Audi A8 L: Understated opulence

I’m not ashamed to admit it; I felt exceedingly cool steering my $116,000 Audi A8 L 4.0T — a car used as a limousine in many parts of the world — around town. The best part? No one noticed. The A8 L is the extended-wheelbase version of the company’s flagship A8 sedan (from $72,200). Built largely of aluminum, the A8 puts the best of modern engineering at the service of a small handful of fortunate — and very comfortable — occupants. The L trim (it starts at $78,500 and adds five inches of rear-seat legroom) is doubtless the world’s stealthiest luxury sedan. Dressed in black — of the 10 available exterior colors, three are one shade of black or another — it screams substance as quietly as it can. Recently, I was job-shadowed by Hangfun Shi, a Chinese student studying journalism at Eastern Washington University. Describing China’s automotive landscape, Shi told me that Audi’s low-key persona makes it a favorite among Chinese bureaucrats, who prefer to keep their wealth under wraps. Indeed, in 2009, Audi sold more than twice as many cars in China as it did in the U.S., 20 percent of which were requisitioned by government agencies. All fine-grained leathers and wood and aluminum trim, the A8 cabin is stuffed with electronics, including Audi’s MMI infotainment controller, with the world’s only touchpad input device. To enter an address into the nav system one simply use a fingertip to trace the appropriate letters and numerals. Audi Connect renders the A8 a mobile Wi-Fi hot spot, allowing the tethering of as many as eight devices and the incorporation Google Earth into the navigation display. And there is so much more. A $2,000 Comfort Package adds 22-way, heated and cooled front seats with multiple massage functions. However, choosing the L’s piece d’resistance, the $11,250 Executive Rear Seat Comfort package, reduces front-passenger settings to just 10 and deletes the massage function. That’s because, with ERSC, the A8 L morphs into a true limo. To the L’s arena-size rear seating area, it adds a reclining rear passenger seat with power footrest, remote-controlled multi-program massage and a fixed rear center console with its own MMI controller, and a small refrigerator in the center passthrough. Displays mounted in the front seatbacks provide the visuals for the rear-seat entertainment system. In all its forms, the A8 is a lovely thing to drive, far nimbler and more responsive than its 4,400-pound curb weight would suggest. Even the long-wheelbase trims drive small, thanks to the A8’s communicative and perfectly weighted variable-ratio steering, smartly efficient powertrains and an adaptive air suspension that delivers a premium blend of comfort and handling. With the 2013 model year, there’s a new “base” engine, a supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 that makes 330 horsepower and returns EPA ratings of 18 city/28 highway/21 combined. There’s also a new twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 that makes 420 hp and 444 lb-ft of torque. It’s rated at 17/28/21 mpg combined, with the L edition running slightly less, at 16/26/19. Both engines incorporate stop-start technology that shuts down the engine at idle and automatically restarts it when the driver’s foot comes off the brake pedal. If eight cylinders aren’t enough for you, perhaps 12 would do the trick. In that case, Audi has a 500-hp 6.3-liter W-12 with your name on it. The EPA estimates fuel economy at 13/21/16 mpg. A turbodiesel six is on tap, and a 520-hp version of the 4.0T powers the no-holds-barred S8. All engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic and every A8 receives Audi’s Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Audi’s Drive Select system allows drivers to individualize powertrain and suspension behavior across a wide spectrum of variables. My A8 L 4.0T tester carried a list price of $87,200, reaching its lofty $115,195 perch by virtue of some rather grand options. They including the Executive Rear Seat Comfort package, the Comfort package, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, assorted safety gear, adaptive cruise control, night vision, LED headlights and a Camera Assistance package that elevates rearview camera tech to a new level. Besides the usual arching lines showing the car’s rearward trajectory, a set of four exterior-mounted cameras produce a topdown animated view of the A8 and any objects within striking distance. It makes backing in tight quarters a no-risk affair. I’ll leave the last word to my late friend Gary, an Audi devotee to the end. I fetched him from work one day, making sure he took the right rear power position. He happily fiddled with buttons and knobs for a while before settling in to enjoy his massage. “You know,” he said, “I could get used to this ride.” So could we all, my friend. So could we all. Don Adair is a Spokane-based freelance writer. Contact him at don@dadair.com. Audi A8 L 4.0T Vehicle base price: $72,200 Trim level base price: $87,200 As tested: $115,195 Key options: long-wheelbase edition with Executive Rear Seat Comfort package; Bang & Olufsen sound system; Camera Assistance Package. EPA ratings: 16 city/26 highway