2011 Audi A8 Overview Change Vehicle

This 2011 Audi A8 overview explains changes for the model year, provides a summary of the 2011 A8, and includes Audi A8 safety, reliability, and fuel economy information.

Audi’s luxurious flagship sedan is all-new for the 2011 model year, giving the pampered set a new mode of transport that includes Quattro all-wheel drive, a choice between standard- and long-wheelbase versions, a 372-horsepower 4.2-liter V8 and buckets of technological wizardry to amaze and delight you and your friends.

When choosing an Audi A8, you first need to decide whether to go with the regular or long-wheelbase A8. Both wear a 4.2 designation, signifying the engine under the hood.

Among the standout features on the 2011 Audi A8’s lengthy standard equipment list are the adaptive air suspension; Audi Drive Select that lets the driver personalize the A8’s suspension, steering, and engine response; 19-inch wheels; a cool 3D navigation system; and the Multi-Media Interface (MMI) system with a touchpad that allows you to “write” your inputs. Opt for the long-wheelbase A8 L and you also get keyless ignition, a rearview camera with park assist, power rear sunshades, and a trunk and doors that are power operated, all features that are optional on the standard-wheelbase A8.

Option packages include a Premium Package (upgraded interior materials and 22-way power front seats with a massage function), a Sport Package (20-inch wheels and beefier air suspension settings), and a Driver Assistance Package (adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitor and lane departure warning).

Additional options include a wonderfully extravagant Bang and Olufsen audio system with wicked little speakers that rise from the corners of the dashboard, Night Vision Assistant that facilitates your sight in the dark, and four-zone climate control. Go for the long-wheelbase version and you can sign up for the Executive Rear Seat Package that gives you first-class accommodations via reclining, massaging rear seats, a DVD player, and a fridge for the Colt 45.

Press the accelerator and Audi’s great beast of a 4.2-liter V8 roars to life, using 372 horsepower to propel this full-size sedan from zero to 60 mph in under six seconds. An eight-speed transmission sends power to Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system, but on dry pavement the A8 transmits the bulk of its power to the rear wheels so that the sedan can maintain its athletic edge. The A8 is rated to provide 17 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, very good numbers considering its size and power. This mileage is partly due to the weight savings realized by the extensive use of lightweight yet stout aluminum in the A8’s frame.

Of course, the big Audi A8 comes standard with features like antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist, along with stability control and eight airbags. The A8 is the only vehicle in the super-luxury sedan class to come standard with all-wheel drive, which we consider to be a safety feature if you live in areas where slippery roads are common. Spend extra for the Driver Assistance Package to get a warning should you wander from your lane whilst fiddling with all the fun gadgets in the car, or if there’s a car in your blind spot, or if A8 car senses that a collision may be imminent. That last feature will also gird the vehicle for the most favorable outcome for the occupants if a crash is unavoidable.

While the 2011 Audi A8 has not been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, we think that the A8 would be a good place to be in the event of a collision. Unfortunately, data about its potential to deliver reliability over time is unavailable from J.D. Power and Associates or Consumer Reports.

Stepping into the cabin of the 2011 Audi A8 is like walking into a Prada store – it’s clean, full of refined textures and design cues and impeccably tasteful, if a bit austere compared to the flagrant luxury of a commensurate Lexus. We were a bit taken aback by the multitude of creaks in our test vehicle that cheapened the experience, however, and noted that, overall, other German luxury sedans provided a more premium experience.

The Audi A8 is a bit of an underdog in this segment, accounting for just a small percentage of super luxury sedan sales. It’s supposed to appeal to driving connoisseurs who would eschew glossy lavishness in favor of a sport sedan cloaked in high-end sophistication. When it’s in its element, namely a smoothly paved twisty road, it excels, exhibiting brilliant feedback and response that allows the driver to toss this big vehicle into a tight turn with confidence that you’ll be able to predict and depend on its dynamic behavior.

Audi Drive Select provides a choice between Comfort, Dynamic, Auto and Individual settings for suspension, steering, and throttle response. We found that in all but the most extreme of instances, using the Comfort setting will do you well. Around town, the A8 glides over road ugliness and easily jogs on the highway. We got an average of 20.5 mpg in mixed driving conditions, which is terrific for a powerful V8 motivating a full-size, all-wheel-drive sedan.

Roads being what they are, however, the Audi reveals some turpitude when faced with harsh impacts; the A8 seems to be susceptible to the transmission of harsh jolts from the wheels, through the suspension, and into the steering column and cabin. Our test car had the optional 20-inch wheels and lower-profile tires, so we’d bet that the standard 19-inch wheels do a better job of filtering harshness. Also, the steering wheel shudders in the driver’s hands when accelerating up a twisty mountain road, something we’ve experienced in other Audis and which we can only assume is related to power transfer to the front wheels via Quattro. While neither characteristic is a deal-breaker, it does impart the sense that this newly engineered, modern super luxury sedan requires some additional fine-tuning.

At this price point, there’s little room for error when it comes to execution. The 2011 Audi A8 is as pretty as anything else out there, on paper it has the numbers and features to compete, and techno-geeks will drool over all the buttons and whiz-bang electronics. But we can’t help but feel that the new A8 falls a bit short in terms of unique design, peerless quality, and sublime driving dynamics compared to other models that can eclipse the six-figure price threshold.

By Liz Kim