Audi A8

The current generation of the Audi A8 focuses on luxury. The standard 3.0-liter V6 with a twin-turbo system and a 48-volt mild hybrid makes the A8 swift but not a performance car. The available turbocharged V8 from 2019 to 2021 offered more power. Instead of performance, the A8 is designed for the luxury buyer who may or may not also be the driver of the car. 

The A8 Executive package includes features like heated and ventilated massaging front seats, but the even more opulent available Executive Rear Seat Comfort package transforms the A8 from a five-seat car into a four-seater with a center console in back. That console houses a refrigerator as well as a removable tablet to control the car's infotainment and climate. With this package, the rear seats are also heated, ventilated, and massaging, and there's a power footrest and recline function on the right rear seat.

Released for the 2011 model year, the third-generation Audi A8 used a 4.2-liter V8 engine and a new eight-speed automatic transmission powering all four wheels with the Quattro® all-wheel-drive system. Later model years featured an available W12 engine with 12 cylinders, a turbodiesel V6, a gasoline V6, and a smaller V8 engine option. The third-generation A8 was larger than the outgoing model, especially if buyers purchased the A8 L long-wheelbase version for more rear-seat passenger space. 

The production period from 2011 to 2018 included rapid advancements in driver-assistance and convenience features as well as developments in infotainment and smartphone support. As this generation of Audi evolved, those features were added as either standard or available equipment. The third-generation Audi A8 is known as a driver's car, while the large luxury sedans from other premium manufacturers often leaned toward comfort, especially for those sitting in the back.