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2009 Audi A8 Review
Big, powerful, smooth and luxurious.
2009 A8 Review Summary & Specifications
The Audi A8 is fast, roomy, luxurious and exceptionally comfortable. It rides like a luxury car, yet it's taut and handles like a sports sedan. Loaded with innovation, the A8 is a thinking person's luxury car, 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 up almost nothing to either. Do you want a V8, V10, or W12? In Germany, where the autobahn beckons with no speed limit, that would be an easier choice, assuming money is no object. In our land, the advantage of the W12 or the sporty S8 is more image than reality. The price premium for the W12 seems like a lot for image, but it is a wonderful 12-cylinder sedan with all-wheel drive and we think it's a good choice. The S8 is a mixed bag. Some will like its sportier moves, but others will be annoyed by the firmer ride and sometimes sensitive throttle.NewCarTestDrive.com editors Mitch McCullough and J.P. Vettraino contributed to this report. Correspondent Kirk Bell contributed from Chicago.
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| Vehicle Category | Luxury Cars |
| Editor | New Car Test Drive |
| Model Lineup | Audi A8 4.2 ($70,050); A8 L 4.2 ($77,900); S8 5.2 ($96,200); A8 L W12 ($120,100) |
| Engines (standard) | 5.2-liter dohc 40-valve V10 |
| Engines (optional) | 350-horsepower 4.2-liter dohc 32-valve V8; 450-hp 5.2-liter dohc 40-valve V10; 450-hp 6.0-liter dohc 48-valve W12 |
| Transmissions (standard) | 6-speed automatic Tiptronic |
| Transmissions (optional) | 6-speed automatic Tiptronic |
| Safety Equipment (standard) | dual front airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, full-cabin side-curtain airbags, knee airbags for driver and front passenger, active front head restraints, front safety belts with automatic pretensioners and force limiters, three rear three-point safety belts, ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, all-wheel drive, tire-pressure monitor, traction control, electronic stability control |
| Safety Equipment (optional) | adaptive cruise control; front and rear park assist, rearview camera, Audi Lane Assist, Audi Side Assist |
| Basic Warranty | 4 years/50,000 miles with free scheduled maintenance |
| Assembled In | Ingolstadt, Germany |
| Manufacturer Phone | 800-822-2834 |
| Manufacturer URL | www.audiusa.com |
| Base Price MSRP | 74050 |
| Model Tested MSRP | Audi S8 ($96,200) |
| Standard Equipment | dual-zone automatic climate control; leather upholstery; heated front and rear seats; 16-way power adjustable front sport seats with lumbar adjustment; interior air filter; power tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio controls; cruise control; memory for the driver's seat, mirrors, and steering wheel; heated power mirrors with auto-dimming and passenger side tilt-down back-up aid; power windows and door locks; remote keyless entry; sunroof, Bose AM/FM radio with 6-disc CD changer; Sirius satellite radio; auxiliary audio input jack; navigation system with voice recognition; Bluetooth wireless cell phone link; trip computer; auto-dimming rearview mirror; Homelink universal garage door opener; rain-sensing wipers with heated nozzles; trunklid-closing assist; automatic bi-xenon adaptive headlights with washers; theft-deterrent system; front and rear fog lights; performance-tuned adjustable load-leveling air suspension; front and rear limited-slip differentials; performance brakes; P265/35R20 tires on alloy wheels |
| Destination Charge | 825 |
| Options as Tested (MSRP) | Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System ($6,300); Leather Appointment Upgrade ($4,900); Technology Package ($3,500) with Audi Side Assist and Audi Lane Assist; Carbon Fiber trim ($500) |
| Gas Guzzler Tax | 2100 |
| Layout | all-wheel drive |
| Price as Tested | 114325 |
| Horse Power | 450 @ 7000 |
| Torque | 398 @ 3500 |
| Fuel Economy | 13/19 |
| Wheelbase | 115.9 |
| Length/Width/Height | 199.3/74.7/56.1 |
| Track Front/Rear | |
| Turning Radius | 39.7 |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
| Front Head/Hip/Leg room | 37.3/NA/41.4 |
| Middle Head/Hip/Leg room | |
| Rear Head/Hip/Leg room | 38.0/NA/37.6 |
| Trunk Volume | 14.6 |
| Payload | |
| Towing Capacity | |
| Front Suspension | independent, strut type with adaptive air springs |
| Rear Suspension | independent, strut type with adaptive air springs |
| Ground Clearance | 4.7 |
| Curb Weight | 4586 |
| Stock Tires | 265/35R20 |
| Brakes Front/Rear | vented disc/vented disc with ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, ESP |
| Fuel Capacity | 23.8 |
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