The brand new Audi A8 takes the iconic nameplate from BMW’s long-time rival from the past and into the future. The new limousine comes filled with next-level technology, including Level 3 autonomous features which have been introduced on a car for the first time ever. The new A8 presents itself as a potential king of the segment if you will but while all this new tech is definitely impressive, some people actually love driving cars, including such big limousines. Could the BMW 7 Series beat the A8 in this department?
It’s a well known fact that these sort of cars are usually seen carrying high-level executives around town. Most of the time, these aforementioned big shots can be seen in the back, reading a newspaper or simply relaxing while being chauffeured around. However, some people prefer getting behind the wheel themselves and the guys from Autocar wanted to see which car would be better suited for that, between the 7 Series and the new A8.
We should mention from the get go that the A8 is the newer car here and comes with more tech than the 7er. It has a new suspension which uses electric motors to adjust every wheel independently depending on the road surface, and is as smooth as they get in this segment but does all of that help when you actually want to have fun behind the wheel? It turns out BMW’s system and chassis, although using an older technology, does it better.
Among the things the guys mention is the steering which seems better in the BMW, the body roll and turning which are also better in the Bavarian machine as well as the integral steering which helps out a lot actually, making the 7 Series feel smaller and more nimble. Furthermore, the A8 seemed to have a problem with the center console which wouldn’t stop squeaking. While that last bit might be an isolated issue with that particular press car, the rest of the differences between these two cars make the 7 Series the winner in this comparison.
I think their assessment on the D5 A8 is correct, even though I have never driven it. The D4, I have is a fine car, interior top notch, but Audi always seems to be a bit off here and there, the D5, as I expect after they market the prologue concept, should be way better than this. First, the concept front is way better than this front design, this one is even more of a turn off than the D4. Audi should have have taken the lead on the tech front, but they follow Porsche a bit too much. Screens are nice, but this is not a Bloomberg terminal, taken away button ensures you will have fingerprint mess all the time, and with so much info on screen, this tech look only will work if you are flying a Spacecraft, a car is driven by only one person though, so this is way too much. Audi also add weight, so I expect the drivability will be less agile as before, the outgoing D4 is very artificial in steering, unless you switch to Dynamic. Transmission not bad, but it can’t compare to the G12 7 series, but that was the D4, I expect the new D5 to be better, but surprisingly the tester clearly highlight the kick down response is so slow, that really shows that Audi’s flagship is still not as well executed compared to BMW and Mercedes
Their CEO is in prison, they want to hire his replacement from BMW. So why would I even consider donating 6 figures to VAG for their Deiselgate fines & legal fees when I can buy M760Li from the source?
You are right… My previous cheque payment wasn’t too much of a painful experience, but it neither gives me the joy that I hope for.
“Welcome the A8 basher” hahaha
The S Class and 7 Series will always be the Big 2! No one’s ever going to over hype an overpriced VW so called the A8!!!!
Well, in order to complete your statement, perhaps, the better definition is that Audi A8 has a bit of similariies of VW, but its a neither a big bad VW, nor does it share enough similarities with Porsche. The A8, can only be summarized as a mystery premium saloon that seems to have the best of both worlds, but once you pilot the vehicle, you will constantly be asking yourself, what is the A8, it seems like an athletic saloon, but what you get is, it seems like, but its still better than a Passat. As for the comfort, the cabin have you bought, its seems like a home run, but the suspension tells you it wasn’t, it doesn’t ride like one either, according to the tester in here. So, what is the A8, perhaps, only Audi knows, its an Audi masterpiece, that should be named Prologue instead, someone may have swap the Prologue concept with the A8, so lets hope they will give the A8 hopers the right vehicle in their next LCI refresh.
is just that this new a8 is poorly designed executed.
Go to YouTube and check the Prologue concept, they really did their homework, but when it’s time to hand it in, they toss in the wrong one
did their homework? more like procrastinating for 5 mins and didn’t give a f about it.
Let me recorrect my statement, I should have said that they really SEEM to have done their homework.
(y)
Some idiots think tesla model S is more luxury than S class and 7-serie. lol they are not in the same class
tesla shouldn’t even be in the same sentence with mercedes and bmw to begin with….
A more thorough definition of Tesla way of luxury should be, anything they are unable to execute compared to other car brands are termed as extreme luxury.
THE 7 is the best
In next gen they really need to make interior more special and exclusive. Exterior design will be good I have no doubt , dynamics and ride will be best in class. But interior. It has to me more distinguish.
Individual.
It’s not the interior materials that were the concerns, but it’s the way they angle it from a distance viewer, that’s easily gives people the less satisfying experience, before they attempt to make a closer look.
“Bavarian Machine”…Ingolstadt is in Bavaria!
As I wrote that, I knew there would be someone commenting exactly that. We know Ingolstadt is in Bavaria but BMW is THE Bavarian brand defined by its heritage, location and even using Bavarian colors in its badge. Nobody will ever define an Audi by its Bavarian provenance. Everyone knows what I meant.
Audi didn’t exist there until 1985, Auto Union prior to that. Audi were owned by Mercedes & then Volkswagen, so Audi were as Bavarian as they were rwd.