New Audi A8L test drive, review

We’ve just been blown away by Audi’s brilliant new long wheelbase A8 in Jaipur. Their first generation car may not have made much of an impact and the second edition, though successful elsewhere, didn’t quite capture the imagination of the super rich in India. This car however is another kettle of fish.

Its solid and simple lines look stunning in the flesh and the extended wheelbase gives it that extra bit of elegance. A strong typically Audi shoulder line, strong definition between the wheels and those distinctive headlamps and grille mean this car is instantly recognizable as an Audi. Some say it looks a bit too much like an A4, but that’s only initially, and more so in pictures than in the flesh.

As expected, the technology on this car is considerable. Constructed around a lighter aluminum space frame, this car gets four wheel drive(Quattro), a direct injection petrol V8 and air suspension.

The V8 is a very special motor and its eight-speed gearbox helps it deliver a very strong continuous push when you floor the throttle. With 372bhp on tap and tremendous stability and braking power you can hit 200kph where 160kph in other cars would be a struggle, and the motor is silky smooth and refined and at the same time. The car shrinks around you as you drive it around corners and after 10 minutes behind the wheel it feels no larger than an A4, which is nowhere as long as this 5.27 metres long barge.

We’d driven this car earlier in Germany and commented on the hard edged ride, which would have made this car very unsuitable for our roads. However an increased ride height and higher profile tyres have taken the edge off the suspension of this car. There is still some stiffness evident, but ride quality now is far superior even at low speeds. And once you cross 60kph, the air suspension glides over everything silently. For very poor roads and steeply inclined driveways the new A8L, like the earlier car, even has a lift feature that increases the ride height even more.

The best bit arguably however is the cabin. Audi already the leader as far as interiors are concerned, have set a new benchmark for itself with this car. A top class design, an amazing blend of the finest raw materials and textures and a rear seat package that would do a first class seat proud, this car has it all. You can stretch your legs out if you fold the front passenger seat forward and place your feet on a footrest, there is a fridge at your elbow, the seats are cooled or heated, they massage you and you have your own DVD screen and MM-I controls. There’s even a small flip up table in the rear central console. The comfort seat however is optional and will push the on-road price of this car upwards of one crore.

However, with this incredibly charming car, Audi finally has the ammo to take on the BMW 7 Series, and even the Mercedes S Class head on. In addition to the 4.2 FSI, Audi will launch the 3.0-litre TDi as well. Going forward, the German giant will launch the 500bhp 6.0-litre W12 petrol variant during Diwali. This will be followed by the 4.2-litre V8 TDI variant – the same engine that made the A8 a popular choice in the foreign markets – by early 2012.