2013 Audi A8 Gets New Engines

Audi's flagship sedan's entry price drops $6530 to $73095 for the 2013 model year because last year's base 4.2 liter V-8 is replaced by a supercharged V-6 displacing about 3 liters. Despite the downsize in engine, fuel economy is still an EPA-rated 18/28 city/highway miles per gallon, equivalent to last year's 4.2 liter V-8. Still, the new engine should return better fuel economy in the real world compared to the 4.2 liter V-8.

Another new engine is the 4 liter turbocharged V-8 that went into production originally for the Bentley Continental. Here in the A8, it spins out 420 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. The new S8 is also powered by this engine, albeit in 520 horsepower form.

Regardless of power, both 4 liter V-8s get cylinder deactivation that can cut fuel to half of the cylinders under light load for less fuel consumption. The V-6 A8 can shut down the engine when stopping or stopped.

The V-6 A8 can't be had with the longer wheelbase. V-8 cars start at $81795, and opting for the longer wheelbase adds $6300 to the price tag. The unchanged W-12, which can only be bought with the wheelbase stretched, clocks in at over 135 thousand dollars. Even the S8 starts at just under 111 grand. All prices have a $895 destination charge included.

V-6 and W-12 models 2013 A8s are at Audi dealers now, the turbocharged V-8 model will arrive shortly, and the S8 comes in the fall.

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