Audi A8 sedan gets light refresh for 2015

The 2015 Audi A8 will come in at $78,325 when it rolls into dealerships in June. The new model gets a gentle refresh including new LED lights and a restyled grille, bumper and splitter. The top-of-the-line A8L W12 starts at $138,825.

Engine choices stay the same for the 2015 model year. The base A8 will arrive with a potent 3.0-liter supercharged V6 making 333 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. Stepping up, the 240-hp, 406-lb-ft TDI motor will return 24 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway. The 4.0-liter V8 gets a bump in output to 435 hp and 444 lb-ft of torque while the A8 W12 will feature intelligent-cylinder control, which helps highway efficiency. Output stays at 500 hp and 463 lb-ft of torque. The S8 sticks with its turbocharged V8 making 520 hp and 481 lb-ft of torque.

A new electromechanical-steering system reduces weight and increases mileage, while Audi's “dynamic steering” becomes part of the sport package and provides speed-based variable-ratio steering.

The A8 will, as usual, be chock-full of tech inside. Safety features include active-lane assist, night vision, animal/pedestrian detection and secondary-collision assist, which applies the brakes automatically after an initial collision. A head-up display allows for easier viewing of speed and information without taking eyes off the road.

The seats move in an unprecedented 22 ways electronically and offer heating, ventilation and massage functions.

By Jake Lingeman