Touch of luxury, sophistication

One of the best things about being chauffeured in a convoy of similar cars is that you are able to study every detail on the rear end of the vehicle you are trailing. Riding in the backseat of an updated Audi A8 from Midrand to OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa after attending the new Nissan Qashqai Crossover launch was more than enough to convince me that this is one of the most perfect cars for VIP transportation.

Many of the updates in the new A8 are not apparent at a casual glance, but look closely and you will realise that the front end sports far more creased bonnet wraps a little further down the bolder grille. The rear end has flatter LED lamps which are joined by a long chrome strip that cuts in the middle, as well as neater, enclosed tailpipes.

While the standard A8 is roomy enough, those who stretching their legs onboard can opt for the super roomy A8L (long wheelbase) that boasts of additional 13cm. As expected, the interior exudes a balanced combination of sophistication and class. The leather quality is superb, the wood is glossily polished and the brushed aluminium complements the quintessentially classic touches we’ve come to expect in large, luxury sedan.

The German flagship also comes standard with Audi connect system across the range. The feature relies on an integrated universal mobile telecommunications system module to link the car to the internet.

You can browse the web and email freely via  WLAN hotspot and if you are behind the wheels, the system delivers tailored online services such as Google Earth and Google Street View for navigation.  Since the life of an executive is not all work, Audi has provided a rear-seat entertainment system, standard on all A8 L models,  that includes two LED displays, Bluetooth headphones and a DVD changer with separate hard drive for storing music and video files. With such luxury, the “L” might easily stand for “limousine.”

While seated, you have as much control as the multimedia interface as the driver and can search for your own points of interest and addresses form your own screen. Once you have decided where to go, you can send the information to the front infotainment system, so that the driver takes you there. It’s a pretty personal way of expressing your wishes, but it certainly smacks of authority. Who is the boss now?

While A8 is an aesthetically handsome car, it is not expected to win design accolades in the luxury sedan segment. The manufacturers have been constantly criticised for creating sedans that are very similar. In the update A8, Audi seems to have done that again, releasing a car with very similar lines to those of the A3, A4 and A6.

This conformity puts some motorists off, but they are all great cars in their respective segments and their homogeneity ensures you can spot today’s Audi a mile away, something not bad for brand recognition. It was expected that the changes would be minimal in the updated A8, but that these as always would include tweaking the LED headlights.

Since its launch in 2010, there’s been no such thing as a slow A8 including diesel models. In fact, Audi’s known for developing some of the best-performing and most frugal engines in the motoring industry. The 3.0 TDi and 4.2 TDi power-trains does not disappoint. In Sport mode, using shift paddle, both engines deliver reasonably well, thanks to the immaculately calibrated eight-speed transmission that is standard on every A8.

 It also takes on bends and curves like a tram on tracks, while the aluminium structure makes it one of the lightest full-size sedans on the road, despite its imposing size. In this vehicle, you get the thriftiness of a smaller car, courtesy of a revise engines that now offers more power and torque, while emitting fewer carbons.

MIKE OCHONMA