-
Car News
Go to Home PageVisit Leftlane's home page for the very latest car news, analysis, editorials, opinion, and more. Updated several times per day.
-
Step 1
Car Info & Pics
Car Information
Learn more about new cars with our extensive collection of overviews, specs, and pictures.
-
Step 2
Reviews
Car Test Drive Reviews and Videos
Our team of experts have driven hundreds of new car models from virtually every automaker, Get their unbiased impressions here.
-
Step 3
Build & Price
Build & Price a New Car
This tool enables you to Build & Price a new car. Optionally, you can then request a price quote from a local dealer based on your selections.
Leftlane's Configurator is currently in BETA and some models are missing.
-
Step 4
Buy A Car
-
- Select Distance
Zip Code and Search Radius are Required to Proceed.
Get a Local Dealer Price Quote
Find New Cars on Dealer Lots
Listings provided by new car dealers in the U.S. and Canada.
Find Used Cars in Your Area
-
Future Cars
Browse Upcoming Future Cars
Go to Future HomeBrowse the latest spy shots or videos of unreleased vehicles.
Tomorrow's Most Popular Cars
-
Tools
Compare Cars
Select make and model of the vehicles you would like to compare
Find a Dealer
Other tools for Shoppers & Owners
Leftlane offers a collection of helpful tools for car shoppers and owners, helping to make spending decisions easier.
Basic Specs
| Base Price | $78,050 |
| Drivetrain | All Wheel Drive |
| Curb Weight (lbs) | 4409 |
| City (MPG) | 17 |
| Hwy (MPG) | 27 |
| Horsepower | 372@6800 |
| Torque (lb-ft) | 328@3500 |
| Wheelbase | 117.8 |
| Length (in.) | 202.2 |
| Width (in.) | 83.1 |
| Height (in.) | 57.5 |
The Audi A8 is a full-size luxury sedan packed full with high-tech gadgetry and luxury features. It boasts lightweight components, a potent V8 and the all-weather traction of Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system as standard, and can be had in extra-spacious A8 L (long-wheelbase) form.
Along with its high-performance sibling, the S8, the latest A8 utilizes Audi's new, super-flexible "MLP" architecture. This is the same chassis used for the A4, A5 and the upcoming A7. The A8 sees extensive use of aluminum and magnesium in an effort to keep the large sedan's weight down.
Audi says the new A8 is the sportiest sedan in the segment, aided by a low center of gravity and the lowest roofline of any German rival. Despite adding two inches to the length, width and wheelbase -- and one additional inch of height -- Audi reckons handling has actually improved.
The 4.2-liter FSI V8 motor will continue on under the hood of the A8 with a few revisions and modest power bump. The 372 horsepower unit also promises reduced fuel consumption by 15 percent. Coupled to the motor is a new eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission with manual mode. Manual gear selection is available via steering wheel rockers or by using the regular gear selection lever.
The A8 will also feature the newest version of Quattro, which features torque vectoring. This distributes drive individually between each axle and between the rear wheels for improved traction and stability. An optional sport differential distributes power between the rear wheels for optimal performance under hard cornering.
The A8's multimedia interface (MMI) combines the standard (in the U.S.) navigation system with a touchpad. MMI touch enables the driver to control many functions intuitively such as inputting the navigation destination by writing the letters on the pad with the touch of a finger.
The MMI system can recognize complex scenarios and make anticipatory decisions to assist the driver. The new technologies include a night vision assist with marking of detected pedestrians, the Audi pre-sense safety system, as well as a speed limit display.
Another high-end solution on board the new A8 is full LED headlights, which use light emitting diodes for all light functions. They give the luxury sedan an unmistakable appearance even in daylight and even more so after the fall of darkness.
Combining the high-tech MMI system and LED headlights, Audi's navigation unit predicts the road ahead and adjusts the light pattern accordingly. This function will enable special output in highway settings, and even activate a cornering light for wider-angle illumination when entering an intersection.
On the safety front, Audi boasts 25 percent increased static torsional rigidity due to new welding technologies, which it claims lead to improved fuel economy and handling characteristics. The A8 also features Audi Braking Guard to warn drivers of potential impacts, as well as automatic emergency braking in the event of an unavoidable accident to minimize impact.
Key Competitors
There's something for everyone in the full-size luxury sedan class that the A8 plays in. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series are segment stalwarts that have been improved and refined over several decades, the Jaguar XJ presents a cutting-edge look inside out to go with a well sorted chassis and the Lexus LS 460 appeals to those form whom value and luxury (not handling) are of primary concern.
-
- General
- Body Style: Sedan
- Size: Fullsize
- Market Segment: Luxury
- Weight: 4409 lbs
-
- Exterior
- Length: 202.2 in.
- Width: 83.1 in.
- Height: 57.5 in.
- Wheelbase: 117.8 in.
- Ground Clearance: 4.7 in.
- Front Track: 64.7 in.
- Rear Track: 64.4 in.
- Weight Distribution: TBD
- Drag Coefficient: 0.26
-
- Interior - General
- Seats: 5
- Passenger Volume: TBD
- Cargo Volume: 13.2 cu. ft.
- Cargo Volume (Seats Folded): TBD
-
- Interior - Front Row
- Volume: TBD
- Leg Room: 41.4 in.
- Head Room: 37.2 in.
- Shoulder Room: 59.1 in.
- Hip Room: TBD
-
- Interior - Second Row
- Volume: TBD
- Leg Room: 38.7 in.
- Head Room: 38.1 in.
- Shoulder Room: 57.8 in.
- Hip Room: TBD
-
- Propulsion
- Fuel Type: Gas
- Engine Type: 4.2L V8
- Power: 372 hp @ 6800 rpm
- Torque: 328 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm
- Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic
- Highway Fuel Economy: 27 mpg
- City Fuel Economy: 17 mpg
- Forced Induction: None
- Direct Injection: Yes
-
- Chassis
- Layout: All Wheel Drive
- Front Suspension: Multi-Link
- Rear Suspension: Double Wishbone
-
- Wheels
- Front: 19" Aluminum
- Front Tires: TBD
- Rear: 19" Aluminum
- Rear Tires: TBD
-
- Trailering & Hauling
- Trailer Weight: TBD
- Payload: N/A
- Tongue Weight: TBD
-
$0
Step 1 - Trim
-
$0
Step 2 - Options
-
Step 3 - Get a Local Quote
