The A8 is a full-size luxury sedan that combines comfort with technology and something of a sporty character. It takes on the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.
2026 Audi A8 Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Audi A8
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Audi A8
Audi has consolidated many of the A8's options packages for 2026. The former Luxury and Executive packages have merged to become the Executive Plus package, which includes safety and comfort features. The safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, intersection assist, automatic and remote parking, blind-spot monitors, and a head-up display. The comfort features are power-reclining outboard rear seats with heating, ventilation, and massage functions.
Design
The A8 and the high-performance S8 sit long, low, and wide. Up front, a wide version of the Audi single frame grille sits between eye-slit LED headlights and daytime running lights up top and air intakes down low. Those intakes are less prominent on the A8, and the grille texture changes from model to model. The sides are largely unadorned, except for a sharp lower character line that rises slightly front to rear. At the back, OLED taillights are joined by an upper light strip, with dual exhaust outlets down low. The A8 rides on standard 20-inch wheels and 21s are available. A Black Optic package has black exterior trim, badges, and mirror housings.
Powertrain
The Audi is powered by a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that makes 335 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. The S8 gets a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V8 that ups output to 563 hp and 590 lb-ft. Both engines send power to all four wheels via Audi’s quattro all-wheel-drive (AWD) system through an eight-speed automatic transmission. The A8 is EPA-rated at 19 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined.
Interior
The A8 comes standard with Valetta leather upholstery, 22-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, and driver’s seat memory. It also gets four-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and a heated steering wheel. Buyers can get Valcona leather upholstery, heated rear seats, front and rear massaging seats, extended leather upholstery, and heated front-seat armrests. The trunk has a rather small 12.5 cubic feet of cargo space.
Technology
The A8 comes standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that Audi calls the Virtual Cockpit. It also gets a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, an 8.6-inch touchscreen for climate controls, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, three months of satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen audio system. Optionally available are a head-up display and an upgraded Bang & Olufsen system.
