2014 Audi A8L TDI Starts At $83,395

That's pretty awesome fuel economy for a huge car. Heck, that beats a lot of family sedans with 180 hp 4-bangers. I hope the next-generation S-class can match that mpg figure.

How much incentives has VW put on the hood of A8s in the past- on pace with mercedes' $13,000 s-class incentive?

Would also be interesting to see the fleet sales of the A8 - likely over 50% worldwide.

Not sure where the $13,000 comes from as the only manufacturer offered deal on an S-class is a $1,099 a month 30 month lease with $6,000 due at signing. According to KBB.com there are no incentives on the S400 Hybrid and a 2.49% financing offer on the S550. Truecar.com has the average S550 sale price at $87,491, BMW 750 at $75,833, and Audi A8 4.0 at $77,448. The S-class sells at a price premium over all competitors and still outsells them al despite being in it's 7th model year.

What excites me about the diesel A8 though, is a diesel A6 with maybe 1-2 mpg more will probably follow. And then Mercedes will look to up the fuel economy on the E350 Bluetec and S350 Bluetec. Then BMW follows, then Cadillac when the LTS comes out knows they need over 400 lb-ft and 36 mpg. I like the competition and how these huge luxury sedans can get better mileage than a 4-cylinder Camry.

Click around on trucar; the s600 sticker is 163,805, but the average transaction price was 150,153, a difference of 13,652. S65 difference was $19K.

Even the S550 difference is 8,414... but these MSRP numbers do NOT include OPTIONS, so all those figures are going to jack up much higher. Face it, mercedes dealers are forced to heavily discount the s-class to keep them moving.

Even so, its harder to lose more cash on a new car purchase than an s-class.

Here's a 2011 S65, a car that's BASE MSRP was $211K and look:

http://www.cargurus.com/Cars/l-Used-2010-Mercedes-Benz-S-Class-S65-AMG-t37138#listing=48046700

Price marked down from 145K to 134K to 126K. 1+ year old and it can cost the owner EIGHTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

You'd have to be a financial idiot to buy one.

2012 audi a8 MSRP : $73,095. Add optional LED headlights, RR seat entertainment, 20" rims, nite vision, & Bang & O system, and that number goes to $87,495.

Average transaction price : $69,214. Discount on a8 in this example is $18,281.

How much incentives has VW put on the hood of A8s in the past- on pace with mercedes' $13,000 s-class incentive?

Would also be interesting to see the fleet sales of the A8 - likely over 50% worldwide.

An article you might find interesting: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-02/audi-defies-demand-drop-as-companies-give-workers-wheels-cars.html

The vast majority of luxury cars sold in Germany, Audi's second largest market, are company cars. Most private citizens can't afford a $100K car after VAT. In China, Audi's largest market, about a third of Audis go into government fleets.

Agreed on the VAT, it adds about 20% to the price of a car.

>>"When including dealers and rental-car companies, businesses in Germany accounted for as much as 64 percent of sales in November, according to KBA."<<

Still, 64% overall average fleet sales is pathetic- it's propping up their domestic makes.

Although how many cars did Cadillac, Lincoln, Infiniti, Acura, and Lexus sell in Germany last year? Or in Europe all together? The German luxury makes may have fleet sales, but at least they have sales.

You just need to remember when you reel off those all-inclusive global sales numbers, that U.S. aside, the majority of those numbers is very likely fleet sales- the very bane of a luxury reputation.

good mpg on that audi diesel but if you are buying or leasing that expensive a car, you are not really getting diesel for the money you'd supposedly save on fuel. there is likely a good niche market for luxury diesels for those who just dig diesels.

Most premium cars in this class are leases in the US, aren't they? Most consumers aren't thinking beyond the next 3 years w/ one.

good mpg on that audi diesel but if you are buying or leasing that expensive a car, you are not really getting diesel for the money you'd supposedly save on fuel. there is likely a good niche market for luxury diesels for those who just dig diesels.

It's not just fuel savings but less depreciation as well. The E and ML Bluetecs have a higher residual than the gas equivalents, so despite a higher MSRP, they have lower lease payments.