque vectoring, as well as a choice of 20- or 21-inch wheels. The standard setup includes an adaptive air suspension and 19-inch wheels and tires.
Visually, the A8 L is barely distinguishable from the standard A8, although it will offer optional LED front lighting. The top-of-the-line A8 L W12 gets additional black and chrome exterior trim and twin trapezoidal tailpipes integrated into the rear bumper.
The A8 L is more than 5 inches longer than the A8, while width and height are virtually identical. Most of that extra space between the wheels is devoted to the rear passenger compartment.
The rear doors are longer, for easier entry and exit, and the vehicle can be ordered with two individual power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation. Among the optional rear-seat amenities are an entertainment system, a full-length console with separate controls for the four-zone automatic air-conditioning, a refrigerator, a folding table and a massaging/reclining seat with power-adjustable footrest.
The cabin is trimmed in leather and wood, and there is a long list of optional equipment, including a twin-panel panoramic glass roof, a 1,400-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system with 19 speakers, and a "navigation plus" system equipped with a touch-sensitive control panel.
Among the available high-tech hardware are adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, side assist and lane assist, night view assistant with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking and the pre-sense safety system.
Audi has not announced U.S. prices, but said the A8 L "will maintain its relative [price] position in the market" against such competitors as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the BMW 7 Series and the Lexus LS.
Inside Line says: Ironically, Audi is showing the A8 L in Beijing with its new online services "in cooperation with Google." The U.S.-based search-engine and Web-services giant, of course, continues to struggle with Chinese censors and has effectively curtailed its operations in that country. — Paul Lienert, Correspondent
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Fiifi says:
12:11 AM, 04/19/2010
The foot rest is a fail, why can't it extent from the back seat and not be dependant on the movement oSf the the front seat occupant? I don't think this compares favorably to MB S-class or even the Lexus LS in terms of styling.
dustyred14 says:
02:37 AM, 04/18/2010
Interesting. Does anyone think this Audi will last consumers past the 80,000 mile mark without double the MSRP of the vehicle in repair bills?
And I've have to agree with most here...
Not even worth the yawn... next
esoterica says:
12:17 PM, 04/16/2010
Still hideous. Next...
johnmarco says:
07:42 AM, 04/16/2010
Geez. Tough crowd. I actually like the look of the car quite a bit, inside and out, except... I am a little concerned about those back seat viewing screens. They jut out grotesquely from the seats, and they don't look stow-able. Seems like a jarring departure from the rest of the interior.
frank908 says:
05:22 AM, 04/16/2010
This looks a lot better in long-wheelbase. It makes me think Audi designed the A8 with the long-wheelbase in mind and then worked on fitting it onto a short-wheelbase after.
Not that the short looked bad, it just looks proportionately correct in the long. It actually makes it look, dare I say, elegant(ish).
The executive treatment in the rear is great, but the added length may be all America is interested in. I've read in the past that in Europe, executive business trips are often done by car so cars like this are appreciated, and expected, but where plane travel is the norm in America, it's sort of redundant to have such opulent rear accommodations.
I guess it would be good for douche-bag wanna-be's in NYC/L.A. or worse, Vegas.
cz_75 says:
01:15 AM, 04/16/2010
Bland, except for the ugly headlights that make the front end look like the face of a Japanese cartoon character; leave anime to the Japanese.
mungmibear says:
08:44 PM, 04/15/2010
I agree with these guys.
Most people can't tell if this is audi a4 or a6.
and a6 and a8 are very dull
zjev says:
08:37 PM, 04/15/2010
Yawn
deadviper says:
08:29 PM, 04/15/2010
"But it still just looks like a larger A4"
And that deviates from every other A8 audi has made...how? Audi's were never much to look at, with only the R8(barely) breaking the mold. It you want to drive a 4-door spectacle thats what the raptide is for.
arcum says:
07:47 PM, 04/15/2010
It looks better in person. But it still just looks like a larger A4.