For years, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class represented all the cutting-edge automotive wizardly you could hope to see trickle down into plebeian cars. That honor now belongs to the Audi A8. While Mercedes recently revamped the S-Class to better compete with Audi, the A8 is back with a vengeance ? proclaiming itself, once again, to be the future of automobiles.
Now that ?luxury car? really means ?technology buffet,? Audi has adorned the 2019 A8 with the very best it can offer, hoping to find its way back into the premium vehicle market?s good graces.
Audi is specifically hoping China notices the A8?s new microchip magic. Sales of the sedan have slipped 25 percent in its biggest market between January and May of 2017, according to JATO Dynamics. But Audi also experienced a cooling effect in North America as the flagship sedan grew long in the tooth, taking a notable sales hit every year since 2014. This year wasn?t shaping up to be any better but, based on the revamped A8?s plethora of technological updates, that?s likely to change by the end of next year.
Completely redesigned for the 2019 model year, Audi?s new A8 remains recognizable without feeling redundant. It?s more angular but the overall appearance doesn?t add much drama. Even its enormous grille, which accounts for the majority of vehicle?s face, somehow avoids becoming comical or aggressive. It?s a bit of a paradox but works in favor of a car that?s supposed to be a serious luxury item. The only exception could be ...