The A8 L comes fully loaded with all the luxury features you'd expect at this price point ($68,500). (Neither standard-length A8 nor high-performance S8 versions are available, though we may see them in the future.) The air-conditioning system, for example, uses temperature, moisture, and infrared sensors to detect and demist the windows before they can even think about fogging. Similar to that of the BMW 7 Series and Jaguar XJ, the A8's parking brake is electromechanical, a switch in other words.

The 2004 A8 L is powered by a 330-horsepower 4.2-liter twin-cam, five-valve V8. A new six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic control comes standard along with Audi's quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Options include massage, heating and ventilation features for the front seats and four-zone automatic climate control with individual rear-seat settings. A solar-cell sunroof produces enough electrical energy to supply the passenger compartment continuously with fresh air via the blower even with the ignition off.