2017 AUDI A8 | WAU44AFD7HN010560

Body Styles

The A8 is a four-door full-size luxury sedan offered in standard and long-wheelbase (A8 L) formats. It features a stately and minimalist silhouette with short overhangs, a long hood, and a clean roofline. The body is fully made of aluminum, which reduces weight and improves rigidity. Its wide Singleframe grille, narrow LED (and later Matrix LED) headlights, and sculpted shoulder line give it a distinguished, understated presence. The long-wheelbase version offers greater rear legroom and a more limousine-like profile, favored by chauffeured clients.

Model Name Meaning (Manufacturer)

“A8” reflects Audi’s alphanumeric hierarchy, with “A” designating the brand’s luxury sedan family and “8” representing the flagship position. Introduced in the 1990s, the A8 name symbolizes innovation, refinement, and technological leadership, with each generation pushing forward Audi's design, drivetrain, and material boundaries.

Model Name Meaning (Languages)

While “A8” has no linguistic meaning, its simplicity, symmetry, and brevity lend it prestige and global recognizability. The name reinforces Audi’s numerical model structure, aligning with A4 and A6 while setting the A8 apart as the pinnacle of the range. Its association with high-tech design and top-tier luxury is now firmly established worldwide.

Body & Interior Colors and Rims

The A8 was offered in a curated selection of sophisticated colors such as Glacier White Metallic, Phantom Black, Oolong Gray, Havana Black, Moonlight Blue, and Daytona Gray. Matte finishes and Audi exclusive tones were available at a premium. Chrome window surrounds, subtle badging, and optional S line styling details allowed subtle personalization. Long-wheelbase versions added rear privacy glass and chrome detailing around the C-pillar.

Inside, the cabin offered Audi’s highest craftsmanship standards, with Valcona or Unikat leather, fine wood veneers (Walnut, Ash, or Oak), brushed aluminum, Alcantara headliners, and configurable ambient lighting. Color schemes included black, nougat brown, lunar silver, and beige. Options included ventilated massaging seats, individual rear executive seating with footrests, folding tables, and rear infotainment. The MMI system included a rotary controller, handwriting recognition touchpad, and 8- to 10.2-inch displays, paired with Bang & Olufsen or Bose surround systems.

Wheel sizes ranged from 18 inches on standard models to 20- and 21-inch multi-spoke, turbine, and Y-spoke designs on higher trims. Finishes included silver, anthracite, and polished bi-color variants. All variants paired wide low-profile tires with subtle fender flares and flush arches, emphasizing grace over aggression.

Top Expensive Options

• Matrix LED Headlights with Dynamic Turn Signals: $3,000
• Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System (1,400W, 19 speakers): $6,500
• Rear Seat Executive Package (Massage, Recline, Screens): $7,800
• Night Vision Assistant with Pedestrian Detection: $2,200
• Driver Assistance Package (ACC, Lane Assist, Pre-Sense Plus): $2,400
• Dual-Pane Acoustic Glass with Sunshades: $1,200
• Dynamic Steering and Sport Differential: $1,700
• Head-Up Display with Navigation Overlay: $1,100
• Audi Exclusive Leather and Wood Packages: $4,500
• Four-Zone Climate with Ionizer and Rear Fragrance: $900

vs Competitors

The A8 (D4) directly rivaled the Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W222), BMW 7 Series (F01/F02), Jaguar XJ, and Lexus LS 460. Compared to the S-Class, the A8 emphasized modernity and driver involvement over opulence. While the 7 Series was more rear-wheel-biased in character, the A8 offered greater all-weather confidence with quattro. The Jaguar XJ felt sportier but lacked interior tech parity. In comparison to the Lexus, the A8 delivered sharper design and more advanced infotainment. Audi’s unique blend of lightweight construction, subtle design, AWD traction, and cutting-edge tech made the A8 a choice for executives who preferred innovation over flash.

Fun Fact

The D4 A8 was the first production car in the world to offer full-LED headlights (starting in 2010) and later debuted Matrix LED technology in 2013—setting the stage for modern adaptive lighting systems across the entire automotive industry. Its aluminum body, unchanged in philosophy since the original A8 (1994), continued to lead the segment in weight reduction and structural integrity.