2009 Audi A8L 4.2 quattro vs 2009 BMW 750Li vs 2009 Mercedes-Benz S550 Comparison

Jason Statham and Pierce Brosnan, playing their silver-screen action selves, battled the baddies in a BMW 7 Series ("The Transporter," "Tomorrow Never Dies"). For his sequel, Statham switched to an Audi A8L, a car he also drove in "Transporter 3." As for the third premium German giant, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, versions of the maker's flagship sedan have appeared in everything from "The Sopranos" to "Ocean's Eleven," "Ronin," "Enemy of the State" -- in fact, just about any action flick or TV show involving piles of cash or a "Mr. Big."

So, yes, you know they're all good-action pros don't play around with second-rate tools. But of the current-gen versions, which of the three ranks as our favorite getaway?

It's a closely matched trio. The Audi A8L 4.2 quattro, the Mercedes-Benz S550, and the brand-new BMW 750Li: Each sports a twin-cam V-8 making between 350 and 400 horsepower. The three are within an inch of each other in overall length (each is a long-wheelbase version; the Benz is sold only in extended form stateside) and range from a low of 4449 pounds (Audi) to a high of 4659 pounds (BMW). Base prices are close enough that cost probably won't be a major issue for the moneyed shoppers considering these steeds: Audi ($78,725), BMW ($86,025), Mercedes-Benz ($91,225).

Of the three, the Audi rides on the oldest platform. The second-gen A8, officially the "D3," appeared for the 2004 model year -- and promptly won the first lux-sedans comparison we put it in (September 2004). Audi has since freshened the A8's face, adding its now-signature trapezoidal grille for 2005, but the basic aluminum body panels, lightweight aluminum space frame, and quattro all-wheel-drive system remain. The 32-valve, 4.2-liter V-8 now delivers 350 horses at 6800 rpm; it mates to a six-speed automatic with paddle shifters.

Mercedes' classic S-Class has been around since the 1955 model year, though the current, tenth-generation "W221" first appeared on our shores in 2006. The S550 is bursting with innovative tech -- including infra-red Night View Assist and Distronic Plus cruise control that in stop-and-go traffic can brake the car to a halt and then, as traffic begins moving again, accelerate automatically. The S550 soldiers into 2009 largely unchanged, sporting a 32-valve, 5.5-liter V-8 good for 382 horsepower at 6000 rpm and feeding its brawn through the maker's superb seven-speed automatic.