Welcome to the world of high-rolling thunder, a realm populated by a broad spectrum of premium transport modules. In this particular automotive odyssey, we'll examine the upsides and downsides of a trio of investment-grade four-doors. Like a well-polished personal portfolio, each boasts unique character traits aimed at enhancing its specific appeal to different types of movers and shakers. While any one of this distinguished group can be counted on to deliver exceptional driving dividends, you are encouraged to read the following prospecti carefully before making any final purchase decision.
Designed for the more conservative auto investor with distinct contrarian leanings, Audi's A8 4.2 Quattro interweaves traditional luxury trappings with avant-garde construction techniques. The aluminum-intensive A8 relies on a rigid alloy spaceframe and lightweight body panels to hold its curb weight to a trim 3902 pounds.
Inside, Audi's flagship offers an exceptional array of amenities including six airbags: two in front, and one for each door. Swathed in soft leather accented with burled walnut and brushed aluminum, the A8's spacious interior has the look and feel of a Wall Street boardroom. Torso-coddling front buckets offer 14-way power adjustability, and a four-position comprehensive memory system for the driver literally one-ups the Jaguar and Mercedes, which boast only three presets.
A variety of option packages-all of which were fitted to our car-can make life in the A8's already most-accommodating rear quarters even nicer. These add features like electrically activated rear headrests and lumbar supports, heated seats, insulated glass, an electric rear sunshade, and manual side sunshades. This Audi treats baggage as well as it does passengers. At 18.0 cubic feet, its easy-access trunk dwarfs both the XJR's 11.1- and the E420's 15.3-cubic-foot cargo bays.
Despite a plethora of mini buttons in the dash-the better to command the dual-zone automatic climate control system and Bose stereo with optional trunk-mount Alpine CD changer-the A8's overall control layout is quite user-friendly. Rounding out the package are a power-tilt/telescoping steering column with automatic swingaway, trip computer, moonroof with preselect capability, and a retained power feature, the latter two items being exclusive to the Audi. Along with the aforementioned options, our car also had a cellular phone. Those extras ballooned its $65,000 base price to $70,975 as tested, including destination fees.
Under this A8's hood is a smooth, torquey, all-aluminum 4.2-liter DOHC V-8 that makes a stout 300 horses and 295 pound-feet of torque. It's backed with a five-speed automatic transmission that incorporates an adaptive learning program. The final link in the chain is the unique Quattro hardware. Now in its fourth generation, this full-time all-wheel-drive system teams a Torsen center differential with electronically locking diffs on each axle to send motive force front-to-rear and side-to-side in the most effective manner.
Quickest of this cadre in a straight line-0-60 mph in 6.7 seconds and a quarter-mile best of 15.0 ticks at 95.0 mph-the Q-style A8's handling numbers proved less impressive. Despite its weight-saving aluminum suspension bits-A4-style split double wishbones up front and a revised version of the trapezoidal arm/wishbone rear assembly used on previous Quattro models-the ultimate all-wheel-drive Audi managed only 0.79 g on the skidpad and 62.3 mph in the slalom. The cause of this modest showing is as much philosophical as mechanical. In order to optimize all-weather traction, cut interior noise levels, and enhance ride compliance on the U.S. A8, Audi's engineers elected to trade a measure of dry traction and transient responsiveness. Along with softer spring and shock tuning than that of its Euro kin, less-aggressive 225/60VR16 Goodyear Eagle LS all-season tires are fitted in place of the Eagle GS-Ds used in other markets.
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