Audi A8 L luxury sedan launched at starting price of ₹1.56 crore

NEW DELHI : Audi India on Monday launched A8 L luxury sedan, a car the company says can redefine luxury driving in the country. The ultra premium car in its fourth-generation avatar boasts a plethora of creature comforts and gets a three-litre V6 petrol engine - in line with Audi's focus on petrol motors - with mild hybrid technology.

Audi has positioned A8 L as an ultra premium offering and has equipped it with a 10Ah lithium ion battery that helps the car cruise for up to 40 seconds with the ignition off - at anywhere between 55 kmph and 160 kmph. The car stands 5.3 meters long, 1.95 meters wide and 1.49 meters tall and offers a dynamic all-wheel steering system which helps the rear wheels turn in the direction of the front wheels at high speeds to assist with lane changes. At lower speeds, these turn in the opposite direction, helping reduce the turning radius which can be crucial in tight spaces and during parking.

While on the move or when standing still, the Audi A8 L looks quite stunning and gets a single-frame grille with sleek LED head lights. It sits on 19-inch imposing alloys and ample character lines all around but these embolden the overall appeal of the sedan rather than make it appear as if it is craving for attention. The company says that the emphasis has been on making the A8 L sporty as well as sophisticated.

On the inside, the Audi A8 L gets a dual set set up to maximise comfort. The rear passenger on the left even gets a foot massager which accommodates feet of varying sizes. Apart from customised massage options, it also features heat functionality. The other features here include two detachable android tablets on the back of the front seat headrests, ambient lighting, cool box, massaging seats, a 25.65 cms (10.1 inch) touchscreen display, Matrix LED reading lights and a rear-seat remote control.

The sedan also comes with an air quality package that not only promises to clean the air inside the A8 L but also add climate-neutral fragrance. The instrument panel conceals two vials of highly concentrated oil evoking optional hint of summer and winter fragrances. Two ionizers charge the air molecules electrically with negative ions. These anions attract dust particles so that they form mini clusters that fall to the floor and so are not inhaled. The combination filter in the four-zone automatic air conditioning binds a majority of the gases and particulates. It also renders allergens and microorganisms harmless.

On the safety front, the A8 L seeks to be second to none and gets as many as eight airbags with two optional central airbags, active head restrains, ABS with EBD, lane assist warning system, 360 degree camera and front and rear parking seconds. It can also be customised