Flagship or fast ship?

What we like:

Perfect balance between supreme comfort and handling. Opulent interior that’s ideally suited to both driver and passenger.

What we dislike:

None.

Like the predecessor, the new A8L is powered by a 4.0-litre turbocharged powerplant with a robust amount of horsepower under the hood. At 435bhp, the Audi A8L packs more punch than most performance cars on the road with a 15bhp increase over the older model. Torque is impressive at 600Nm from 1,500rpm. Giving plenty of shove and completing the century sprint in just 4.6 seconds.

Despite its heady performance figures, the efficiency figures are just as impressive if not more. It boggles the mind how this nearly 2 ton behemoth can achieve an economy of just over 10km/L.

Once on the road however, it’s hard not to be impressed at the ease in which its advanced air suspension irons out bumps and undulations below it. Even the most determined bumps are blunted before they ever reach the cabin. Most amazing is the way it finds an equal compromise between pillowy soft pliancy and composition when under heavy cornering. On the move, there’s a complete absence of road noise regardless of the behemoth’s speed.

Once again the Audi A8L is at the top of its game and it remains a mystery why there aren’t more on the roads. If you’re looking for the ideal compromise between opulence, performance and luxury, you only have to look to the Audi A8.

Credits: Story and Photos by Benjamin G. Kline