The Worthy Alternate

The transport of choice for the rich and successful is either the BMW 7-Series or the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Its high time they take a good look at the Audi A8.

Words by C. K. Lim
Pictures courtesy of Audi Press

It is only human to take the path that is well trodden rather than less travelled, both literally and figuratively. When it comes to vehicles, the German luxury saloons, primarily the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, have long been the symbols of success. Many owners of both marques are traditional businessmen who have arrived in the business world. As such, it is not uncommon to see the upcoming and aspiring business leaders-to-be shuttling between meetings in none other than a BMW 7-Series or Mercedes-Benz S-Class executive saloons.

For the select few who prefer or choose to be different, looking at marques beyond the three-pointed star and the blue-and-white roundel, an Ingolstadt-based premium car maker called Audi with its A8 range, is not far from their sights.
Despite not being as established as its brethren as global luxury leaders, Audi, almost wholly owned by the Volkswagen Group, has been in the luxury segment since it started its penetration throughout the early nineties. And it all began with the Audi V8 luxury sedan, essentially an Audi 100/200 with a newly developed 3.6-litre V8 engine and Quattro all-wheel drive in 1988, which was eventually replaced by the A8 in 1994.

When it was launched, the A8 became the first vehicle in the world to be produced on a platform made entirely out of aluminium. This flagship offering from Audi used (and is still using) a highly innovative aluminium space frame, instead of a conventional steel platform, that significantly reduces weight without compromising on rigidity. Available in both standard wheelbase and long wheelbase versions, the A8 was available with either front-wheel drive or Quattro all-wheel drive, utilising engines that ranged from a 2.8-litre V6 to a 4.2-litre V8. During its existence up to 2002, the standard equipment on the A8 got more and more extensive, with luxurious amenities such as a premium Bose audio system, Xenon headlamps, dual-zone climate control and genuine wood interior trims, amongst many others.

The current generation of the A8 made its debut in 2003. Like its predecessor, it is available in either the standard (which is already longer than the equivalent previous-generation A8) or the long wheelbase A8L variant. Starting from 2005, the A8 range started to adopt the by-now familiar single-frame shield-like grille inspired by the Nuvolari concept vehicle shown at the 2003 Geneva Motor Show, starting with the flagship W12 A8.

Just last year, Audi gave the A8 a facelift to rejuvenate the line-up and the model reviewed here is the A8L with the 3.2-litre FSI V6.

(For the rest of the article refer to your June 2008 issue of Golf Asia magazine)