New Audi A8L W12 450hp

Check out this monster luxury cruiser.

http://vortex3.rely.net/artman/publish.Audi_news/article_484.shtml

 

Audi, there's 3 dots (...) in the middle of the link; the link's not working (for me, at least); i think those 3 dots have something to do with it...

 

The dots just allow you to not have the whole URL displayed DES. That is not the problem. The link however does not work.

 

http://vortex3.rely.net

and click on the audi link

 

Thanks...


Seems nice; state of the art; lots of amenities... i don't know about that "striking look" they kept mentioning; it's looks great but isn't "striking" in any way... It's a new Audi sedan... Maybe i'm being too critical...

 

Yes, its another Audi Sedan but a large one that will run to 62 mph in 5.2 seconds and not break a sweat. It would be too much fun to pull up beside someone who thought they had a world killing machine and blow them away with a land yacht. Think about it.

 

It's about as striking as a black cat at midnight on a moonless night that isn't there.

Cool car though, and I always like Audi interiors, this should be no exception. Though it's a bit Pre-02 Benzy...

Best!
Ben.

 

Weight is still the killer. I like the new exterior but a little too much flash. The RS6 in my opinion is the superior car, without a doubt. For the price range though... I'd wait until they depreciate a year or two and then tune it.

 

The Bi-Turbo V12 S600 can do 0-60 in about 4.6-4.7. But never the less the A8L is pretty quick and the looks are really nice I got a chance to see them rolling on the highway they look awsome really centerd and straight riding perfect balance and angle. Also the rims looks grea to.

 

Sweet! Having been in the S series, 7 series, and A8, I can say that Audi has the best interior, but was lacking in power. Now, this completes the Audi, in my opinion. It will be the best sub 100K sedan out there. (And it's got quattro! - a must for us in the northeast)

 

I've really liked the Audis since they remodeled their lines a few years ago. But their prices have gone through the roof!

 

Best sub-100k sedan out there? I wouldn't go that far.. the BMW has the M5 about to be updated or did we forget? Of course, if we're spending money on luxury, in my opinion, I would be very hard pressed to opt for the Audi based on exterior and interior styling and quality over the MB or a Jag. A big V12 doesn't make it an instant performer, AWD or not. It has a long way to go to topple the M5 and E55.

 

Quality over a Jag???? I didn't know Jag had any quality control left. Look a the X type and its popularity---NOT..........

And sorry, the M5 and E55 are great cars in their own right, and I love BMW, but they are not wonderful LUXURY high performance cruisers. Great performance cars, yes, cruisers no..............

 

From your comment, it seems you know little about Jags. Lets compare like models, shall we? Comparing an A8 to an X-Type is the same as comparing the XJ to the X-Type. Besides the leather, the badge, and the leaper, and quad headlights, that is where the comparison ends. Period.

Since you brought up quality when we're talking about luxury and performance, Audi is currently below average in the quality department.

I learned to drive on a '01 A4/1.8T and a '02 A6, have been to San Fran and back in a new A8 same day, and to be honest, the quality of Audi
leaves much to be desired right. Ergonomics, incredible. Function over form.

In comparison, I have spent less in repairs in ownership, less than $1k and 7 business days in the dealership in 954xx miles with only $200 of that a warranty claim, than the 1 A4/1 A6/1 A8 owners have spent in the last 6 months each on their new cars. I can't wait for their warranty to run out. So much for 'Audi quality' compared to my 7 year old car. I suppose its not fair I'm driving the third most reliable car and number one in its class made in 1997.

I'd like to see an Audi withstand the 55k miles of abuse that I've put my car through in the last two years with zero problems when my driving style went through a 'change'. Check out the OC Casino Run pictures in the So Cal section, guess who was the lead car up the mountain in their "XJR?" That was hilarious and quite a compliment. Norman, one of the 500E drivers came up to me last April after a run and was impressed my bone stock XJ6 cruiser could keep up like it did. And I learned a thing or two about what a modified MB can do.

Like so many others, the Jag is discounted as unreliable, not a good performer, and lacks the same class of luxury compared to the classic industry MB/BMW/Audi comparison. The reason Jag is not usually listed in that comparison? Because they are in a class by themselves, kind of like the cars featured on this chat site. You know what? I'm glad too, Jags are one of the better kept secrets.

I think the Audi is a great car, but a Jaguar is a way of life. The NSX is a fabulous car, however, its still no Ferrari. Audi is a remarkable car that does everything well, but its still no Jaguar XJ when it comes to style, interior quality, interior luxury, and reliability.

Edit: I found the E55 more roomy and luxurious than the newer Audi's of the same year I've been in, the performance was just an extra perk.

 

The JDP ratings sure bring things into perspective. It's funny how "perceived" quality is not the same as "actual" quality. Great post, XJ6. Hard to believe that Chev's have less problems than Audi's, but it's true. Jag has done a great job to improve their quality, despite what Audioguy said. The fact that Jag introduce the X-Type may lower their "perceived" quality. But guess what? The X-type is not a $70K car. It's a $30K car. You get what you pay for. In terms of $30K cars, the X-Type fits the bill quite well. And despite the "perceived" quality issue that a $30K car may generate, the "actual" quality is pretty darn good.

 

Agreed. And it's surprising to see where Mercedes is on the list.

 

UGHLY, or maybe FUGLY. The MB & Shaguars are much nicer looking

The Roller, Maser, & new BMW 5 are all rather fugly too

 

The 5 series is supposed to be better in person. I don't quite see how that's possible, since the rear end looks HIDEOUS

 

Okay, I agree with the JD Powers numbers. But, you will notice that as the newer generation Audis begin showing up on the surveys, the numbers are getting better. I have been in the car business since 1981 so I have seen a lot of fluctuation in the market including Audi. Remember the 5000S? Who would actually have wanted one of those after the unintended acceleration thing? Not me.

I spent 17 years with BMW, six as a general manager of one of the stores. I left BMW and began at Ferrari of Dallas in August of 2000. I left there and came to Audi in May of this year. I could have gone back to BMW but I share the same opinion of most on Ferrarichat that Chris Bangle has done no favors for BMW design. Also, the iDrive has proven quite flawed and overcomplicated. As of last week, BMW in North America has bought back over 700 "7" series BMW's in the new body this year.

I was not attempting to put the "X" type Jag in the same classification as the A8L. That is not even "apples and oranges". More like "grapes and grapefruit". Yes, Jag has improved greatly in their quality, especially in the XJ cars but the interior of the "X" type fails in the materials used. I think Jag would have done just as well not to enter this particular niche as I believed it has cheapened the perception of the brand, which is a shame, because Jags have always been beautiful cars.

The reason I posted about the W12 A8L was not to take a poke at anyone, but rather to let some real enthuiasts see that the car companies are listening to what some of us are asking for. Performance!! I mean, Audi is doing the S4 and it is receiving rave reviews, the RS6 and it is a great high performance driving sedan. Audi is coming soon with the S4 Cabriolet, which should be a lot of fun. Just came out with the TT with the 3.2 liter V6 with 250 hp and the double clutch paddle shift gearbox. I have driven it and it is loads of fun. The gearbox will make a full shift in 4/100's of a second. Compare that to the 360 Modena F1 in Sport mode at full acceleration completing a shift in 9/100's of a second. I would say that Audi is on the right track. Now coming with the LeMans Quattro and a W12 A8L and a new A6 (Remember, this one has been around for over 5 years and is due a facelift). This is going to be a fun year in the car business. So many new and exciting cars to consider.......It will be hard to choose a model within a brand and choosing a brand in itself will be difficult enough.

If you took this as an attack, please accept my apology. I was expressing my "personal opinion" about how I have felt about the lack of quality in Jaguar. This is based on the older cars and the experiences I have had with them.

 

Apology.

 

I for one am impressed. They squeezed more power out of 6L then BMW did, both NA.

 

For quality being better, I should take the top of the line Audi's vs top of the line from other makes or I'm making the same grape to grapefruit comparison.

The Audi will be on top in the performance sedan segment unless BMW out does themselves with the new M5. The market segment for 4 door rocketships is holding its breath in anticipation. The only other competition is an AMG monster vs the RS6.

The X-Type is a huge disappointment. Its a shame what Ford is doing to try and improve the bottom line by damaging the pedigree and expanding the model lineup. Hopefully the Ford GT will generate some profits and improve sales across the board for the parent company so they stop gouging the subsidiaries.

Choosing a brand is becoming more and more difficult.

Your not the only one who has taken a splash with the older models, now turned older cars. I'm a fan of those too and I have a special rope I use to hang myself when replace one or add one to the garage.

It was not meant to go on the attack, but I do get defensive regarding quality issues. Its been so terribly difficult to live down the quality issues from the past that it continues to hurt sales and will for the next decade. Ford has a long way to go to bring the same level of quality to an expanding lineup to include the S-Type and the X-Type. They did a wonderful job with the XJ6/XK8/XK8/XKR. In the next 5-10 years, quality will make another leap, no pun intended, with the XK8/XKR replacement.

No apology needed, but accepted and I hope you do the same.

 

They are going to hit the same wall with the V12 without resorting to forced induction methods. Weight is also a biggie.

Give me a Jaguar Trans-Am series engine producing 650bhp from 4.5L.

"The new race engine is based on the same all-aluminum 4.2-liter AJ-V8 that powers Jaguar's XK sports cars, the S-TYPE sedan and the all-new 2004 XJ sedan. Rocketsports engineers shortened the stroke and widened the bores to raise the stock displacement from 4.2 liters to 4.5 liters.

While the race engine retains the AJ-V8's lightweight alloy cylinder block and heads, a new heavy-duty crankshaft is fitted along with lightweight racing pistons and connecting rods. A new fuel injection system has been developed by Rocketsports and Bosch.

The Jaguar engine weighs approximately 100 pounds less than the Ford pushrod V8 that it replaces, and it will rev up to 9,000 rpm -- up from 8,200 in the pushrod engine. Both features are seen as key advantages in on-track performance."

If I pick up an '02 XJR, when its time for a rebuild, you better believe I'm going to modify the pants off of it.

Sunny