GreenBkk Auto | 2011 Audi A8 4.2 FSI

2011 Audi A8 4.2 FSI

EXECUTIVE EDITOR--AUTOWEEK.COM BOB GRITZINGER: First impression from behind the wheel of the 2011 A8: What a sweet piece of machinery. Starting with what was already a fine sports sedan, Audi has managed to add even more structural rigidity, a classier wrapper, and--in the impossible-to-improve-upon-perfection department--an even better interior layout and design.

Our test car doesn't have all the trick electronics like active cruise control and lane-departure warnings, but it does have a complete array of audio and navigational equipment that offers plenty of crowd-wowing potential. The touch pad for entering letters in addresses into the navigation system is neat, as are the motorized tweeters with this Bang & Olufsen audio system that rise up from the upper dashboard to project high notes throughout the cabin. This stuff isn't just a collection of parlor tricks, either. It all is engineered to serve a purpose, and it all functions as intended.

I wish I could have had more than a quick drive into the office in the new A8. Next time it's in I hope for a little more drive time.

EDITOR WES RAYNAL: This is a nice car, and it doesn't have a bad base price, either. And even with an as-tested price of $91,000, it's worth it.

This is among the smoothest of the big cars available (Mercedes-Benz S-class, Jaguar XJ, BMW 7-series, etc.) and the quietest as well. I swear I couldn't tell when the car was shifting if I left it in full automatic mode.

The ride is smooth and quiet as well, and with quattro, the car felt agile and composed on all surfaces. (I left the suspension in auto mode). The faster you go, the less body roll. The air suspension is amazing.

The interior was even better than I thought it would be, and this being an Audi, I was expecting a lot--terrific quality, good-looking and comfortable. I loved the little tweeters that rise up out of the dash when you turn on the stereo. I didn't look at all 332 pages in the owner's manual (and that's just the main book; there are two other smaller ones) so I'm sure I didn't discover many of the car's features.

About the only annoying thing was the shifter. I didn't like that I could easily pick neutral when I when I wanted reverse or drive--too fiddly.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: This is a stunning large luxury sedan. Everything from the drive to the ride to comfort and road presence is first-class, in my opinion.

Audi says it raised the structural rigidity of the aluminum chassis by 25 percent, which helps return exceptional ride comfort. Put the suspension in the comfort setting and it's like gliding down the road. This would be a great road-trip vehicle, with seat massagers to keep the front passengers relaxed.

However, when you want to push the car some, you can set the adaptive air suspension to dynamic mode and you can take a corner fairly quick with minimal body roll, which is impressive for such a large vehicle. Steering is responsive with decent weight dialed in helping to make the car driver smaller than it really is. The brakes are also up to task with good pedal feel.

The new 4.2-liter direct-injection V8 is smooth and powerful all the way to redline. And paired with the new eight-speed automatic, the combo rattles off quick, undetectable shifts. My only complaint is that there is a slight hesitation following throttle tip-in from a stop.

When it comes to the cabin, this is tops in the class in my book. It's handsome, easy to navigate, built with high-quality materials and has a comfortable ambience at night with the light treatments. The sloping center console places all major controls close at hand. I also played with the MMI's new touch pad and entered a few destinations into the navigation system. It worked well and rarely wasn't able to register a character. It took a real sloppy input for the system to not be able to pick it up. The new feature certainly makes inputting information faster than with just the knob on its own.

The optional Bang & Olufsen sound system is also amazing with clear and crisp sounds coming from the car's 19 speakers to make the A8 a rolling concert hall.

I'll copy Raynal on the complaint about the shifter being a little finicky. On a few occasions, I pulled the shift lever back with the intention of engaging "Drive" only to have it go into "Neutral." It got really annoying after the third or fourth time.

2011 Audi A8 4.2 FSI

Base Price: $78,925

As-Tested Price: $91,525

Drivetrain: 4.2-liter V8; AWD, eight-speed automatic

Output: 372 hp @ 6,800 rpm, 328 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm

Curb Weight: 4,409 lb

Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 21/17.2 mpg

Options: Bang & Olufsen advanced sound system including 1,400 watts, 19 speakers, acoustic lens technology, digital signal processing, ICEpower digital amplifier ($6,300); convenience package including keyless entry, power trunk open/close, Audi parking system advanced with rearview camera ($2,350); premium package including front-seat ventilation, front pneumatic seat massage, 22-way comfort seat with pneumatic lumbar support and multicontour, rear side-seat wood trim ($2,000); 20-inch, 10-parallel-spoke wheels with summer performance tires ($1,200); leather package 1 including center console, door armrest, airbag cap, stitching ($750)

Credit: Autocar