Audi’s history as a business dates all the way back to the late 1880s. Since then, the German automaker has established itself as one of the most recognizable brands in the whole automotive business. The company’s mid- to high-end luxury vehicles are its specialty, and over the years, Audi has created quite a few outstanding automobiles. Even though their current selection is among the greatest, which car is the priciest? Is it the R8 Spyder, the top-of-the-line, convertible supercar from the company? Actually, it’s not, at all. The A8 L W12 is the most costly car that Audi currently offers.
The A8 was first unveiled by Audi in 1994, and it has since continued to serve as the brand’s flagship vehicle. They come in a variety of forms and at various price points, but the A8 L W12 is their most costly vehicle at the time of writing, with a starting price of $137,900. Why is that, then?
Audi has long been known for its sedans and saloons, while also making SUVs, a supercar, and a few coupes. They began making these kinds of cars, and the Audi A8 L W12 is one of the best four-door sedans available today. For that money, it had better be. Let’s look at what it has within, starting with the obvious. As the name suggests, the 6.3-liter W12 engine in this A8 is capable of producing a whopping 500 horsepower. That is comparable to many existing 2-door sports vehicles in terms of raw power. The vehicle is equipped with an adjustable air suspension, an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, and Audi’s Quattro all-wheel drive system. The A8 L W12 has a top speed of 130 mph and can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 4.4 seconds (The U.S. unfortunately limits the car to this speed, as it can go faster). Considering that this car has a curb weight of 4,806 pounds, that is fairly astounding.
The A8 L W12’s performance is more than enough, but what really draws people to this car are the countless luxurious extras that are offered. Audi provides potential clients with a huge selection of options, color combinations, and choices to make their A8 something truly remarkable and one-of-a-kind. We are discussing a camera parking system, a sophisticated navigation system, an entertainment console, adaptive cruise control, various driving modes, lane keep assist, 22-way power leather seats, two 10-inch screens in the back, a panoramic sunroof, the choice of wood trim, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, and much more. The number of options and functions this car provides is actually very daunting, but if you use them all, you’ll have an amazing automobile.
Although Audi sells quicker and more inexpensive vehicles, the A8 L W12 is perhaps the greatest of the brand. That is, in my opinion, due to the fact that this car is the total package. There are some luxurious but slow vehicles. Then there are quick but not overly luxury vehicles. The A8 L W12 has all the luxurious amenities you could want, is well-designed, quick, and practical. This is the kind of vehicle that may be used for a fun day at the track and then later that night for the luxurious transportation of a superstar. The A8 L W12 is undoubtedly one of the few vehicles that provides about everything an automobile buyer might want. Because of this, you should prepare to pay more than $137,900 for this vehicle.
In This Article...
There were how many Audi A8 W12 produced?
The Audi A8 and Audi A6 were the first production vehicles in the world to include both front and rear side airbags, and Audi introduced the first series production electronic stability control (ESP) for all-wheel drive vehicles in 1997.
Both front-wheel drive (FWD) and quattro permanent four-wheel drive were options for the new A8 in 1997. A 3.8-liter V8 engine with 169 kW (230 PS; 227 bhp) and a 2.8-liter V6 engine with 142 kW (193 PS; 190 bhp) power the FWD versions, while a 4.2-liter V8 with 221 kW (221 PS; 221 bhp) power the quattro vehicles (300 PS; 296 bhp).
Standard luxury features for the A8 include 14-way motorized and heated seats, wood and leather inside trim, dual-zone temperature control, and an improved Bose audio system.
In 1999, side curtain airbags, fresh paint, and reorganized option packages were added to Audi’s flagship model. When the car is parked with the engine off, the solar sunroof from the North American “warm weather package” enables the ventilation fans to work, keeping the cabin cool. A larger passenger-side mirror and a first aid box hidden in the center armrest of the backseat were added to all versions.
A slight front-end redesign with new, bigger, clearer headlights, a reworked grille, and a lower front valance with standard projection fog lamps was introduced in 1999 for the 2000 model year. The seats’ inside was updated with a new, horizontal stitch design. Additionally, the 3.7-liter V8 FWD variant was discontinued, leaving only the 2.8 V6 model, the 4.2-liter quattro, and the long and short wheelbases. Along with new external door handles and an integrated radio antenna, these cars had undergone styling changes. The A8 L was added to the North American A8 lineup for 2000.
Audi unveiled its new W12 engine in 2001. This 6.0-litre, compact engine was created by effectively connecting two VR6 engines at the crankshaft. The A8 received the engine quite soon, but exclusively for European and Asian consumers. Only 750 D2 “W12” versions were made in total between its release and retirement in 2003. The high-performance S8 model made its North American dbut in 2001 as well.
A heated steering wheel and standard xenon high-intensity discharge lamp (HID) headlights were added to the A8 L in 2002. New exterior colors, an improved Symphony II sound, and a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) were also introduced. A trunk/boot interior release lever was added to all 2002 A8 versions to make it easier for someone stuck inside to get out.
On August 4, 2002, factory manufacturing of this generation came to an end at Number 105,092[11].
[4]
Are W12s still produced by Audi?
You may be surprised to learn that you can eventually purchase the current Audi A8 with a W12. Yes, the wacky 6.0-liter, 12-cylinder engine from the VW Group will join the lineup in addition to the obvious choices like petrol and diesel V6s and the twin-turbo V8 in the S8 co-developed with Porsche.
In today’s world of downsizing and electrification, the engine, which basically connects together two narrow-angle “V6” VR6 blocks at a 72-degree angle to form a “W” layout, looks like a bit of an anachronism, but it won’t be in the Audi lineup for very long.
Car and Driver quotes Peter Mertens, head of R&D at Audi, as saying: “Some consumers are thrilled with the 12-cylinder and want to purchase it because they genuinely want it. However, this will be the final installation.
We are unsure of how long the engine will continue to be used in various Bentley products, but it will. Due in large part to the more rigorous Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (or WLTP, since you’ll find it hard to remember all that), we may anticipate the discontinuation of more powerful engines produced by the VW Group.
“Consider all the engine and transmission fusions that require homologation. We are doing a terrible job, Mertens stated. You would be correct if you assumed it put famous engines like the 5.2-liter V10 from Audi in danger. Mertens reiterated that Audi’s lineup of performance cars is here to stay, but in the long run, they are more likely to be electrified than to be powered by powerful internal combustion engines.
Which Audis have a W12?
A8 L Security for Audi The strict standards for civilian high-security sedans are met by the Audi A8 L Security, a unique security luxury sedan certified for the VR7 ballistics class. Its passenger cell incorporates incredibly robust materials like multi-plate glass, hot-formed armored steel, aramid textiles, and unique aluminum alloys. The basic and available features on the Sedan enhance its security philosophy. Both the 4.0 TFSI and the W12 engines are available for the Audi A8 L Security.
The equipment, information, and costs mentioned in this paper apply to the German model line. Subject to modification without notification; omissions and errors exempted.
Which Audi is the quickest?
According to Audi, the performance of the new R8 V10 is identical to that of the previous R8 Competition. The reason it is at the top of our list is that it outperforms all other Audi models in terms of speed. The car can accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than 3 seconds, and some models can do it in as little as 2.8 seconds.
The Bottom Line
We have comprehensively covered the top 10 fastest Audi vehicles worldwide. The added benefit of getting to your location on time is essentially what having the fastest car means. We have made it simpler for you to choose which Audi vehicle to buy.
How many horses can an Audi A8 produce?
The A8 has a 335 horsepower turbocharged V-6 engine that is supplemented by a 48-volt hybrid system. All-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission are as standard. The A8 we tested reached 60 mph from zero in 5.3 seconds. With six cylinder executive sedans, the A8 is a few tenths slower than the Mercedes-Benz S500 in terms of performance. Although the Audi’s engine is smooth, there is no fanfare to its power delivery, and sound-deadening measures are so effective that the engine is nearly undetectable with the windows up. The A8 offers a sporty yet comfortable ride that is highly reminiscent of Audi. Standard features include an adjustable air suspension and driver-adjustable adaptive dampers. This configuration separates you from road imperfections while still allowing the Audi A8 to rip down a back road when the mood strikes.
Do W12 engines work well?
The oddly amazing W12 engine will be available in the newest generation of the premium Audi A8, as we previously reported. Naturally, this is just another victim of modernization, growing fuel costs, and the need to protect polar bears. Normally, I’d feel a little bit upset about losing yet another 12-cylinder engine.
not this time though. Actually, I’m a little miffed at Audi for even trying to keep it going.
Although that is a strong statement, I genuinely think it is in keeping with the philosophy of the Audi A8. Yes, it is a vehicle that is all about refinement, luxury, and cutting-edge technology. It’s understandable why someone would desire the W12 engine in an A8 given that it is an engineering marvel with a ton of low-end torque and petrol-powered smoothness. But is it really that great for what it was intended for?
Let’s examine the W12 in its most recent incarnation, the monstrous 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged engine that powers the Bentley Continental GT, Flying Spur, and Bentayga. A slightly detuned version of the Bentley engine, which generates 585 horsepower and 625 pound feet of torque, is used in the new A8. In all honesty, that isn’t all that impressive for a 12-cylinder engine with two turbos. To put things in perspective, the most recent Ford GT uses the same number of turbos but only has half the cylinders, producing more horsepower (although with less peak torque). I understand that the W12 was designed for smoothness rather than brute force, but with mainstream engines as smooth as the 3.5-liter EcoBoost in the genuine Ford F-150, it’s difficult to see how much of a difference the W12 would truly make.
Having said that, I do have a soft spot in my heart for the phrase “no replacement for displacement.” Without a doubt, the W12 is the most balanced and refined gasoline engine that has ever existed. The only issue is that the A8’s (and the Continental GT’s) far less expensive 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine isn’t all that much more refined. Since you won’t need to fill the tank as frequently as you would with the W12, there is likely an extra sense of luxury.
That leaves pure power as the primary justification for the W12. I’d be negligent if I didn’t mention that the previous-generation Audi S8 had the 4.0-liter V8 engine I just mentioned, and it was still faster than the naturally-aspirated W12 that was available at the time, before addressing that point of disagreement. Back then, the cheaper and speedier S8 was the clear pick if speed was your priority. However, let’s assume for the sake of argument that the new W12 reduces the 3.8-second 0-60 mph time of the old S8 a little bit. Do you really care about that much speed if you’re like the A8 for its cool, collected demeanor?
Naturally, if I had the means to purchase the new A8 W12, I’d probably respond, “Yes, even if I readily confess that these performance improvements are actually only useful in a game of Top Trumps. However, I wouldn’t really care because I would have the best balance of strength and sophistication that VAG’s engineers could possible provide me.
The fact that the W12 wasn’t even the greatest engine Audi could have utilized for the job particularly irritates me about their continuing use of it in the company’s flagship A8. The Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid is a prime example. This car’s drivetrain is amazing in every way. The plug-in hybrid system produces 680 horsepower and 626 pound feet of torque despite having only 8 cylinders. The electric motor completely eliminates any turbo lag that you could experience with a non-hybrid engine. In other words, it outperforms the W12 in almost every manner imaginable.
Overall, I don’t have a great deal of affection for the W12 engine. When the first Bentley Continental GT was out in 2002, I must admit that I instantly fell in love with it. That engine was about as amazing as it got back then. But as time has passed, it is now obvious that nothing about the W12 engine can be surpassed by contemporary technology.