Friday 16th April 2010

Official Pics And Details: Audi A8 L W12

Big comfort and power for stretched A8

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It's the flagship of flagships - Audi has just revealed the A8 L W12 ahead of the car's official unveil at the Beijing motor show (no prizes for guessing Audi's primary target market for this car then).

Audi's latest stretched 12-cylinder offering is all about the numbers - the A8 L is 130mm longer than the standard car, and the wheelbase has grown by the same amount.

The W12 engine is keen to join in the numbers game, too - it has grown in capacity by 300cc to 6.3 litres, with a commensurate increase in power from 444bhp to 493bhp. Torque jumps by 33lb ft to 461lbft.

Coupled to quattro four-wheel drive via Audi's clever new eight-speed transmission, the result is a 5.2-metre limo that can hit 62mph in 4.9secs on the way to a limited 155mph top speed. Oh, and it can muster 23.5mpg, but your chauffeur will be the one worrying about that, right?

Of more concern to this car's intended buyers will be the rear passenger accommodation, which looks like it would put a private jet to shame.

The back doors are longer and the two separate power-adjustable seats can be heated, ventilated and adjusted in a variety of ways: you can move forward and back, and adjust seat cushion depth and seat back angle, with a top section adjustable separately. There is also a fully adjustable lumbar support. The front passenger's seat can even be moved from the rear if extra space is needed.

Between the individual rear seats a full-length console can be ordered as an optional extra, and can be specified with integral items such as a folding table or a refrigerator. Separate controls for the rear air conditioning are also standard. The luxury four-zone automatic air conditioning is controlled by no fewer than 25 adjusting motors.

We reckon it could be the perfect place from which to write PH news stories on the move...

[GTEYE]

A4 XXL

[GTEYE]

Actually perhaps the first car in a while to make a Maybach seem tasteful....

Edited by GTEYE on Friday 16th April 13:29

[Belfast Boy]

[Zoki]

They did it no favours with colour selection.

[soad]

Hmm, it looks awfully comfortable inside! And that engine bay - thumbs up from me!

[JohnGoodridge]

Zoki said:

They did it no favours with colour selection.

Exactly. Black/black with dark windows would have been better - although maybe they'll use that for the Russian launch. :-)

[Zoki]

JohnGoodridge said:

Zoki said:

They did it no favours with colour selection.

Exactly. Black/black with dark windows would have been better - although maybe they'll use that for the Russian launch. :-)

Don't forget the tinted windows.

[SAndals]

So dull I can't even be bothered commenting

[rusty1980]

No tortoises were harmed in the making of this interior.

[FishFace]

What's the price?

[rpguk]

Zoki said:

They did it no favours with colour selection.

Agreed, when I was in school our dinner lady had a knackered old escort in that colour.

[dublet]

FishFace said:

What's the price?

[Daggerpie]

Always loved the look of the A8 & S8's over the years but this one seems to have a touch of the "7's" about it.

[enfooziastic]

SAndals said:

So dull I can't even be bothered commenting

Erm...what did you expect it to be exactly? Pink with razor sharp steering and 10 turbos? No, its a discreet limo for rich people who dont want to stand out.

[Garlick]

enfooziastic said:

SAndals said:

So dull I can't even be bothered commenting

Erm...what did you expect it to be exactly? Pink with razor sharp steering and 10 turbos? No, its a discreet limo for rich people who dont want to stand out.

They have ruined it a little bit though, haven't they.

I think it used to be a discreet limo for those who don't want to stand out, but now it is too glitzy for its own good (imo)

[Patrick Bateman]

That interior looks epic, not in that colour though.

[TonyHetherington]

By God I love that car.

Though I own an Audi, I'm far from an Audi fanboy. Each year at LeMans we camp near the Audi hospitality, and limos drive past our tent day in day out. Every iteration you could imagine - and they look, frankly, ace!

I could very much have an A8 L W12. Very very much.

[Agoogy]

meh....I've had folding tables, reclining and sliding seats, a fridge and some fake tortoiseshell in the back of my car for years now....

[JumpinJack]

That's a very smart motor. BUT.... what the fk is THAT??????

it looks like laminated leopard print!

[goron59]

But where's the cup holders?