E-Paper
Sunday Drive by Hormazd Sorabjee: Boss level baby
The soft ride, plush seats and overall refinement of the Audi A8L put comfort and class right at the top
Understated. That’s what Audis usually are. For generations, Audi design has been the epitome of subtlety with clean, crisp and uncluttered lines. Trouble is, rival BMW with its radical, love-it-or-hate-it massive grilles has certainly got the car world talking. Mercedes, too, has upped its design game and that has put pressure on Audi to go off-script and raise its bling quotient.
The new Audi A8L, the brand’s flagship sedan that recently underwent a face lift, indicates the direction Audi is heading. It’s not an all-new car, so changes are limited, but even so, there’s enough chrome, cutting-edge lighting and tech to wow you. But is that enough?
License to grille
Audi grilles have been growing with every generation and have become more distinctive to keep up with current trends and market demands. You can’t miss the massive chrome-studded grille and, whilst the redesigned, adaptive LED headlights look very space-age, they’re priced out of this world, too. The digital matrix headlamps which offer phenomenal illumination are a ₹10 lakh optional extra!
There’s not too much change to the rest of the A8L, except for some chrome strips that run entire length of the car. Audi has missed a trick with the 19-inch alloy wheels which could have been more distinctive and given the car an extra shot of flair.
The cabin is quintessentially Audi with a minimalist design, common with other Audis in the range. Audi’s hyped ‘digital cockpit’ was quite revolutionary when it was first seen on the Audi TT in the 2014, but other brands have caught up and the digital instrument cluster which allows limited configurability feels a bit dated. The good thing is that Audi offers a wide range of customisation for the A8L so you can play around with the specs, features and equipment, and this also ensures that no two A8Ls are alike.
Cabin pressure
It’s in the rear that the A8L truly shines. There’s an abundance of space and if you opt for the relaxation package, you get what is nothing short of a business class seat. At the press of a button, the rear seats recline, the front seat moves forward, the footrest folds down and the rear entertainment screen tilts to an optimal viewing angle, all of this simultaneously. The only annoying thing is, you have to keep the button pressed through the entire process. Want more pampering? The seats get massage options which you can play around with via a digital tablet housed in the centre console at the rear.
Lounging in the back seat with your feet stretched out and your back being gently massaged, with a 17-speaker Bang and Olufsen audio system (a 23-speaker set-up is optional) delivering theatre-like sound, you won’t complain about traffic on your way home from work.
Speed breaker
Powering the A8L is a sole 3.0-litre V6 turbo that can propel this huge limo to 100 kph in just 5.7 seconds. But this statistic is irrelevant for most owners who will be more impressed with the creamy power delivery of this engine. The A8L is a very refined machine and allied to a smooth 8-speed automatic, this is one of the most relaxed luxury cars you can drive. The adaptive air suspension smothers bad roads and you feel like you’re riding on a cushion of air. What you do have to watch out for are speed breakers. The A8L sits low for our road conditions which makes underside vulnerable. Yes, you can increase the ground clearance with the touch of a button but it’s not a quick process as you have to dive into the ‘Drive Mode’ menu and select the raise function. A shortcut button would have been handy.
With a starting price of ₹1.29 crore rising to ₹1.57 crore, the Audi A8L is on par with the S-class. Whilst it can’t match the Merc for wow factor or on-board tech, the soft ride, plush seats and overall refinement put comfort and class at the top of the heap. And now with that distinctive grille, it has more of an identity.
The views expressed by the columnist are personal
From HT Brunch, November 26, 2022
Follow us on twitter.com/HTBrunch
Connect with us on facebook.com/hindustantimesbrunch
