Audi A8 L. A sense of speed. Management Fleet Expecting us to wax lyrical on the Audi A8’s comfort? Think again… The speed. Dear Lord, THE SPEED. When we welcomed Audi’s flagship (read ‘premium’) A8 L onto The Management Fleet, we assumed the first ‘how’s it going’ report would concern the ride comfort, the 700km-plus fuel range, or – at a pinch – the ambient cabin lighting. There’s three options to choose from and everything. Focus on luxurious sofa-to-office cruising however leapt almost gazelle-like out the window when we first put Audi’s 4-litre V8 to the test on a lengthy and surprisingly empty stretch of road. A 0-100kph time of 4.6 seconds in today’s automotive world may not seem all that impressive, but make absolutely no mistake. Audi’s flagship premium saloon is properly quick. The pull of those 3993cc from the off is phenomenal: slide the eight-speed Tiptronic into Sport (cue those faster shift times), plant the right moccasin, and you’ll be surprised just how violent this premium barge can be, and not just in the low revs. Flick down a couple of gears (tut tut Audi, those plastic wheel mounted paddles continue to let you down) and the pull is dramatic, even at cruising speeds. Be warned though, cruise control in this instance is crucial: the ride is ridiculously comfortable, the lack of wind or cabin noise negating almost all sense of speed at pace. Peer down at the speedometer and don’t be surprised to find yourself cantering towards the double ton without realising. No tickets yet fortunately. Read the full story here: ​http://www.crankandpiston.com/on-the-road/audi-a8-l-a-sense-of-speed-management-fleet/ ​
