Oddly, the modern luxury sedan, a beast that should epitomize silent might, doesn't. Most big-dollar four-doors are brash, showy machines, Trump buildings on wheels. Which is why the 2011 Audi A8, a car of few figurative words, is king of them all.
First impressions are deceiving. The A8's direct-injected, 4.2-liter V-8 produces 372 hp, one of the lowest power ratings in its class. From behind the wheel, you hear un-luxe things like wind noise and tire thrum. This is not the staggering isolation of a Lexus LS 460 or the Saturn V blastoff of a Porsche Panamera S. What it is is restrained.
And then time passes. Fifteen minutes in, you hit a stoplight and become mesmerized by the Audi's interior, a sea of wood and brushed aluminum and a masterpiece of industrial design. Half an hour later, you find yourself unintentionally on the highway, driving just to drive. Audis are known for being subtle, but the A8 is so gloriously reserved that it acts like a kind of vehicular Valium — you have no choice but to check your worries at the door.
Like most range-toppers, the A8 is heavy on tech wizardry. The Audi's body is aluminum, which helps keep curb weight down and boosts fuel economy. Adjustable air suspension, variable-ratio steering, and all-wheel drive are all standard, and the automatic-torque-vectoring rear differential from the 2011 S4 — a magic box of gears — helps the A8 corner like the world's largest rally car. The optional 1400-watt Bang & Olufsen stereo sounds exactly like you expect it to (excellent), and the velvety eight-speed automatic shifts like you want it to (quickly, smoothly). A collision-mitigation system can sense an imminent crash, automatically applying the brakes and reducing impact speed. This is luxury with purpose, tech for more than just tech's sake.
What it isn't is obvious. The A8 is a velvety, understated gem, and it makes every other sedan on the planet look insecure, prehistoric, or both.
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