The 2014 Audi A8 L TDI was priced — Audi’s new diesel-powered flagship sedan will carry an $83,395 price (including destination) when it goes on sale inside the spring. As we’ve previously noted, the 2014 Audi A8 L TDI is powered by a 240-hp 3.0-liter turbodiesel V-6 with 406 lb-ft of torque, good for a claimed 0-60 mph time of 6.4 seconds. Audi will soon use that diesel engine under the hood of U.S.-spec models consisting of the A6, A7, and Q5 (in addition to the prevailing Q7 TDI model).

Within the U.S., the 2014 A8 TDI will only be offered as an extended-wheelbase model. Compare the car’s $83,395 MSRP with the 2013 Audi A8 lineup, and the recent model fits almost evenly between the long-wheelbase gas-powered six-cylinder model and the A8 with the 4.0-liter V-8. The simplest other diesel-powered flagship sedan, the 2013 Mercedes-Benz S350 Bluetec, starts at $93,905 and has EPA ratings of 21/31 mpg city/highway. While the A8 V-6 and V-8 out-sprint the A8 L TDI to 60 mph — Audi estimates 5.5 seconds for the V-6 and four.8 seconds for the LWB V-8 — neither can touch the diesel model’s expected EPA ratings of 24/36 mpg city/highway. The long-wheelbase 2013 Audi A8 is rated at 18/28 mpg with the V-6 and 16/26 mpg with the V-8. Like every Audi A8s, the TDI variant will include an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. The inner of the 2013 Audi A8 L 3.0T from our First Test is shown here.

Audi says that the A8 could be offered with a revised Premium package featuring 22-way seats, full LED headlights, Audi side assist and pre sense rear, and front seats with ventilation and a massaging function. At the 2013 Audi A8 3.0T, the automaker offers as standard equipment 19-inch wheels, an adaptive air suspension, heated 18-way power front seats, a rear-window power sunshadea navigation system with the MMI touch interface, and HID headlights with LED daytime running lights.

With the 2014 Audi A8 L TDI, the flagship sedan’s lineup now includes the 333-hp 3.0T V-6, 420-hp 4.0T V-8, 520-hp S8, and 500-hp W-12. Now that BMW offers a gas-powered six-cylinder 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz makes available two S-Class cars with six-cylinder engines, it’s clear U.S.-spec flagship sedans are not any longer only reserved for many who need a traditional V-8 or 12-cylinder engine.

Source: Audi

2013 Audi A8 L 3.0T shown below