2021 AUDI A8 - $87,545. - $99,895.
A
udi's largest and most luxurious sedan. its high-dollar cabin behind a handsome -understated façade. Inside, buyers will find a cabin that is spacious and elegantly outfitted including available massaging seats for front and rear passengers. Audi rolled out its entire cavalcade of infotainment and driver-assistance technology here, as the A8 serves as a rolling showcase.
Audi A8 has 22-way, power-adjustable front seats with heat and ventilation standard across the lineup. Standard is a wireless smartphone charging pad and a 360-degree exterior camera system. The top-flight 60 TFSI model now comes with the Sport Style package (20-inch wheels, front-lip spoiler, and chrome lower body cladding) as well as Matrix-design LED headlights and soft Valcona leather upholstery. Under the hood is a 453-hp twin-turbocharged V-8. In addition to the more powerful engine, there a great Rear Seat Comfort package, which adds power rear seats with massage and heat to really pamper our passengers. The Executive package makes our list too. It includes massaging front seats, a head-up display, a heated steering wheel, blind-spot monitoring, and interior ambient lighting. The base 55 TFSI comes with a turbocharged V-6 rated at 335 horsepower, and the 60 TFSI has a 453-hp twin-turbo V-8 engine. Both versions use a 48-volt hybrid system. An eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard. The plug-in hybrid 60 TFSI e combines the V-6 with an electric motor and a rear-mounted 14.1-kWh battery pack. Among six-cylinder executive sedans, Audi is on par with the Mercedes-Benz S450 but a few tenths off the rapid pace of the BMW 740i. The Audi's engine is smooth, and sounddeadening measures are nice. The A8 offers athleticism and ride comfort, adjustable air suspension and driver-adjustable adaptive dampers are standard. Optional with the V-8 is a more advanced active suspension that scans the road ahead for bumps and takes measures to compensate. 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The V-8 version 15 mpg city and 23 highway. The plug-in-hybrid 23 mpg and an electric-only range of 18 miles. Impressive passenger space and its long wheelbase ensures that rear-seat passengers are well accommodated. Five-passenger seating is standard, but an optional four-passenger seating cuts out the rear center seat and provides a pair of power-adjustable rear seats with heating, ventilation, and massage as well as a heated foot-massage function and a pair of individual entertainment tablets (while reducing power adjustments for the front passenger seat to make room for all that). You can order extended leather and a forest's of wood inserts. Audi's 12.3-inch Virtual Cockpit instrument cluster is standard as are the 10.3-inch upper and 8.6-inch lower haptic center screens with the MMI Touch Response system. There's a lone volume knob for the audio system since most functions are controlled through the touchscreens. The system is quick to respond and highly configurable, offering permanent buttons for navigation, weather, telephone functions, and radio on the left side of the upper screen. Up front, there are two USB ports with combined data and charging capability, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay phone integration is standard along with Amazon Alexa compatibility. Wi-Fi via Audi Connect Plus is available for an additional subscription fee.
33 – globalonemag.com
