This comprehensive review of the 2010 Audi A8 highlights its suitability for both chauffeured and self-driven experiences. Featuring a powerful yet smooth 4.2L V8 engine, advanced MMI controls with a touchpad, and a luxurious interior with high-quality materials, the A8 stands out as a competitive premium sedan. Audi's design philosophy emphasizes understated elegance, making the A8 a top contender in the luxury segment.
Today, we test the new Audi A8, a car that is ideally suited to being chauffeured. However, since we don't have a private driver with us today, we will be driving it ourselves. Fortunately, driving this car is not a punishment at all.
Audi has officially expressed its ambition to become the largest premium car seller in the world. To support this goal, they have introduced the new A8, which is very competitively positioned in the market.
Compared to its competitors, the Audi A8 is priced attractively. For a comparable engine, competitors often charge about 10,000 euros more than the A8. The entry-level model currently is the V6 diesel, which is expected to be available in the second half of the year. However, a basic A8 can feel quite bare without options, and adding features from the options list can quickly increase the price.
To experience the premium feel, we took the V8 petrol version with a 4.2 FSI engine producing 372 horsepower and 490 Newton-meters of torque. This engine runs like a sewing machine — very smooth and almost inaudible. It works diligently under the hood and is nearly silent, providing a very calm driving experience.
The design of this car is more pronounced than its predecessor, especially the front grille, which has become even more imposing. The headlights are very distinctive with a highly recognizable design. Audi consistently applies a sleek design language across its model range, creating a strong brand identity. At a glance, the A8 shares many design cues with the A4.
The entire car's control system, aside from steering and acceleration, is managed via the MMI (Multi Media Interface). With the MMI, you can control the audio system, DVDs, and adjust all vehicle settings. The system offers many options and is very comprehensive.
Audi has introduced a well-known joystick and added a touchpad where you can write letters to input destination names for navigation. This is a clever feature that makes entering locations much easier than searching for letters on buttons.
Audi is very proud of the interior, and rightly so. The interior remains characteristically Audi, which may not be to everyone's taste, but the materials used are of a very high standard. The aluminum buttons provide a rich feel, the leather is beautiful, and the wood trim looks genuinely like wood. Unlike many other brands that use veneer or plastic strips, Audi's wood finish is authentic.
This car is best appreciated when you can sit in the back and be driven. However, driving it yourself is also a pleasure. At slow speeds, the experience is not particularly exciting, but when you press the accelerator a bit more and take winding roads at slightly higher speeds, the car really comes alive.
With this superb sedan, Audi has firmly established itself in the premium top three. They have executed the design and engineering very well. The car can be described as somewhat clinical and understated, which might sound like criticism but is actually a deliberate choice by Audi.
The understated nature of the A8 is a conscious decision to offer a comfortable ride in the premium segment without drawing too much attention or evoking too many associations. This makes the A8 an ideal car to arrive in with subtle elegance.
The 2010 Audi A8 is a well-rounded luxury sedan that combines smooth and powerful performance with advanced technology and high-quality materials. Its design is both imposing and refined, and the driving experience caters to both those who prefer to be chauffeured and those who enjoy driving themselves. Audi's strategic positioning and thoughtful design choices make the A8 a compelling choice in the premium automotive market.
Whether you are looking for a car to be driven in or to drive yourself, the Audi A8 offers a blend of comfort, technology, and performance that is hard to beat in its class.
