Cabin layout is familiar with two broad buckets in front and a bench in back with indentions for two but room for three. The stretched wheelbase -- fully ten feet long -- adds up to more than sufficient legroom for passengers in the rear quarters. The A8L driver is surrounded with an ultimate assortment of electronic car controls, with most set on the steering wheel or driver's door, or operated from a handy joystick mounted at the front end of the center console's padded armrest.

The joystick, rotating and clickable like a computer mouse, links to a video screen that pops up front on the dashboard to access car controls such as the variable suspension settings, as well as climate, navigation, audio and telecommunications equipment. Audi dubs this stick the MMI -- Multimedia Interface. The A8L comes with Audi's quattro AWD equipment.

Speed-sensitive power rack and pinion steering feels precise and quick, and for braking, there's a big disc at each wheel coupled to a computerized anti-lock brake system (ABS) as well as electronic brake force distribution (EBD), and an electronic stabilization program (ESP) to prevent wheels from skidding laterally. Powertrain consists of an aluminum 4.2-liter V8 with dual cams and all torque translated through a ZF six-speed electronic automatic transmission outfitted with Tiptronic manual shift mode. It runs up to 330 hp.

A8L provides a comprehensive list of standard gear, including leather and wood trim in the cabin. Still, there are options, such as a convenience package plus stand-alone options -- a sunroof, front and rear Parktronic guidance, and different wheel and tire packages to 19 inches.

Read our Review: Audi A8L

The mid-size sedans and estate wagons from Audi stand in size between compact A4 and full-size A8. The series consists of three sedans and an avant wagon that vary through powertrains yet a unibody structure shared by all contains lightweight aluminum structural components. Base A6 3.0 sedan uses Audi's 3.0-liter V6 worth 220 hp.

A five-speed Tiptronic automatic is standard with sport settings, but a multitronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) is offered on FrontTrak models and it carries a new sport mode shifting program. Audi's quattro traction system is optional. Next step up in the series leads to the A6 2.7T sedan tipping decidedly to the sporty side of performance with a unique bi-turbo 2.7-liter V6 aboard for 250 hp.

The two turbo-chargers -- one for each of two cylinder banks -- take up less space than a single large unit and the small size means faster response from accelerator pressure to firing time and higher torque at lower engine speeds. A6 4.2 sedan stocks the powerful 4.2-liter dual cam V8 for massive muscle.

And for superior strength in a wagon, the sport-tuned A6 4.2 avant also gets the V8. A sunroof shows up as standard equipment on all A6 quattro models for 2004.

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