Audi A8 dimensions

The 2012 Audi A8 gives nothing away to its competitors in terms of performance, convenience, technological wizardry or create class. As such, this driver-focused luxury sedan should be on the consideration list of anybody shopping this segment. Audi A8 Sedan offers the following pros: Premium, handsome cabin; cutting-edge technology features; impressive driving dynamics; traditional all-wheel drive. Audi A8 Sedan drawbacks are: Prestige factor not quite equal to chief rivals; small cargo.

The 2012 Audi A8 comes in three trims: traditional 4. 2, long-wheelbase 4. 2 L and long-wheelbase 6. 3 L. The numbers indicate whether a V8 (4. 2) or W12 (6. 3) powers the vehicle. As expected, the L versions offer more space for back bench passengers.

Both Audi A8 4. 2 models come traditional with 19-inch alloy wheels, adaptive air suspension, Audi Drive Select (allows adjustment of suspension, steering and engine/transmission response), xenon headlights, a sunroof, Audi's Multi Media Interface (MMI) system (with a touchpad that can interpret fingertip gestures), a navigator, cruise control, a power-adjustable helm, leather upholstery, 12-way performance front seatings, heated front seatings, dual-zone automatic conditioning, a performance back sunshade, Bluetooth and a Bose surround-sound stereo system (with HD and radio, Ipod connectivity, a 20GB audio server and a CD changer).

The 4. 2 L adds park assist (with rearview camera), keyless ignition/entry, power-closing doors, performance back side sunshades and a power-operated cargo.

The 6. 3 L contains all the 4. 2 L features along with a more comprehensive motor, 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, panoramic sunroof, dual-pane acoustic windows, Dynamic steering, 22-way performance front seatings, updated leather upholstery, four-seat customization (with back center console), ventilation and massage functions for all seatings, four-zone automatic conditioning, heated back seatings, a heated helm (with shift paddles), a faux suede headliner, back bench entertainment and Audi Connect with Wi-fi capability and Google Earth.

Feature highlights (depending on trim) include 20-inch wheels, keyless ignition/entry, a night vision camera (an infrared camera to detect animals and pedestrians up to 1000, feet away), a solar-powered venting sunroof, faux-suede dashboard trim, different wood accents, four-zone conditioning and a luxury 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen stereo system.

There are also several packages available. The Luxury suite contains 22-way performance front seatings (with ventilation and massaging functions). The Cold Weather suite contains heated helm/rear seatings and a rear-seat pass-through (with ski sack). The Back Seat Convenience suite adds performance lumbar/recline and ventilation, back vanity mirrors and four-zone conditioning. The Driver Assistance suite contains adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor, a lane-departure warning system and a pre-braking system. The Sport suite (regular Audi A8 only) contains 20-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a torque-vectoring back differential, updated leather upholstery and the 22-way performance front seatings.

The L versions can also be fitted with the Executive Back Seating suite, which contains the individual back seats/console already seen in the 6. 3 L along with footrests, updated leather upholstery, a refrigerator and a dual-screen DVD entertainment system. The entertainment system is also provided on the regular Audi A8. .