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2004 Audi A8 Review
First look indicates new flagship may be best luxury sedan.
2004 A8 Review Summary & Specifications
More and more Audi is becoming a Tier 1 premium brand like Mercedes and BMW. Like the Benz and BMW, the A8 L is fast, roomy, luxurious and exceptionally comfortable. It rides like a luxury car. Yet at the same time, it's taut and handles like a sports sedan. Loaded with innovation, the A8 L is the thinking man's luxury sedan, more progressive, less traditional than a BMW or Mercedes. It's elegant but not arrogant, indulgent without being excessive. It's priced a little lower than comparable sedans from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, yet gives little ground to them in many respects.
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| Vehicle Category | Luxury Cars |
| Editor | Mitch McCullough |
| Model Lineup | A8 L ($68,500) |
| Engines (standard) | 4.2-liter dohc 40-valve V8 |
| Transmissions (standard) | 6-speed Tiptronic automatic |
| Engines (optional) | 330-horsepower 4.2-liter dohc 40-valve V8 |
| Transmissions (optional) | 6-speed automatic Tiptronic |
| Safety Equipment (standard) | dual front airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, inflatable Sideguard curtain airbags, front knee airbags for driver and front passenger, front safety belts with automatic pretensioning and force limiter, three rear safety belts with ALR and ELR, ABS, EBD, all-wheel drive, stability control |
| Safety Equipment (optional) | none |
| Basic Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles with free scheduled maintenance |
| Assembled In | Ingolstadt, Germany |
| Manufacturer Phone | 1-800-822-2834 |
| Manufacturer URL | www.audiusa.com |
| Base Price MSRP | 68500 |
| Model Tested MSRP | A8 L ($68,500) |
| Standard Equipment | fully automatic dual-zone climate control with Rest function (heater can operate with vehicle shut off), dual sun sensors and smog sensor with activated charcoal filter, Valcona leather seat upholstery, 16-way power front seats, four-position memory (for seat adjustments, climate control settings), heated front and rear seats, power seatbelt height adjustment, power glass solar sunroof with pre-select function and pinch protection, power windows (with power retention, one-touch down/up for all four windows), cruise control, remote keyless entry, power mirrors, multi-function steering wheel with MMI controls, electric tilt/telescoping heated steering wheel, 12-speaker AM/FM Bose Surround Sound system with noise-cancellation technology and 6-disc CD changer, automatic day/night rearview mirror, heated side mirrors |
| Destination Charge | 660 |
| Options as Tested (MSRP) | none |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | |
| Price as Tested | 69160 |
| Layout | |
| Horse Power | 330 @ 6500 |
| Torque | 317 @ 3500 |
| Fuel Economy | |
| Wheelbase | 121.1 |
| Length/Width/Height | 204.0/79.8/57.3 |
| Track Front/Rear | |
| Turning Radius | 41.0 |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room | 37.4/NA/41.3 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room | |
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room | 38.3/NA/42.3 |
| Trunk Volume | 17.7 |
| Payload | |
| Towing Capacity | |
| Front Suspension | independent, fully pneumatic |
| Rear Suspension | independent, fully pneumatic |
| Ground Clearance | 4.7 |
| Curb Weight | 4,399 |
| Stock Tires | 235/55R17 |
| Brakes Front/Rear | vented disc/vented disc with ABS, EBD, ESP |
| Fuel Capacity | |
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