Stretched Audi A8 L
We tend to think of stretched limousines as the preserve of a very different demographic, but when Audi received a request from a prestige european customer for an extra-long-wheelbase version of the A8 L, affording top-class comfort for passengers occupying all of its six seats, they certainly did it in style… Audi’s experts invested almost a year in developing and building the exceptionally long luxury saloon. The result was an exclu- sive one-off example that meets the high standards of the production model in every respect, and they already have further requests for the custom product. Measuring 6.36 metres (nearly 21-ft.) in length and with a wheelbase of 4.22 metres (13.8 ft.), the A8L is 1.09 metres (3.6 ft.) longer overall than the standard Audi A8. The extended Audi A8 L benefits from the low weight of the production model’s body, which uses an Audi Space Frame (ASF) design and is made almost entirely from aluminum.
The major challenges concerned the safety and rigidity of the extra-large body, as well as the styling of the silhouette – to maintain a harmonious roof line, the entire bodyshell from the A-pillar back has been reworked. For the built-to-order version the engineers extended the side sills and centre tunnel using extruded aluminum sections. Inside the tunnel, these also assist with the air routeing.
A double rear bulkhead separates the passenger compartment from the luggage compartment and the roof incorporates additional aluminium profiled tubes and cross-braces which combine to provide torsional and flexural rigidity almost on a par with the A8 L. Finished in discreet Moonlight blue metallic, the extended A8 L incorporates a 2.40-metre (7.9-ft.) glass panel in the roof skin, while sun blinds – one for each row of seats – prevent overheating of the interior in strong sunlight.
The headlights and rear lights incorporate small side marker lights, as is prescribed by law for vehicles of this length. All passengers face the direction of travel, with the six seats all upholstered in extra-supple Valcona leather, in velvet beige. Rows two and three feature electrically adjustable individual seats. The third row has a continuous centre console, a rear seat entertainment display and a cool box. With an unladen weight of 2418 kg (5331 lb), the one-off A8 is powered by a 3.0 tFSI engine developing 310 hp (228 kW) and delivering up to 440 nm (324.5 lb.ft.) of torque through the eight-speed tiptronic transmission to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. Consequently, it is capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 kph (62.1 mph) in 7.1 seconds and up to an electronically governed top speed of 250 kph (155 mph) with deceleration taken care of by the uprated braking system of the Audi S8. It rolls on 19-inch alloy wheels in 15-spoke design, with 255/45 R19 tyres. Although originally intended just as a one-off commission, Audi already has further requests for the custom product.