REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

A bit of spice

When it was launched, the A8 had the mission of moving Audi out of the shadow cast by BMW and Mercedes and conquering a clientele known for snubbing the make in favour of the S- Class (Mercedes) and 7-Series (BMW) models, seen as more prestigious.

The A8 has a long series of attributes to convince onlookers: an aluminum chassis and body, all-wheel drive and six air bags — features that will inspire humility in competitors that choose to boast about their state-of-the-art technology. All of this was true until Mercedes launched its new S-Class, which is more modern and, most importantly, more technologically advanced than an A8. However, Audi has not yet given up and has replied with an S8 (360 horses) and a W12 motor that will eventually cross the Atlantic.Still, the A8’s passenger compartment has you starry eyed as soon as you steal a glimpse: an elegant instrument panel, careful finishing, super-comfortable seats (the rear bench seat also has an adjustable back). But it has its weak points. The close to 40 minuscule buttons and controls for the radio and air conditioning system are annoying if you happen to have big fingers; a forest of levers seems to grow out of the steering column just adding to the confusion and the series of controls lined up like tin soldiers along the centre of the dashboard almost calls for clairvoyance. Six air bags are a good idea, but none can be deactivated (manually or automatically) to accommodate travelling with small children. Headrests make life easier for rear seat passengers, but they hinder visibility and make it harder for drivers to maneuver in reverse. To correct this particular oversight, this year Audi proposes a sonar system designed to give drivers an accurate feel for the A8’s dimensions.To summarize: the A8 is unshakable and regal in bearing. Its V8 is quiet and the automatic transmission is smooth, though at times it seems to get a bit confused when shifting — and that ’ s unacceptable, especially since the German builder boasts that this car has 200 programs crammed into its mechanical brain. It may not offer panache, but the A8 offers a smooth and consistently good ride. Just don’t leave your natural suspicion at the showroom door: the A8 has its limitations. The suspension is firm on rough roads, but with no negative effect on comfort. The steering system is light (nothing more) and helps drivers forget this car’s size and weight. The A8 is so good at handling curves, you’ll think you’re riding on rails. Exclusive, comfortable and refined are three adjectives that accurately describe the A8. Such qualities do come at a price, however, and in the event of an accident, repairs (given the aluminum chassis and body) may take as much money as they do time, since very few repair shops specialize in this kind of vehicle.

PROS
Better pricing
Active safety features
Extremely detailed equipment

CONS
Hard-to-identify controls
Confusing transmission

CRASH TEST (five stars indicate the best protection)
Driver: * * * * *
Passenger: no data