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Driving Impressions
In the Audi A8, a driver can use the Driver Information Display to set the optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which minds tailgating and maintains a safe, pre-determined distance to the car ahead. The Electronic Stabilization Program can help control the car when the driver can't. Electronic Brake-force Distribution keeps the car balanced in a panic stop, and Brake Assist slams the binders harder if the driver doesn't press as hard he or she should. Adaptive Air Suspension keeps the ride smooth and tires planted no matter the surface. There are moisture-sensing wipers, high-intensity headlamps and ten airbags. Yet all these advanced systems, identified by a confusing array of acronyms, don't mask one crucial point. The A8 can be a complete joy to drive, reminding all but the sensory deprived how pleasant gobbling miles in a big, fast luxury sedan can be.The first impression at the wheel of an A8 is its smoothness. There's nothing remotely resembling a squeak or rattle, and almost no vibration in the cabin. The 4.2-liter V8 delivers powerful acceleration, but its power delivery is sophisticated, not crude. The V8 responds with a muted roar to every poke at the gas pedal. No matter how fast the A8 4.2 is already going, the driver can tap into a deep well of acceleration-producing torque. Audi claims the 350-hp A8 4.2 can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds. A sub-six-second 0-60 is quick. Top speed is electronically governed at 130 mph. In short, the A8 is fast traffic. The base engine is also the easiest on gas, with EPA fuel economy numbers of 16 mpg City and 23 mpg Highway. Those numbers aren't bad for a big, V8-powered luxury car, and they're bested only by the base engine in the Jaguar XJ. The 6.0-liter W12, rated at 450 horsepower, is quite remarkable. The A8 L W12 is a blast to gas. Throttle response is immediate, and the 12-cylinder engine delivers acceleration-producing torque in a wide, flexible power band befitting a luxury carmaker's flagship sedan. The W12 pulls hard up to its 6200-rpm power peak, and it feels like there's still more power coming when it hits the rev limiter. Moreover, the revs translate to executive-class thrust. Audi reports a 0-60 mph time of 5.0 seconds, very quick, indeed, with top speed governed at 130. The W12 is remarkably refined, docile, and tractable, particularly given 450 horsepower, but it does have a hint of an overly sensitive throttle so you might have to recalibrate your foot to avoid lurching from a standstill. The six-speed automatic that comes with either engine shifts up or down according to the driver's wishes, deftly sensing how quickly and how hard the throttle is mashed. The transmission features what Audi calls DSP (for Dynamic Shift Program), a form of smart software that selects from over 200 possible shifting programs to adjust to any individual's driving style. Upshifts are silky smooth in full automatic mode; in some instances, downshifts could come quicker, but the reserve of torque in either engine more than compensates for any shift lag. The automatic features Porsche's Tiptronic system, allowing the driver to slide it into a manually controlled mode and use either the shifter or available steering wheel paddles to choose gears. Manual shifting is never necessary, because the transmission is quite responsive in the automatic mode, but it can be fun. Here, however, we lodge a small complaint. Even in manual mode, the transmission will shift up at high rpm, rather than holding the selected gear, which seems to defeat the purpose of giving the driver manual control, but it's a good thing if you forget to shift. If you an even sportier shift program but don't want to select the gears yourself, you can put the gearshift in S. This mode holds gears longer and downshifts quicker to keep power more readily on tap. It also hurts fuel economy, so use it sparingly. The quattro all-wheel-drive system of
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