2017 Audi A8 L

The A8 L takes Audi's full-size flagship A8, along with all of its luxury, light weight (well, it's relatively light weight for the class), and quattro all-wheel drive, and then adds 13 cm to the back seat. That makes this the one that you get to be driven in, not the one you get to drive. That said it's still an excellent drive in the event your chauffeur falls ill and you’re required to drive yourself. If you’re in the back, you’ll wonder how you arrived at the office 15 minutes early today. This is a large car but it has good visibility and a big greenhouse which make it easy to put it where you want to, on the road or in a parking lot. The A8 is all-aluminium to save weight and make this a big car that's not too heavy, and a car that can move, but push the comfort mode button and it will cruise serenely on the highway all day long. The A8 L is more affordable than the long wheelbase Mercedes S-class and BMW 7-series, but the interior hasn't been redesigned since 2011, and it can't quite match the other two Germans anymore. It may not be the sportiest executive hauler, and it may not be the most high tech, but it is certainly still luxurious, elegant, and a great drive.

The A8 L gets no significant changes for 2017, the only notable one being the loss of the W12 model. That leaves the only engine choice as a twin turbo 4.0L V8 with 450 hp mated to an eight-speed automatic, with all-wheel drive and air suspension.

Standard on A8 L are 20-inch wheels, adaptive LED headlights, sunroof, kick-to-open power trunk, power assisted doors, four-zone climate control, Valcona leather seats with 18-way adjustment, power rear sunshades, navigation, and a Bose 14-speaker stereo. Active safety tech includes front and rear park-assist, top view camera, lane departure and blind spot warnings, rear-collision alert, along with ventilated and massaging front seats. Option packages include a driver assistant pack includes adaptive cruise, active lane assist (will turn the wheel to keep you in-lane), pre sense plus collision detection, and heads-up display, a dynamic sport pack which adds sport suspension, quattro sport differential, different wheels, and dynamic steering. A rear seat comfort pack adds ventilated rear seats with massage. Stand alone options include velvet interior inlays, a 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo, night vision, and rear seat entertainment system.

The A8 L is rated for 13.1 L/100 km city, 8.3 highway with the V6, and 12.9/8.0 with the V8.