The 2022 Audi A8 L facelift has been officially launched in India. There are two variants available, the base Celebration variant is priced at INR 1.29 crore while the flagship Technology Edition has been priced at INR 1.57 crore. It costs INR 31 lac less than the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, INR 11 lac less than the BMW 7 Series, and INR 62 lac less than the Lexus LS in Indian market.
Related: All-New Hyundai Tucson Unveiled in India
The A8 L is the flagship sedan from Audi and in its latest iteration, emphasized on the luxury quotient inside while also getting sportier exterior updates. Audi India believes that the specific needs of flagship sedan buyers are evolving with changing times and that the A8 L is tailor-made to meet new-age demands. Speaking at the launch event, Audi India Head Balbir Singh Dhillon said:
“With the new Audi A8 L we are offering our discerning customers greater choice and wider personalization options as well. Lifestyle values such as time, space, and individual expression are key decision drivers today traditional strengths from performance- and safety to comfort and luxury remain important. The new Audi A8 L caters to all requirements and we are confident that this new flagship will continue to attract customers to the Audi family.”
The sportier Audi A8 L gets an imposing front grille with generous chrome work which is flanked by new Digital Matrix LED headlight units. Audi claims that while these head light units offer better illumination of the road ahead, these are also dazzle-free to ensure the lights don’t obstruct view of the oncoming traffic. And to up the style element, the head light units also get illuminated Audi logo with selectable animated projections for entry and exit.
Related: VW Virtus Earns a Unique Award in India
The emphasis on new-age lighting schematics extends to the rear profile of the Audi A8 L with the model getting OLED tail lights with proximity detection and patterned illumination when the ‘Dynamic’ drive mode is engaged. The vehicle rides on new 5-spoke turbine design alloys done in Graphite Grey polish bringing a blend of sophistication as well as sporty character to the model’s visual appeal. There are 8 exterior color options to select from.
Inside, the cabin of the latest Audi A8 L which is essentially meant to be a chauffer-driven car, puts the focus on the rear seats which come with either two or three-seat set-up. A rear-seat executive package is being offered which puts a rear-seat recliner, massage and ventilation functionality as well as an all-new heated foot massager – two programs and three intensity levels – on offer for added convenience of passengers. The audio/ visual requirements are catered to by two 10.1-inch screens and Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with 3D sound. This system has a max output of 1920 watts through the 23 speakers all around the cabin, and through a 23-channel BeCore amplifier.
Related: Volkswagen to Start Selling Electric Cars in India from 2023
The other highlights of Audi A8 L cabin include four-zone air-conditioning with air ionizer and aromatization, Head-Up Display, massage functionality on the front seats, 30-colour ambient light, MMI Navigation Plus with touch and haptic feedback, dual-screen interface on the dashboard and Valcona leather seat upholstery all around. There are 4 interior color themes available as well.
The new Audi A8 L is powered by a 3.0L TFSI petrol, 48V mild-hybrid engine that generates 340hp of power and 500Nm torque. It can accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. Standard fitment also includes a Predictive Active Suspension which allows the vehicle to detect road undulations in advance using front camera and predictively adjusts suspension for improved comfort. However it only works on speeds below 30 km/h. The Adaptive Air Suspension however, is constantly active while the A8 L also comes with the much-acclaimed Quattro all-wheel drive system.
Related: Kia EV6 Electric Vehicle Launched in India
The A8 L is packed to the brim with a slew of active and passive safety features which include 8 airbags which can be upped to 10 if a customer opts for Safety Package plus, Park Assist Plus with 360 degree cameras and Audi Pre-Sense Basic which gets activated in case a collision is anticipated.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
