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New Models
DRIVEN: New V6 Motivates Audi A8 L
The supercharged base engine for the plus-size luxury sedan provides plenty of pull with improved gas mileage and a lower price tag.
The deep Audi grille gets even bolder for the latest A8, which is now available with a supercharged V6 engine. (Photo: Audi)
The Audi A8 L is a splendid luxury car by any standard, no less for being powered by a 3-liter V6 engine.
Of course, the new base engine is supercharged with TSFI direct fuel injection and tuned to produce 333 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, which is plenty enough for propelling this plus-size sedan. It helps that the car’s all-aluminum construction keeps the weight around 4,400 pounds.
The V6 is new for the A8 models, both in regular length and the stretched L, making the cars available at a lower cost and with improved fuel mileage. The V6-powered A8 L price tag is $8,700 less than the comparable 4-liter V8 model, although it still has a formidable base price of $78,500.
EPA-calculated fuel mileage is raised to 18 city and 28 highway, compared with 16 city and 26 highway for the V8 version.
The supercharged V6 has appeared in other Audi cars, most notably the performance-oriented S4 compact sedan, where it packs a wallop. In the considerably bigger, heavier A8 L, the acceleration is more subdued, although the car never feels in the least bit underpowered. The engine also provides the smooth refinement that one would expect in Audi’s flagship sedan.
The Volkswagen luxury brand has been fairly proactive in providing smaller engines with better fuel mileage for its cars across the board. Another Audi with a downsized engine that I tested our recently was the A5 quattro coupe – attractively updated for 2013 – that does quite well with a 2-liter turbocharged four-banger with FSI direct fuel injection and 211 horsepower.
Equipped with a precise six-speed manual transmission, the A5 was quick and agile and loads of fun to drive. The turbo four is surprisingly smooth and seamless, and without a hint of dreaded turbo lag; peak torque arrives at just 1,500 rpm. Fuel mileage is decent at 22 city and 32 highway, according to the EPA.
The A5’s pricing starts out moderately at $37,850 for this luxury compact, but the test car was loaded up with comfort, convenience and entertainment options that pushed it up to a resounding $47,035, including shipping.
The A8 L that I drove came fully loaded at more than twice that price at about $86,000 with shipping. Yet for those with the wealth to afford such things, the big Audi compares very well with others in this lofty range.
The stretch A8 is one grand conveyance with a back seat that could easily accommodate a chauffeured NBA player in posh roominess. It’s reminiscent of the Jaguar XJ-L that I drove last year, although redolent with the Germanic charm of Audi rather than the British grace of Jaguar. Mainly, the Audi’s interior is more serious and businesslike, although no less luxurious.
Compared with the regular A8, the A8 L is about five inches longer in both wheelbase and overall length, with just about all of that extra size going into the back seat. This would make a fine livery vehicle for a very high-end limousine service – a great way to impress your customers.
As huge as this sedan is, the Audi drives with sharp-edged precision that makes it feel like a smaller, sportier car. Handling and response are first rate, as one might expect from Audi, with that built-of-one-piece feel of the best German cars.
The driver has a choice of four suspension/ steering/transmission settings: Comfort, which provides the soft ride that luxury buyers often prefer; Automatic, which adjusts within a range of soft to firm, depending on road conditions and driver behavior; Dynamic, which maintains the firmest ride, quickest transmission action and sharpest steering (which is where I left it); and Individual, which allows the driver to pick and choose what he or she wants.
Of course, the new base engine is supercharged with TSFI direct fuel injection and tuned to produce 333 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, which is plenty enough for propelling this plus-size sedan. It helps that the car’s all-aluminum construction keeps the weight around 4,400 pounds.
The V6 is new for the A8 models, both in regular length and the stretched L, making the cars available at a lower cost and with improved fuel mileage. The V6-powered A8 L price tag is $8,700 less than the comparable 4-liter V8 model, although it still has a formidable base price of $78,500.
EPA-calculated fuel mileage is raised to 18 city and 28 highway, compared with 16 city and 26 highway for the V8 version.
The supercharged V6 has appeared in other Audi cars, most notably the performance-oriented S4 compact sedan, where it packs a wallop. In the considerably bigger, heavier A8 L, the acceleration is more subdued, although the car never feels in the least bit underpowered. The engine also provides the smooth refinement that one would expect in Audi’s flagship sedan.
The Volkswagen luxury brand has been fairly proactive in providing smaller engines with better fuel mileage for its cars across the board. Another Audi with a downsized engine that I tested our recently was the A5 quattro coupe – attractively updated for 2013 – that does quite well with a 2-liter turbocharged four-banger with FSI direct fuel injection and 211 horsepower.
Equipped with a precise six-speed manual transmission, the A5 was quick and agile and loads of fun to drive. The turbo four is surprisingly smooth and seamless, and without a hint of dreaded turbo lag; peak torque arrives at just 1,500 rpm. Fuel mileage is decent at 22 city and 32 highway, according to the EPA.
The A5’s pricing starts out moderately at $37,850 for this luxury compact, but the test car was loaded up with comfort, convenience and entertainment options that pushed it up to a resounding $47,035, including shipping.
The A8 L that I drove came fully loaded at more than twice that price at about $86,000 with shipping. Yet for those with the wealth to afford such things, the big Audi compares very well with others in this lofty range.
The stretch A8 is one grand conveyance with a back seat that could easily accommodate a chauffeured NBA player in posh roominess. It’s reminiscent of the Jaguar XJ-L that I drove last year, although redolent with the Germanic charm of Audi rather than the British grace of Jaguar. Mainly, the Audi’s interior is more serious and businesslike, although no less luxurious.
Compared with the regular A8, the A8 L is about five inches longer in both wheelbase and overall length, with just about all of that extra size going into the back seat. This would make a fine livery vehicle for a very high-end limousine service – a great way to impress your customers.
As huge as this sedan is, the Audi drives with sharp-edged precision that makes it feel like a smaller, sportier car. Handling and response are first rate, as one might expect from Audi, with that built-of-one-piece feel of the best German cars.
The driver has a choice of four suspension/ steering/transmission settings: Comfort, which provides the soft ride that luxury buyers often prefer; Automatic, which adjusts within a range of soft to firm, depending on road conditions and driver behavior; Dynamic, which maintains the firmest ride, quickest transmission action and sharpest steering (which is where I left it); and Individual, which allows the driver to pick and choose what he or she wants.
2014 Cadillac CTS
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