The Future in Doubt
As it is, large flagship sedans are on shaky ground at best. If anything, it’s just the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class that are keeping that segment above water. America doesn’t have an answer for those models, as Cadillac and Lincoln have axed their respective large sedans. The Lexus LS, the car that disrupted that particular segment, has also been discontinued.
That brings us to the Audi A8. At the moment, even the folks from Ingolstadt aren’t entirely sure what to do with it. At the same time, it’s slowly being pulled out of its home market, which isn’t exactly a good sign for its future prospects. While the upcoming Q9 is a stilted A8 wagon of sorts, it won’t be a direct replacement.
Audi
Hanging Around
The fourth- and current-generation A8 is easily the oldest among its peers. It was introduced in 2017, and it’s fast approaching the decade mark. Its rivals have benefitted from full model changes this decade, but the Audi trundled along with a facelift in 2022. There haven’t been any big updates since, but the good news is it’s still available in North America for the 2027 model year for the very few who still go for traditional large luxury sedans.
So, what’s new for 2027? Well, not much, really, but at least Audi is giving its flagship some attention. It gets two new 21-inch wheel options for the Black optic package, while the S8 gains a new color and rear seat heaters as standard. It’s not a big deal for some, but it’s nice to know the A8 will live on for another year in this part of the world.
Audi
Specs and Pricing
The A8 lineup has been straightforward for quite some time already, and it’s a choice between the stretched A8 L and the sportier S8. The A8 L uses a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that’s good for 335 hp and 369 lb-ft, and it’s the only engine available for North America. Standard equipment includes a barrage of advanced driver assists, the S-Line exterior package, virtual 360-degree cameras, 22-way power-adjustable front seats, and soft-close doors. Prices for it start at $95,100.
For V8 power, one will have to go for the S8, which carries a base price of $130,000. The 4.0-liter biturbo powerplant makes 563 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, propelling this heavy sedan to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. Aside from the power upgrade, the S8 also comes with four-wheel steering, sport adaptive air suspension, a Sport rear differential, plus a Bang & Olufsen Premium sound system with 3D sound.
Audi
Audi
