Audi’s Flagship A8L Will Be Getting A Midlife Refresh In India Soon

• New front grille, bolder bumpers, larger lighting, and more splashes of chrome round off the styling updates.

• Cabin highlights include new optional 10.1-inch rear touchscreens, a rear touchscreen remote, and a 1920-watt, 23-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system.

• Likely to retain its existing 340PS 3-litre TFSI turbo-petrol engine, and should gain Audi’s new predictive suspension system.

•  Will rekindle its rivalry with the Mercedes-Benz S Class and BMW 7 Series in India.

While the Audi A8L that launched in India in February 2020 is the peak of what you could expect for a flagship sedan from the folks at Ingolstadt, there’s no harm in making things better, right? Well, luxury buffs can rejoice, as the carmaker will be bringing in a mid-life refresh to the luxury sedan in the country. It first broke cover globally last November, and going by the teasers shared on Audi’s social media handles, we expect a launch later this month.

As has been the case recently for the crop of modern facelifted cars from Ingolstadt, the 2022 A8L sheds its corporate look for a sporty stance. Up front, you get a larger grille and a more aggressive mesh, flanked by a bolder bumper. There’s also a thick chrome strip that surrounds the air dams and spans the width of the front bumper. A bigger set of Digital Matrix LED headlights , and a larger, rounder set of OLED tail lamps sign off the sporty look for the A8L.

Inside, things look largely familiar, but there’s a bit more fun for the rear seat passenger thanks to an optional set of larger 10.1-inch touchscreens, and a smartphone-sized rear touchscreen remote on the centre armrest to control the seat recline and other functions. Another highlight for the cabin is a 1920-watt, 23-speaker Bang and Olufsen sound system. Bits such as connected car technology, four-zone climate control aircon, ambient lighting, powered front seats, and Matrix LED interior lighting will be retained. 

Considering Audi’s petrol-only route, we expect the 2022 A8L to continue with the 3-litre TFSI turbo-petrol engine from the current model. It makes 340PS and 500Nm, and is claimed to go from 0-100kmph in just 5.7 seconds. The A8L also comes with a 460PS 4-litre V8 option available abroad, but we’re yet to know whether it’ll make it to the India model.  

As for its sporty counterpart, the S8, it may show up at a later stage, but some of its party tricks, such as a sport rear differential and all-wheel steering system can be specced onto the standard model. The standard A8L itself has its own party trick via a predictive suspension system that can load and unload the air suspension before the sedan tackles a corner or a pothole. While the model sold abroad comes with driver assists like the new ‘Park Assist’ feature that can autonomously park the sedan, the India-spec model might not get the full package.

Expect Audi to retail the facelifted A8L at a premium over the current model that retails from Rs 1.57 crore (ex-showroom). It will take on the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series in India.