Months after Mercedes-Benz and BMW launched their facelifted flagship sedans, Audi have introduced the all-new A8 L. Unlike its locally-assembled German rivals, this full-sized luxury sedan comes fully imported from Germany. As such, the asking price for this A8 L 3.0 TFSI quattro model is RM879,900 vs RM700K for the Benz and RM600K for the Bimmer.
But the A8 L represents the best of Audi’s tech and features, so let’s take a closer look at what’s being brought in.
Design and Equipment
This A8 is part of a full model range for the brand.
As such, it incorporates design elements previously unseen, outside of concept studies like the Prologue.
A wider, more upright Singleframe grille pair with a more fluid and muscular body on this stretched sedan.
Up front, you get Audi’s HD Matrix LED headlights, while the rear debuts an LED light strip that join both tail lamp clusters.
Clean, high-tech cabin MMI Touch Response Dual Touchscreens
Inside and out, it’s a larger car. It also has more equipment and higher quality materials than before.
- electrically-operated air vent motors
- perforated seat upholstery
- controls for rear passengers over lighting through an removable tablet
- 10.1″ touchscreen, with no physical buttons
- Secondary touchscreen on centre tunnel for air cond and comfort functions
Performance
Only one option is available in Malaysia with the new A8 L. It’s the 3.0 TFSI mild hybrid powertrain with its 48-volt electrical system and an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox.
This MHEV powertrain allows the A8 L to coast with its engine completely off. When required, it will start back up immediately and imperceivably. This brings fuel consumption down by 0.7L/100km in real-world driving conditions. The A8 L comes with quattro all-wheel drive as standard.
As expected, lightweight construction and use of advanced material has been a priority on the A8.
Carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) in the Audi Space Frame Carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) rear wall Mix of materials at the next Audi A8 Carbon rear wall of the next Audi A8
Awards
Audi A8 most innovative model of 2018 – The Audi A8 is the most innovative model of the year 2018 and Audi is the most innovative premium brand in the “Autonomous driving and safety” category. The “Center of Automotive Management” and consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers AG, who together presents the “Automotive Innovative Award,” reached this verdict.
Aluminium castings in the Audi Space Frame Audi Space Frame Audi Space Frame Joining methods Safety cell in the Audi Space Frame Multimaterial Audi Space Frame Multimaterial Audi space frame
Audi A8 is “World Luxury Car 2018” – The win underscores the status of the brand’s flagship as the embodiment of “Vorsprung durch Technik.”
In their decision, the 82 jury members from 24 countries assessed not only the emotional appeal, passenger comfort and safety, but also environment aspects as well as driving performance, market relevance and price-performance ratio. The Audi A8 prevailed against two competitors in the final elimination round.
