With each new model introduction, Audi further dispels any lingering perception that it's not a Tier 1 premium brand on par Mercedes and BMW. Like the Mercedes S-Class and the BMW 7 Series, the Audi A8 is fast, roomy, luxurious and exceptionally comfortable. It rides like a luxury car, yet it's taut and handles like a sports sedan should you decide to drive it more aggressively. Loaded with innovation, the A8 is a thinking man's luxury sedan, more progressive, less traditional than a BMW or Mercedes. It's elegant but not arrogant, indulgent without being excessive. It's priced a little lower than comparable sedans from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, yet gives up almost nothing to either.V8 or 12-cylinder? In Germany, where the autobahn beckons with no speed limit, that would be an easier choice, assuming money is no object. In our land, the 12-cylinder's advantage is image as much as it is functional. The $45,000 price premium compared to the V8 makes for expensive image, no matter how much disposable income you have. Nonetheless, if you want a 12-cylinder sedan with all-wheel drive, you can't choose an S-Class or 7 Series, because neither Mercedes nor BMW offers one. And even if they did, the A8 L 6.0 quattro would be an excellent choice.
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