My experience of the new Audi A8 facelift actually begins before the test drive here in Stockholm. It already begins at the static display in Helsinki over a year ago. So the desire to experience and test drive this ultra-comfortable luxury sedan was great when the time came.

The car is of course fun to drive, but it is best experienced as a passenger, preferably in the back seat. The rear seats can be folded down as desired and also have a massage function.

It probably won't come as a shock to anyone that Audi builds comfortable and luxurious cars and has done so for the past two decades. Initially, the brand didn't compete with Mercedes, but today it does. With the A8 model, it has really put itself next to its competitor and their S-Class in the F-segment, as it is called. It has now gone so far that I believe that the biggest difference between these two luxury sedans is that there is a star on the hood of one, and rings in the grille of the other.

The best of both worlds

The new updated Audi A8 comes as a plug-in hybrid version. The combination of a V6 engine and electrification is really nice. Being able to drive silently and emission-free when it suits you and there is power, and then enjoying a powerful V6 engine is really the best of both worlds. In total, electricity together with the V6 engine gives 462 horses and 700 Newton meters of torque. On electric power alone, you can get about 54–60 kilometers, the top speed electrically is 135 km/h, while as usual it is electronically limited to 250 km/h. You can charge at a speed of up to 7.4 kW. The only negative thing about the A8 as a plug-in hybrid, if you look, is that the battery takes up about 155 liters of the luggage compartment when it is located in the back. If you don't think 462 horsepower is enough, there is a sibling with an S instead of an A in the model designation. The Audi S8 has a V8 and a whopping 571 horsepower. However, you don't get the hybrid powertrain and can only get around on gasoline.

What strikes me when I get into the new A8 is that they have almost completely eliminated all physical controls, beyond those you actually need. But in both the front and back seats, there are now touchscreens almost everywhere. And of course this is convenient and feels modern, but sometimes traditional buttons can actually fulfill a function when you want to change something while driving without having to look at a touch-sensitive screen to see where you are pressing. The latter is obviously not safe on the road, while pressing a physical button without taking your eyes off the road is.

The passenger in the center

In an Audi A8, you should of course be a passenger. The car is of course fun to drive, but it is best experienced as a passenger, preferably in the back seat. The rear seats can be folded down as desired and also have a massage function. But if you really want to take it a step further, you should choose the extended A8 version with an L in the designation, although with a price tag of 50,000 kronor extra. Then the front passenger does not get a back massage, but the passenger behind does get a foot massage! The whole thing works simply described in such a way that you turn the massage function in the backrest. So if you are sitting on the right in the back seat, you can fold down a support for your feet in the backrest of the seat in front and then press your feet against the back of the backrest and experience a massage. Extremely comfortable to say the least, which I got to try in Helsinki where they also had the L version. Another convenient thing you can enjoy, both as a passenger and driver, is that Audi has integrated the Apple Music app into the infotainment system. This means you can stream 90 million songs in your car from there, as long as you have an account to log in to.

Audi A8 60 TFSI e

Basic price SEK 1,219,700
Motor 4.4 liter, V8 engine, twin turbo, 530 hp
Torque: 750 Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic transmission, four-wheel drive
Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 4.9 seconds
Top speed (Electronically limited): 250 km/h
Electric range: 61 km
Weight 2,516 kilograms

Digitized light

As I said, this is really just an updated version of the A8 model, and among the updates, the exterior lighting stands out above all, which has been overhauled and digitized. While the light at the back can be changed to different light signatures, the automatic high beam really does the job for you when you're driving. It paints the light picture in front of the car and illuminates exactly where it doesn't bother other road users. Incredibly convenient and precise.

The Audi A8 is truly a pleasant experience that you as a driver, but also a passenger, will enjoy. The level of technology reaches completely new heights, both in terms of comfort and performance. The only thing that could push the new updated Audi A8 down is if its sibling S8 were to come as a plug-in hybrid so you get an electrified V8 engine. However, there is neither information nor rumors about it. However, the A8 will last a long time and will definitely use less gasoline than an S8 hybrid would.

The new Audi A8 60 TFSI e must be experienced, both as a driver and as a passenger. That is hereby clearly established.