Luxury carmakers wouldn’t have you think we’re in a recession. This is high season for the big guys: BMW’s redesigned 7 Series came out not two years ago, and Jaguar unleashed a new XJ for 2010. Now we have the 2011 Audi A8, a car that deserves a look if you’re considering either $70,000-plus sedan.
For better or worse, the cabin has a businesslike asceticism that’s missing in the XJ’s over-the-top wood-and-chrome trimmings. But materials are still good, with wood trim that looks straight off a pricey coffee table — not at all lacquered, like it is in most luxury cars.
LED headlights are standard, with arched low-beam sections that Audi calls the “wings.” It adds a bit of visual interest to an otherwise conservative design; so does the massive I-might-eat-you grille. At a glance, though, the A8’s horizontal lines and broad overhangs recall its predecessor — and the A6 or A4, if taken from the rear.
Inside, the automatic’s gearshift looks like BMW’s automatic shifters from a couple of decades ago — short and wide, like a boat's throttle. I hope it retains the seamless pop-into-gear movement of Audi’s other automatics; little things count, and that’s one of my favorites in any Audi. Headroom up front isn’t voluminous, but thanks to a number of factors — a dash that slopes more forward that upward and a center console that doesn’t impose — this is a more open-feeling cabin than the XJ’s. Backseat legroom is rather modest for a full-size car, but Audi says an extended-length A8 is on the way, which should address those concerns.
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How much mileage does this car gives. has any one aware about the speed stability control of this car. Also what would be the approximate price of this car in California.