Audi A8 Test Drive.From a touch-based interface that allows drivers to enter queries by simply drawing characters to an all-new eight-speed transmission and some of the highest-quality interior materials we've seen, the car is a monumental achievement for Audi.
Throw in the on-the-fly throttle mapping (via Audi's Drive Select setup in the multimedia interface), and the eight-pot seems like the perfect choice for Audi's flagship leviathan.
Audi says it has managed to increase fuel economy by up to 15 percent, thanks to the slimmer beltline and remarkable gearbox. The EPA hasn't churned out final figures on the Audi A8 yet, but if Audi is to be believed, we should be looking at somewhere around 18 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.
The material quality inside the new Audi A8 is a benchmark for Audi, for the first time besting both BMW and Mercedes-Benz by a comfortable margin. There's entirely new ambient LED interior lighting, found in soft strips reminiscent of neon in carefully chosen places. The navigation hooks up with Google, and to input an address, you simply write out the address--with your finger--on a console-mounted pad. The biggest surprise here is that the system actually works.
The full-size luxury-car segment is a ship constantly steered by a new captain. The BMW 7-series recently pulled off this feat, topping the previous gold standard, the Mercedes-Benz S550, in a comparison test. One Engine Now, Others Coming
Audi says the Audi A8 returns 13-percent-better fuel economy than does its predecessor, which translates roughly to 18 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway for the new car.
Have no fear, power brokers: There will be other engines available in the coming years. The diesel feels peppy thanks, to the smooth-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission, which is perfectly calibrated to keep the engine in the juicy part of the torque plateau. Unmistakably an Audi, the A8 Is Light on Its Feet
Wheel sizes range from 17 inches to 20.
That demeanor comes in part from the fitment of the high-tech bits that are optional on lesser models as part of Audi “drive select” packages. Standard on the Audi A8 are adjustable shocks, variable-rate air springs, variable-ratio steering, and most notably, the torque-vectoring rear differential found in the S4 and S5. A “more dynamic” adjustable air suspension is part of a Sport package on the current car, but given the new car’s standard chassis hardware, we expect that if such a package were to be offered, it would encompass only wheels and aesthetic tweaks.)
The trick diff helps curb the effects of that longtime bane of Audi dynamics, weight distribution. Audi engines have traditionally been bolted well ahead of the front axle, a front-heavy setup that contributes to predominant, if predictable, understeer. Like the latest 7-series, the Audi A8 drives smaller than its length (202.2 inches) suggests, and the variable-rate steering transmits a good amount of information from the tires. Mobile Office Redefined
In sales, Audi's flagship A8 has lagged a distant 3rd to its Teutonic competitors, the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. True to Audi's subtle style, the 2011 Audi A8 isn't a radical departure from the previous design, with no bulging Bangle butt or swooping Benz roof line.
Performance
We drove the 2011 Audi A8 4.2 FSI Quattro at a press event near Malaga, Spain, when the Costa del Sol defied its description on a day of heavy rain. Engine torque is rear-biased, with the all-wheel-drive system directing 60 percent of power to the rear wheels and 40 percent to the front. A non-intrusive stability control system helps keep all four wheels planted. Audi's Drive Select feature has four settings -- Comfort, Auto, Dynamic and Individual -- for varying the throttle response, shift points, steering feel and suspension stiffness.
We left the tranny in auto-sport mode for highway cruising and spent the majority of our twisty mountain-road time working the paddle shifters.
Comfort
In the 2011 Audi A8 Sedan, high performance doesn't come at the expense of comfort. The rear-seating area is generous, with ample leg- and headroom. The optional rear entertainment system includes a separate set of Audi's Multi Media Interface (MMI) controls that allow access to any entertainment option.
Function
If there's one area in which Audi has an advantage over its Teutonic competitors, it's with the MMI controller. Using a finger, drivers can trace letters on the touchpad to input navigation system destinations. Like other nav systems, it loads logical choices as each character is entered, but with the 2011 Audi A8's system you don't have to hunt and peck on a traditional touchscreen or dial in a destination using a rotary controller.
B&O's trademark Acoustic Lens tweeters rise out of the dash when the system is turned on and recess when it's switched off.
The designers went a little wilder (by Audi's previously Spartan standards) in the interior, especially compared to the previous austere treatment.
Our 4.2 FSI test car's interior came laden with rich wood, sleek aluminum and soft leather accents. The 2011 Audi A8 offers best-in-class technology and competitive performance.
