If this is the standard model, what will the S8 have? OK, I’ll get to that monster when it comes out of its cave, but in the meantime, ta-dah, here we have the top o’the line Audi A8 L flagship/luxocruiserbarge. The all-new, fourth-generation Audi A8 that will have its official roll out at this month’s Beijing Motor Show in China and it will feature a new 6.3-liter W12 engine.
The new Audi A8 L is an enormous car. 17.28 feet long, with added length for the rear seat passengers. Not only do they get more legroom but they also get longer rear doors for easier ingress and egress.
And speaking of the back seats, Audi offers the option of two separate and power-adjustable seats that can be heated, ventilated and adjusted in a variety of ways including forward and back, seat cushion depth and seat back angle with top section adjustable separately. Insert joke about hookers and heated massage chairs here.
There is also a full-length console that extends back from the center tunnel to the rear shelf, and can be specified to include a bunch of life’s simple necessities, such as a folding table or a refrigerator. They people in the back also have separate controls for the air conditioning (of course) that is controlled by 25 adjusting motors (what?), and there is an entertainment system with two 10.2-inch screens as well.
Engine wise, the A8 L W12 quattro model is motivated by a brand new 6.3 FSI W12 engine that puts out 500HP and has a peak torque of 460.98 lb-ft. That plant is enough to scoot the big guy down the road with acceleration figures of 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in just 4.9 seconds. The A8 L W12 quattro has a vMax of 250 km/h or 155 mph. Yes, it could go faster but the rat-bastar – I mean, nice guys at Audi have thrown in a top speed limiter.
Mileage? You know, not all that bad (which is sort of a surprise). The A8 L W12 quattro puts away 12.0 liters per 100 kilometers or the equivalent of 19.6 US mpg.
And just to be a little bit different from the other Audi A8s out there, the W12 version features understated visual cues to distinguish it from the other A8 L’s, including a unique radiator grille, chromed inserts of in the air inlets, and chromed applications on the exterior mirrors.
In the US, the 2011 model year A8 and A8L will go on sale in Fall 2010.
Not bad for a big sedan.
