Full-size luxury sedans tend to refrain from looking too garish or presenting as in-your-face-opulent, and the A8 exemplifies that ethos with understated excellence. The 2018 A8 is a handsome car, but after six years on the showroom floor, it is starting to show its age. The only way you'd recognize the fact that this is a serious Audi is by the rings and LED headlights at the front, the A8 badge on the rear, and the sheer size of it: long and low, the A8 has the weighted look of a big sedan. The Executive package's larger 20-inch wheels give the A8 some much-needed street cred, but other than that and a few small styling touches included in the Black Optics appearance package, the A8 flies well under the radar as far as the exterior styling goes.
The sheer size of the 2018 A8 is put into a clear perspective when you look at its dimensions. It measures 207.4 inches in length, is 57.9 inches high, and 76.7 inches wide. This is larger than both the BMW 7 Series as well as the Cadillac CT6. Only taking a step back to the length of the BMW 7 Series' longer wheelbase (126.4 inches as opposed to the 122.9 inches on the Audi), the A8 otherwise dominates in terms of size. These generous dimensions, along with an all-wheel-drive system, plush interior, and big engines place the Audi A8 in the heavyweight division. Weighing in at 4,464 lbs, the A8 weighs over 250 lbs more than the 2018 BMW 7 Series and substantially more than the Cadillac.
Audi A8 Trims | L 3.0T quattro | L 4.0T Sport quattro |
---|---|---|
Max Width | 76.7 in. | 76.7 in. |
Length | 207.4 in. | 207.4 in. |
Height | 57.9 in. | 57.9 in. |
Wheelbase | 122.9 in. | 122.9 in. |
Audi A8 Trims | Curb Weight |
---|---|
L 3.0T quattro | 4,464 lbs. |
L 4.0T Sport quattro | 4,673 lbs. |
Front Tire | P255/45HR19 |
Rear Tire | P255/45HR19 |
Spare Tire | Compact |
Wheels Type | Aluminum Wheels |
Front Wheel Size | 19" x 9" |
Rear Wheel Size | 19" x 9" |
Audi has kept the exterior colors for the 2018 A8 subdued yet tasteful, and the color palette complements the A8's clean lines and businesslike demeanor. New owners will be able to choose from seven distinctive Metallic colors: Brilliant Black, Mythos Black, Monsoon Gray, Moonlight Blue, Ibis White, Florett Silver, and Glacier White. Darker colors suit the A8 better, in our opinion and Monsoon Gray does the most to complement the chrome grille and body inserts, transforming this big Audi into an Autobahn-bullet.