With all of this talk about the new Audi R8 supercar, a shadow is cast over
The mighty A8 L W12 is the ultimate Audi - luxurious, handsome and powerful.another very important product. Even though the R8 has looks that could kill and one of the best V8 powerplants in the world, Audi's top dog is still the A8, and more specifically their ultimate flagship model, the long wheelbase A8 L W12. This isn't the first time that Audi has sold a twelve-cylinder A8, as there were a very limited number of these luxury machines in the understated and very rare first generation shape. But now in its second generation, and a much more popular and distinguished machine at that, this latest A8 W12 is in many ways the ultimate representation of Audi luxury. Designed in a handsome state of tasteful reservation, the A8 W12 is quite possibly the finest looking machine in the grand luxury sedan segment. The extra 5.1-inch stretch is seamlessly hidden in the roof, and the car as a whole looks just as well balanced as the short wheelbase model. And though the W12 could easily be distinguished from other A8s when it was first launched due to the then-new trapezoidal grille and LED headlamps, this is no longer the case as all A8s carry these design cues. The extra money spent on the W12 is revealed in subtler details, such as the tailpipes, which have been cleanly integrated into the rear bumpers. Or, have closer look at the daytime running lights, each of which is
Turn night into day with powerful xenon and LED headlamps. composed of five extremely bright LEDs (though shared now with the S8). It's a car that, upon leaving, causes a glance backwards while walking away. Sitting there, on its lowered air suspension and tuning fork 20-inch alloy wheels, it looks very, very pretty. And when you return at night it lights up in a dramatic yet cool fashion, with pinpoint LEDs under the door handles and beneath the side view mirrors. Very impressive indeed. No wonder Jason Statham drives one in the second installment of Transporter – it's just so slick, and such a devilishly handsome automobile. My admiration continues with great enthusiasm inside the car. Just as with any other A8, the W12 has the finest interior in the business, bar none. Its controls are logical and easy to figure out, and it's minimalist when you want it to be, rather than allowing technology to be forced upon you by default. At this end of the market, anything but flawless fit and finish would be laughed out of the marketplace, and the Audi passes with flying colors. What conveys more of a message is the leather, the color, the ambiance and the styling. It's the way the leather around the steering
The A8's cabin is still in a class of its own when it comes to style. wheel feels as it slips through your fingertips, or the softness of the Alcantara that lines everything above the window line. It's the deep gloss of the wood contrasted with hairline brush marks of the aluminum trim versus the precision stitching of the leather on the dashboard that surrounds it above and below. It's the soft white glow at night that seeps in from the door panels, foot wells and door pockets, and the warm yellow lighting that creates just the right of ambient glow while cruising around in the dark. No matter how many A8s I drive, the interior never ceases to leave me
speechless.Neither does Audi's decision to opt for a non-vee layout for its twelve-cylinder engine. It and others in the VAG kingdom are the only companies in the world who bother with anything other than a V (or an I, or an H). This is an immensely complicated engine, packaging twelve cylinders into a compact package about as long as a traditional inline-four; just thinking about what went into engineering the car's crankshaft makes my head spin. The engine's ECU must have been a nightmare to program too, considering that four camshafts control the car's 48 valves, with each
The world's most popular 12-cylinder engine resides under the hood of the A8 W12. camshaft featuring variable valve timing. It seems to have worked, as for all the different brands that make twelve cylinder cars, including Ferrari, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, they're all a drop in the pond compared to the W12. Believe it or not, there are more W12s around the world than any other brand of 12-cylinder engine. Keep in mind that it isn't just Audi using this engine, but Volkswagen and its British sibling Bentley that make up the brunt of W12 volume. The A8 W12 may not have a pair of turbos to enhance power like the Bentley Continental Flying Spur or its gracefully proportioned two-door counterpart, but in no way does it feel lacking in power. This is Audi's most powerful engine with the exception of the RS6's new twin-turbo V10, and rated at 450 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque it moves the big sedan with utmost authority. With six forward gears and all four wheels harnessing the power, it can hit 60 mph in five seconds flat, allowing it to sit in between the 760 and the utterly outrageous bi-turbo S-Class in terms of sprinting performance. This engine comes to life out on the
Part of the reason the W12 rides so hard is due to these stunning 20-inch wheels and low-profile tires. ()open road, picking up speed and maintaining momentum like a nuclear-powered freight train. See one of these things in your rear view mirror and you had best move to the right. It might sound like the A8 L W12 is a peerless luxury sedan, but there are some chinks in its seemingly faultless armor. Much of the following is down to interpretation and tuning, mind you, subjective gray areas. The A8 L W12 competes against some of the world's finest sedans, the crème de la crème of the range in terms of refinement, comfort and suppleness. The problem is that the A8 L W12 isn't supple at all. Rather, Audi is capitalizing on its sporty image across the line, and questionably has chosen to apply a similar treatment on its flagship car. I don't say this in a particularly critical way, it's just that it already makes a sport-oriented A8 called the S8, and it comes complete with a shorter wheelbase and a very rev-happy V10. Compared to the regular 4.2-liter V8 engine, or the V10, the W12 isn't much quieter. In fact, you can hear the distinct, off-beat warble of the W12 as it manages to sneak through the layers of insulation and the double glazed windows in ways that you can't with the V8. It's an intriguing sound too, one that you're unlikely to miss in the background. Perhaps Audi
The Bang and Olufsen sound system is as good to listen to as it is to look at. intended this, and perhaps they didn't. And while the W12 does have the extra performance, it's only about a second or so quicker to 60 mph than the V8. Yes, to folks buying this car, time is money, but is it worth the $50,000 price difference? The thing I am most concerned with is the comfort factor. With a power tilt and telescoping steering wheel and “comfort” seats with adjustable upper backrests and headrest wings, it's easy to find just the perfect driving position. And this being a long wheelbase model with all the trimmings, there's no lack of space or amenities – it's got a fridge in the back and a pair of TVs, for goodness sake. No, my critique lies with the car's ride. Even with the air suspension setting set to “Comfort”, the car doesn't filter out the sort imperfections that a Lexus or a Mercedes would waft over, and is further challenged by bigger chunks and divots in the road. Part of that has to do with the extra-low profile rubber that wrap around those gorgeous 20s, but then again you
can get wheels this large on many rival brands without such ill effects. Plus, when you're out in a car
Fridge, anyone? ()like the A8 L W12, chances are that it isn't you that's going to be driving it all of the time; you'll be enjoying life from the opulent rear quarters with a driver dealing with the day to day grind of traffic. What is the point of having a limo if the ride is going to be so sporting that all bumps will be felt through the seats? That said, this all comes down to personal taste. Sporting A8s are wonderful in their own right, but the W12 model ought to be like a magic carpet.Of course, this issue of a stiffly sprung ride isn't anything new, with Audi or with any A8 on large wheels. Having sampled a wide variety of A8s, the best ride quality comes from those with the shorter wheelbase and the smaller (18-inch) wheels. I am told that the focus on the 2008 update was centered on revised suspension setups, and so my criticisms should have been already addressed. Then, it'll be possible to have a smooth-riding, scrumptious looking four-ringed luxury liner.I should point out that the A8, even in long wheelbase guise can more
If only the ride were smoother, the W12 could be the ultimate A8. than handle its own on a twisty road, a byproduct of that less than luxurious ride. Its body remains flat and its handling predictable and safe, but still engaging. The combination of Quattro all wheel drive and the wide Continental ContiSport Contact 2 tires provides all the grip you'll ever need in bends, however I did notice something a little bit off about the car's steering. Despite having the same ZF Servotronic steering rack as all the other A8s, this one had a strong self-centering, elastic feel to it. You can also tell that there's a little more weight over the front wheels with the W12 than with the V8, but such is the price paid for six liters of displacement.All said, I'm very happy to say that most of the features that make the A8 L W12 so very special have trickled down into lesser A8s, as they all deserve them. Provided you're willing to depart with a lot of money, any A8 can be adorned with a plush Alcantara headliner, stitched leather dash and the Bang and Olufsen sound system. I really like the A8 L W12, I really do. I like how it looks, I like the interior, and I like the way that it's built. I also like the image that it conveys, the technology and the fact that only a handful of people will buy the W12 model, making it one of the rarest vehicles that Audi will sell this year. There's no question that the W12 is an awesome machine and the sportiest of all long wheelbase luxury sedans, but with regards to this 2007 model, its ride is just a bit too compromised.
The mighty A8 L W12 is the ultimate Audi - luxurious, handsome and powerful.another very important product. Even though the R8 has looks that could kill and one of the best V8 powerplants in the world, Audi's top dog is still the A8, and more specifically their ultimate flagship model, the long wheelbase A8 L W12. This isn't the first time that Audi has sold a twelve-cylinder A8, as there were a very limited number of these luxury machines in the understated and very rare first generation shape. But now in its second generation, and a much more popular and distinguished machine at that, this latest A8 W12 is in many ways the ultimate representation of Audi luxury. Designed in a handsome state of tasteful reservation, the A8 W12 is quite possibly the finest looking machine in the grand luxury sedan segment. The extra 5.1-inch stretch is seamlessly hidden in the roof, and the car as a whole looks just as well balanced as the short wheelbase model. And though the W12 could easily be distinguished from other A8s when it was first launched due to the then-new trapezoidal grille and LED headlamps, this is no longer the case as all A8s carry these design cues. The extra money spent on the W12 is revealed in subtler details, such as the tailpipes, which have been cleanly integrated into the rear bumpers. Or, have closer look at the daytime running lights, each of which is
Turn night into day with powerful xenon and LED headlamps. composed of five extremely bright LEDs (though shared now with the S8). It's a car that, upon leaving, causes a glance backwards while walking away. Sitting there, on its lowered air suspension and tuning fork 20-inch alloy wheels, it looks very, very pretty. And when you return at night it lights up in a dramatic yet cool fashion, with pinpoint LEDs under the door handles and beneath the side view mirrors. Very impressive indeed. No wonder Jason Statham drives one in the second installment of Transporter – it's just so slick, and such a devilishly handsome automobile. My admiration continues with great enthusiasm inside the car. Just as with any other A8, the W12 has the finest interior in the business, bar none. Its controls are logical and easy to figure out, and it's minimalist when you want it to be, rather than allowing technology to be forced upon you by default. At this end of the market, anything but flawless fit and finish would be laughed out of the marketplace, and the Audi passes with flying colors. What conveys more of a message is the leather, the color, the ambiance and the styling. It's the way the leather around the steering
The A8's cabin is still in a class of its own when it comes to style. wheel feels as it slips through your fingertips, or the softness of the Alcantara that lines everything above the window line. It's the deep gloss of the wood contrasted with hairline brush marks of the aluminum trim versus the precision stitching of the leather on the dashboard that surrounds it above and below. It's the soft white glow at night that seeps in from the door panels, foot wells and door pockets, and the warm yellow lighting that creates just the right of ambient glow while cruising around in the dark. No matter how many A8s I drive, the interior never ceases to leave me
speechless.Neither does Audi's decision to opt for a non-vee layout for its twelve-cylinder engine. It and others in the VAG kingdom are the only companies in the world who bother with anything other than a V (or an I, or an H). This is an immensely complicated engine, packaging twelve cylinders into a compact package about as long as a traditional inline-four; just thinking about what went into engineering the car's crankshaft makes my head spin. The engine's ECU must have been a nightmare to program too, considering that four camshafts control the car's 48 valves, with eachThe world's most popular 12-cylinder engine resides under the hood of the A8 W12. camshaft featuring variable valve timing. It seems to have worked, as for all the different brands that make twelve cylinder cars, including Ferrari, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, they're all a drop in the pond compared to the W12. Believe it or not, there are more W12s around the world than any other brand of 12-cylinder engine. Keep in mind that it isn't just Audi using this engine, but Volkswagen and its British sibling Bentley that make up the brunt of W12 volume. The A8 W12 may not have a pair of turbos to enhance power like the Bentley Continental Flying Spur or its gracefully proportioned two-door counterpart, but in no way does it feel lacking in power. This is Audi's most powerful engine with the exception of the RS6's new twin-turbo V10, and rated at 450 horsepower and 428 lb-ft of torque it moves the big sedan with utmost authority. With six forward gears and all four wheels harnessing the power, it can hit 60 mph in five seconds flat, allowing it to sit in between the 760 and the utterly outrageous bi-turbo S-Class in terms of sprinting performance. This engine comes to life out on the
Part of the reason the W12 rides so hard is due to these stunning 20-inch wheels and low-profile tires. ()open road, picking up speed and maintaining momentum like a nuclear-powered freight train. See one of these things in your rear view mirror and you had best move to the right. It might sound like the A8 L W12 is a peerless luxury sedan, but there are some chinks in its seemingly faultless armor. Much of the following is down to interpretation and tuning, mind you, subjective gray areas. The A8 L W12 competes against some of the world's finest sedans, the crème de la crème of the range in terms of refinement, comfort and suppleness. The problem is that the A8 L W12 isn't supple at all. Rather, Audi is capitalizing on its sporty image across the line, and questionably has chosen to apply a similar treatment on its flagship car. I don't say this in a particularly critical way, it's just that it already makes a sport-oriented A8 called the S8, and it comes complete with a shorter wheelbase and a very rev-happy V10. Compared to the regular 4.2-liter V8 engine, or the V10, the W12 isn't much quieter. In fact, you can hear the distinct, off-beat warble of the W12 as it manages to sneak through the layers of insulation and the double glazed windows in ways that you can't with the V8. It's an intriguing sound too, one that you're unlikely to miss in the background. Perhaps Audi
The Bang and Olufsen sound system is as good to listen to as it is to look at. intended this, and perhaps they didn't. And while the W12 does have the extra performance, it's only about a second or so quicker to 60 mph than the V8. Yes, to folks buying this car, time is money, but is it worth the $50,000 price difference? The thing I am most concerned with is the comfort factor. With a power tilt and telescoping steering wheel and “comfort” seats with adjustable upper backrests and headrest wings, it's easy to find just the perfect driving position. And this being a long wheelbase model with all the trimmings, there's no lack of space or amenities – it's got a fridge in the back and a pair of TVs, for goodness sake. No, my critique lies with the car's ride. Even with the air suspension setting set to “Comfort”, the car doesn't filter out the sort imperfections that a Lexus or a Mercedes would waft over, and is further challenged by bigger chunks and divots in the road. Part of that has to do with the extra-low profile rubber that wrap around those gorgeous 20s, but then again you
can get wheels this large on many rival brands without such ill effects. Plus, when you're out in a carFridge, anyone? ()like the A8 L W12, chances are that it isn't you that's going to be driving it all of the time; you'll be enjoying life from the opulent rear quarters with a driver dealing with the day to day grind of traffic. What is the point of having a limo if the ride is going to be so sporting that all bumps will be felt through the seats? That said, this all comes down to personal taste. Sporting A8s are wonderful in their own right, but the W12 model ought to be like a magic carpet.Of course, this issue of a stiffly sprung ride isn't anything new, with Audi or with any A8 on large wheels. Having sampled a wide variety of A8s, the best ride quality comes from those with the shorter wheelbase and the smaller (18-inch) wheels. I am told that the focus on the 2008 update was centered on revised suspension setups, and so my criticisms should have been already addressed. Then, it'll be possible to have a smooth-riding, scrumptious looking four-ringed luxury liner.I should point out that the A8, even in long wheelbase guise can more
If only the ride were smoother, the W12 could be the ultimate A8. than handle its own on a twisty road, a byproduct of that less than luxurious ride. Its body remains flat and its handling predictable and safe, but still engaging. The combination of Quattro all wheel drive and the wide Continental ContiSport Contact 2 tires provides all the grip you'll ever need in bends, however I did notice something a little bit off about the car's steering. Despite having the same ZF Servotronic steering rack as all the other A8s, this one had a strong self-centering, elastic feel to it. You can also tell that there's a little more weight over the front wheels with the W12 than with the V8, but such is the price paid for six liters of displacement.All said, I'm very happy to say that most of the features that make the A8 L W12 so very special have trickled down into lesser A8s, as they all deserve them. Provided you're willing to depart with a lot of money, any A8 can be adorned with a plush Alcantara headliner, stitched leather dash and the Bang and Olufsen sound system. I really like the A8 L W12, I really do. I like how it looks, I like the interior, and I like the way that it's built. I also like the image that it conveys, the technology and the fact that only a handful of people will buy the W12 model, making it one of the rarest vehicles that Audi will sell this year. There's no question that the W12 is an awesome machine and the sportiest of all long wheelbase luxury sedans, but with regards to this 2007 model, its ride is just a bit too compromised.
