So finally the 9th Auto Expo has come to an end, only to leave behind the images of cars, a lot of them, and a lot of very important ones at that. So let us take a peek at what was displayed by the major automakers. Deciding upon which manufacturer to being with was making me scratch my scalp so decided I did that doing it the conventional way would be the best and the safest bet. So we start in the alphabetical order. And since now we have decided on that, Audi is the first in line.
Allow me to start with the flagship – Audi A8. Understated, elegant yet bold and striking. Sounds confusing, yes? Because it is. But just look at the A8 and you will understand what I mean. The new-look corporate grille is so intimidating but the elegant lines all across lends it a well balanced look. The space-frame body is rigid and lightweight which complements the FSI (petrol) and TDI (diesel) engines, which goes on to show what a manic performance level the car is capable of. Manic it sure is, but it delivers without even you getting the hint of it. All you do is floor the accelerator pedal and, subconsciously, press it further. Such confidence inspiring the A8 is!
Engine alone cannot deliver a thrilling driving experience. There are a lot of other essential aspects and one of them is steering. The rack-and-pinion is a rather conventional and standard steering mechanism on the cars of today but Audi has added technical terms like ‘variable steering ratio’ and ‘servotronic speed-dependent power assistance’ to give a more connected and direct feel.
The suspension too has been tweaked and the adaptive air suspension has been revised. The variable dampers are electronically controlled and now fitted with new seals to reduce friction. In a bid to refine the ride quality even further, Audi says that the entire hydraulics had to be retuned.
There are three engines that power the A8 – 4.2 FSI Quattro which develops 350 brake horsepower which, coupled to a 440Nm of torque make it quite a recipe for performance. But if you think so, then hang on just a while for this – a 6.0L engine, laid out in a W format which will have the power of 450 horses fuming from its exhaust. And to calm the level-headed executives who are not really performance freaks will be happy with the 3.0L TDI quattro diesel motor which will be good for 233PS and 450Nm torque.
Since a lot of you owning this car will be driven around, you would want good entertainment value while seated back. And to cater to this need, MMI (Multi Media Interface) is provided for you to fiddle around with. It will include radio system, a DSP sound system and a 6-disc CD changer. Complementing this, the 4.2 FSI and 3.0 TDI models come fitted with Bose sound system while the mad 6.0L W12 version comes with Bang and Olufsen sound system.
The front seats are electrically adjustable with memory function which stores your seating position. The drivers with weak back will also appreciate the lumber support (electric) provided. The rear seats too are electrically adjustable. To ensure the highest levels of safety, the A8 comes equipped with parking sensors and cruise control. And then there are the usual suspects like front and rear side airbags. The ABS is accentuated with ESP (electronic stability program). Another interesting and very useful tool that the W12 comes with is Tyre pressure monitoring system which will alert you in case there is a drop in the tyre pressure.
Since the Audi A8 will battle against the Mercedes S Class and BMW 7 Series, you will expect it to be priced in the vicinity of 80 odd lakh rupees. And you are so right, well, almost. The 3.0 TDI is priced at Rs. 72,50,000 while the 4.2 FSI will set you back by Rs. 83,00,000. So this leaves us with the 6.0 W12 which, as you would have guessed, is rather expensive. There is no other way of saying this to soften the slap, so let me drop the bombshell straight away – One crore and twenty six lakh. Yes, the 6.0 FSI will be yours for Rs. 1,26,00,000. Period.
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