Performance Review: Audi A8 6.3 W12 L - [2012]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Audi A8 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Audi A8 6.3 W12 L is the 8 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2012. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse and the 2013 Porsche 918 Spyder 4.6 V8.This particular Audi A8 has a 6299cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 12 cylinders in a W formation.

Alternative Petrol W12's includes the 2017 Bentley Continental Supersports 6.0 W12 Bi Turbo

The A8 shares its Petrol W12 engine configuration with the likes of the 2017 Bentley Continental Supersports 6.0 W12 Bi Turbo and the 2017 Bentley Continental GT 6.0 W12 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the A8's All Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the or the .

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 2055 kgs (4530 lbs) this makes the Audi A8 6.3 W12 L in the same weight category as the 2022 Ferrari Purosangue 6.5 V12 or the give or take 50kg.

The Audi A8 shares the same bhp with the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (500 bhp)

In terms of power the 6299cc 48V W12 engine produces 500 bhp (372 kW) @ 6200 rpm similar to the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (500 bhp) or the 2023 Porsche Boxster Spyder RS 4.0 982 (493 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated W12 throws out 461 lb-ft (625.0 Nm) @ 4750 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (470 lb-ft) or the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 5.5 V8 C8 (460 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Audi A8 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2011 BMW 3 Series M3 CRT E90 (268.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Audi A8.

The Audi A8 has a Power to weight ratio of 243.3 bhp per ton and 224.3 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2012 A8 competing with the 2011 BMW 3 Series M3 CRT E90 (268.2 bhp per ton) or the 2013 Alfa-Romeo 4C 1.8 Turbo (268.1 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Audi A8 generating around 224.3 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk 6.2 V8 (249.3 lb-ft per ton) or the 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk 5.8L V8 352 (249.3 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 4.40 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.5 secs, this made the Audi A8 6.3 W12 L as fast as the 2023 Porsche Cayenne S 4.0 V8 Turbo (4.40 secs) the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe S 4.0 V8 Turbo (4.40 secs) the 2020 Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo 3.8 V8 Twin Turbo (4.40 secs) the or the 2020 Audi A4 S4 3.0 V6 Turbo (4.40 secs). This Audi A8 6.3 W12 L is also faster than the 2022 BMW i7 xDrive60 (4.50 secs) the 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge 6.6 V12 Twin turbo (4.50 secs) the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive Cabrio 3.0 Turbo F23 (4.50 secs) the and the 2021 BMW 2 Series M240i xDrive 3.0 Turbo F23 (4.50 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the A8 and the 1998 Mazda RX7 RZ

When talking about the performance of the Audi A8 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.69 secs @ 107.8 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1998 Mazda RX7 RZ (12.64 secs), the 1967 Pontiac Firebird 400 (12.65 secs), and the 2016 Audi A3 S3 Sportback 2.0 Turbo S-Tronic (12.65 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2012 version of the Audi A8 6.3 W12 L has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2012 A8 equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2012 Audi A8 6.3 W12 L then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2012 A8 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Audi

Car Comparison