2011 Audi A8

While many of today's new cars—even across brands—share some of the same switchgear and detailing, you'd be challenged to find evidence of such cross-pollination in this cabin. Just glancing around the A8 reveals countless little details that are reserved for this and only this interior. Figuring in just as much as a styling expression as a functional element in the A8 are the two tweeters that rise almost silently from the dash upon startup. Even the shift knob for the automatic transmission is significantly different than what's used in other Audi models; Audi says it's modeled after the throttle in yachts and powerboats, but we see golf putter.

From the outside, we're unable to gush in the same way. From most angles, the new A8 looks only like an extension of the outgoing design—albeit with some awesome detailing this time around, as you could get lost for minutes in the fine detail in and around the LED headlights and taillights. But in an apparent effort to make the A8 look a little more long-hooded and broad-shouldered (more like a traditional rear-wheel-drive sport sedan), the automaker has almost lost its proportions. While the A8 looks great from the side, or straight on from the rear, hardcore Audi fans might be disappointed that the proportions don't pop, especially from front angles, the way they used to. Audi's eggcrate grille and front airdam, which used to look brash and different now feels more ordinary. Aerodynamics of the design are very impressive, with the coefficient of drag, at 0.26, about the same as that of the Toyota Prius.

The other key to making that modest V-8 move the A8 in truly quick fashion is the excellent eight-speed automatic transmission. Audi simply nailed the calibration here, and it's one of the best-calibrated automatic transmissions at any price. While you can flick through the gears manually, you most likely won't even feel the inclination to do so; if you're in its Comfort or Auto modes, the transmission doesn't mess around and shifts early—just short of lugging the engine, likely one of the reasons for this big sedan's excellent fuel economy—while if you squeeze the accelerator, say, halfway, the transmission very rapidly downshifts a gear or two. Floor it and it's just as quick, only you end up going from, say eighth to third, in a dramatic and quick rush of passing power.

In regular driving, the A8's quattro all-wheel drive system sends about 60 percent of power to the rear wheels, while up to 60 percent can be sent to the front wheels when needed. For enthusiasts, there's also an available sport differential system that brings an active torque split from left to right as well.

In all A8 models, the front seats are ample and supportive, combining cushiony softness at first with an underlying firmness that should make them all-day comfortable. They have great mid-back support, combined with headrests that are supportive without forcing your neck forward. In back, while the standard backseat setup has long cushions good for lankier passengers, there's simply not enough legroom back there in the normal-length A8; so do get the A8 L unless you're tight on parking space.

Plus, available on the A8L (and included in all W12 versions) are lavish individual seats in back that might just be cause to get someone else to do the driving. Four-zone climate control keeps everyone comfortable, the rear seats are power-adjustable, and the right-side one includes a footrest while the left-side seat includes massage and recline functions. Also on offer in either model is a two-panel panoramic sunroof that makes the interior considerably brighter without interfering with headroom. In either case, the A8 has plenty of trunk space, and the rather long trunklid allows a wide opening.

In the 2011 A8, Audi of course has all the fundamentals for a very safe, large sedan, including a strong aluminum space-frame structure, an extensive array of airbags (including front knee bags), and an advanced stability control system.

But thanks to a host of additional, truly advanced features, the A8 has some even more advanced features that are likely to help reduce the severity of a crash, even if you don't manage to avoid it. All A8 models include automatic emergency braking, which activates to lessen the impact of a collision it deems unavoidable. There's also a braking guard feature that warns the driver with a chime and jolt of the brakes. And whenever the accelerator is released abruptly, the brake system now primes itself and cleans the brake discs for best stopping response. Additionally, Audi's Pre Sense system adjusts seats, tenses seatbelts, and adjusts shocks to optimum positions when it senses an impending collision; it also activates the hazard lamps and partially brakes to lessen the severity.

Where it starts getting interesting is the interface. A lot of real estate—maybe too much—is devoted to knobs and buttons, though many drivers will be happy for the level of redundancy. Directly in front of the driver, in the gauge cluster, is an abbreviated screen based display that's easy to scroll through with the steering-wheel controls, then more extensive screens are on offer through the main multi-media interface (MMI) screen, which still takes a little while to get used to, but it's been completely redesigned and reconceived here compared to the previous model. The eight-inch touch monitor is beautiful and easy to read from a wide range of angles, and a new Google Maps–based navigation system uses its own data connection to get live-updated mapping and routing information.

The A8 will be the first Audi to use a new interface that allows drivers to use their fingertips to direct the Multi-Media Interface—via a touchpad that's a lot like touch-screen controls for a smartphone. It recognizes alphabets from English to Mandarin to Cyrillic, and rests in a convenient location, beside the driver's knee. We weren't able to master, let alone become fluent with in such a short time, but the system is said to make destination and phone number entry much easier.

From what we—as well as other auto critics—have seen, the A8 returns those kinds of numbers in real-world driving, too. In nearly a hundred miles of mostly lower-speed stop-and-go commute-style driving in an A8 L, we managed more than 18 mpg.