AUDI A8 L (60 TFSI)

Audi’s A8 is often forgotten amidst the sea of S-Class and 7 Series that cruise our streets and its future looks bleak in the face of the evergrowing popularity of luxury SUVs.

- KENNY YEO

Maybe that’s why instead of giving us an all-new model, the people at Ingolstadt have decided to give it a minor facelift. In Singapore, the A8 will only be available in a long wheelbase version, which is what the “L” in A8 L stands for. It also means that this is, unquestionably, a car that is meant to be driven in. This point is crucial because the experience of driving it and being driven in one is quite different.

The latter is one of the great motoring pleasures of the world. To start, legroom is so vast that I suspect all but the tallest of NBA players could sit in the back and stretch their legs fully. Furthermore, the seats, which are adorned in luscious Valcona leather, are incredibly plush and highly customisable. Not only do they recline, but they are also ventilated and feature massage functions. You need to visit an orthopaedic doctor if you can’t get comfortable.

Elevating the rear seat experience is the absence of any type of noise or vibrations. Road and wind noise are kept to a minimum thanks to loads of sound-deadening materials and double-glazed windows. And any harshness from the road is masterfully dealt with by the adaptive air suspension.