At 20 years young, the Audi A8 is still wooing the masses with its curvaceous road presence and grace. With room for five, accessories and then some, you best believe this fine piece of German engineering is in it for the long haul.
Whether as driver or passenger, you'll be able to dabble in the exquisite craftsmanship and engulf yourself in life's finer pleasures in Audi's flagship sedan.
What is the Audi A8?
I once overheard a woman in California talking on her phone say: “Sometimes, Jen, you just need facelift, and it's OK to justify it. You'll be happier in the long run.”
When said Californian was talking about a facelift, I doubt she was referring to Audi.
In this case, the German automaker will satisfy customers due to the sedan's facelift, or refresh, for the 2015 model year.
Most noticeably, the front end is revamped with new Singleframe grille-which is dimensionally smaller than before -- and a revised headlight design. Around back, the taillights have a new swagger, too.
2015 Audi A8 Price and Specs
You're not without choices when it comes to 2015 Audi A8 engines. I had the chance to test out the 3.0L TFSI quattro V6, which in Europe is up from 290 horsepower to 310. It's most likely that our market will stick to the supercharged version of 333 horses that's currently available. Who wants to lose power anyway?! Torque will probably also stay at 325 lb-ft though.
Then I got behind the wheel of the 6.3L FSI L W12 quattro -- L means a long wheelbase, which adds another 13cm to its size.
The gusto produced from this bad boy is in the 500 horsepower range with 463 lb-ft of torque. Should you wish for the crème de la crème of A8 powerplants, you'll have to special order it. It's not as popular a seller as the rest of the flock. Rest assured, you can have your power and (sort of) use it, too.
It's an unfair comparison between the V6 and W12, because clearly they are for two different types of buyers. Then again, both are equipped with an 8-speed tiptronic transmission.
As a somewhat jet-lagged individual who walked off a plane and got straight into the 2015 Audi A8 V6, it had no problem waking me up in a hurry. It still has the gusto you'd want in a sedan of its size. Heck, if you want just shy of 200 more ponies, I'm all for it.
 |
| It's an unfair comparison between the V6 and W12, because clearly they are for two different types of buyers. Then again, both are equipped with an 8-speed tiptronic transmission. (Photo: Alexandra Straub) |
Driving the 2015 Audi A8
It's a true testament to a car's execution when you have travelled for over 15 hours (including time waited in airports and flights) and you can get in the driver's seat and not feel completely overwhelmed. Yes, Audi is notorious for having a multitude of buttons, but that has changed over the years -- for the better.
Slipping in the 2015 Audi A8 cabin's supple leather seats, igniting its V6 powerplant and not having to stress out about which button does what on its Multi-Media Interface (MMI) was a treat.
On the autobahn -- in the speed-regulated zones, darn -- the electromechanical power steering offers the operator a connected feel without taking away its airy character traits.
Thanks to Audi's drive select, you have the ability to toggle between driving modes, whether sportier for the twisty roads, more comfortable for highway driving or a balance between the two for city/highway commuting.
 |
| Slipping in the 2015 Audi A8 cabin's supple leather seats, igniting its V6 powerplant and not having to stress out about which button does what on its Multi-Media Interface (MMI) was a treat. (Photo: Alexandra Straub) |
Inside and Out of the 2015 Audi A8
In the A8 vehicle segment, it's all about junk in the trunk. Whether you have the pleasure of being the driver or even better being a passenger, the depth of the luggage compartment has been increased by 10cm. While that might not sound like something to write home about, trunk space was also upped by 20 litres, so you can fit five more milk jugs or anything else that your heart desires.
If you're not fitting gear into the trunk, how about placing some libations into the available integrated coolbox in the rear?
Furthermore, allow your ears to be serenaded with the mellifluous music emitted from the Bang & Olufsen surround sound system. With 19 speakers and an impressive 1,400 watts, it sure beats listening to nothing -- and by nothing, I mean the cabin is so quiet at highway speeds you could hear a pin drop.
 |
| In the A8 vehicle segment, it's all about junk in the trunk. Whether you have the pleasure of being the driver or even better being a passenger, the depth of the luggage compartment has been increased by 10cm. (Photo: Alexandra Straub) |
Comparing the 2015 Audi A8
The extra-large premium sedan segment is full of industry heavy hitters. Take the new
Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the
BMW 7 Series. Offering a host of technical gadgetry in an uber comfortable package, it's going to get interesting in this area of the market.
The 2015 Audi A8 will arrive on Canadian soil in 2014.
The latest auto news, reviews, prices, product and vehicle releases. 
