 "Audi A8 L")
The super luxury cars are for kings and presidents, decision makers and business tycoons. In this class you won't find a Sunil Bharti Mittal adjusting the rear-view mirror or a Satya Nadella regretting having refueled a day before petrol prices came down. No sirree, in these cars, it's the chauffeurs in the driving seat, the owner at the back. So the most important criterion for super luxury cars is whether they makes a statement on the road. It's an ego massage that never hurts and always tempts.
For a long time now, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has unofficially been the most luxurious car that money can buy. It exudes power and luxury. But wait. There is now the Audi A8 that is at par as far as opulence is concerned.
The two cars follow completely different philosophies: while the S-Class has a flowing design and a swooping roofline that imbues it with an old-school uber class feel, the A8 is all about broad strokes and straight lines. The S-Class has a larger-than-life presence with its seamless creases from the bonnet to the door. The Audi, in contrast, can be faulted for being slightly unimaginative. The S-Class does not look overly large, though the perspective from the wide grille in the front allows it an imposing look. The A8 looks like any luxury sedan but more stretched out, and while it is right up there with the best of the lot, there still is an afterthought: "Haven't I seen this before?" It isn't as if the A8 is a laggard. Audi's school of thought obviously is that the car should be understated yet muscular. In this regard, with all the pomp and panache about it, the S-Class puts the Audi in the shade.
Having made a point about the designs, you would be hard put to point out any flaw inside, and it would all come down to personal choices. Stuttgart, in my opinion, has blended both retro and contemporary flair to perfection in the S-Class. The attention to detail is phenomenal. The interiors remind you of a luxury yacht. The exclusivity of this car has to be the benchmark for class, and that is saying a lot in this ultra-lavish segment. The beautiful retro chrome air vents on the wooden dashboard and the two-spoke steering wheel, inspired by a vintage Mercedes model, are masterstrokes. The seats are so grand and inviting that once you have parked yourself on them, you don't want to get out. These cushy seats can recline all the way to 45 degrees, allowing you to sit back and watch the clear blue skies or the diamonds in the sky. The master craftmanship is clearly evident in the top quality wooden panelling around the cabin with exquisite switches in aluminium finish. The seats also come with six massage modes. The S-Class is equipped with full-sized foldout trays and beautiful 31.2-cm TFT screens for COMAND, the media hub. The Burmester music system drowns out intrusive noises.
The A8, on the other hand, feels like the interiors of a posh old boys' club where you can lounge in peace and definitely in style. Audi has used the finest materials available - like Alcantara surfaces, matte wood and aluminium. The A8 also comes with an analogue Audi clock placed smack in the middle of the dashboard. Unlike the S-Class, the A8 has a lot of buttons on the centre console, the aesthetics of which, again, depends on personal taste. I would think that since most of the owners would be chilling out in the back seat, it would hardly bother them what their chauffeurs think of the arrangement. I loved the MMI screen that smoothly pops up from the dashboard and slips back perfectly afterwards. The build quality is flawless and matches the S-Class. And though it lacks the richness of the Mercedes, the Audi definitely feels sportier. The A8's rear seats not only recline, but at the press of a button, can transform into a sofa. Meanwhile, push the front passenger seats further to the front, and a footrest comes sliding out for your back-seat pleasure. Definitely feels like you are flying first class.
Mercedes-Benz S-Class
The S-Class is a more refined creature, though it is no slouch either. You will notice, however, a pause before the engine starts to gallop. This is because the old 7-speed automatic transmission system in the S-Class isn't the quickest in the business and is slightly lazy on the response.
Both these cars cater to the same uber-luxe segment, but are completely different in nature. The Audi A8 L is a luxury driving experience and even if you sit in the rear, you will have all the comforts in the world and more. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class may not be as much fun to drive as the A8, but it more than makes up by leaving you with an extraordinary feeling of being someone special. The interiors of the S-Class have to be the best among the breed, and the comfort and refinement levels are class leading. Eventually, it all comes down to what you want: a luxury car that you would like to drive or one in which you just want to lounge in bliss.
AUDI A8 L
Engine: 3-litre, V6 (diesel)
Power: 250hp @ 4000 rpm
Torque: 550Nm @1500 – 3000 rpm
Transmission: 8 Speed automatic
0-100 kmph: 6.2 seconds
Price: Rs 1.14 crore (Ex-showroom, Delhi)
MERCEDES-BENZ S-CLASS
Engine: 3-litre, V6 (diesel)
Power: 255hp @ 3600 rpm
Torque: 620Nm @1600 – 2400 rpm
Transmission: 7 Speed automatic
0-100 kmph: 6.8 seconds
Price: Rs 1.9 crore (Ex-showroom, Delhi)
Arup Das is Features Editor at Auto X
