Went to see A8L at dealer on Saturday. Noticed that there was no leather wrapping on armrests, door pulls, center console, just a textured leatherette I'd expect to see on a Chevy---What gives? I had thought the Extended Leather Package is standard on the A8L!!! Early product info stated it was standard on A8L and optional on NWB A8; and the A8L Order Guide makes no mention of Leather Package 1 availablilty(shown only for NWB A8), which leads one to believe that it's standard on the "L" model.

My salesman and I look at the new A8 sales brochure, which now states it's an OPTION on both A8 and A8L. So he tries to add it to my Vehicle Build Order, and it gets kicked back as being NA for the A8L model. The brochure clearly shows pictures identified as being A8L with the leather trimmed package elements. After comparing the NWB A8 in the showroom with the Leather Package to the A8L w/o the package...Let me tell you, the Extended Leather Package makes a big difference---without it, the car's interior is substantially cheapened IMO. Can't understand why it's not just standard equipment on all A8s.

My dealer is attempting to clarify this issue with AoA; I'll re-post with what answers we get. Perhaps Scothawk2 can chime in when he takes delivery of his new A8L.

Oh, BTW, more confusion from AoA....the new brochure lists the 20 inch tires as 255x35x20. My understanding is that the 20's come with 265x40 size tires---and the car with 20's I saw at the Audi Forum had the 265x40x20 tires. Just more conflicting info from AoA. Will have to check into this also.

I ran into the same issue actually when I tried to order the leather package. The request was kicked back but my dealer seemed to believe it was due to the leather package being standard on the A8L. I guess I will know in a few days! I'll be sure to post some pictures and video of the new vehicle when it arrives for you guys.

I ran into the same issue actually when I tried to order the leather package. The request was kicked back but my dealer seemed to believe it was due to the leather package being standard on the A8L. I guess I will know in a few days! I'll be sure to post some pictures and video of the new vehicle when it arrives for you guys.

Thanks Scothawk2. I thought it was standard also. The early A8 Product Info released to dealers back in May listed the Leather Pkg as standard on the A8L, and an option on the NWB A8. Was very surprised to see the L at my dealer w/o it. Even more surprised by what the brochure says.

Thanks Scothawk2. I thought it was standard also. The early A8 Product Info released to dealers back in May listed the Leather Pkg as standard on the A8L, and an option on the NWB A8. Was very surprised to see the L at my dealer w/o it. Even more surprised by what the brochure says.

You know what they say about 1st year model releases. Especially from the Germans. The 2012 model will probably have it standard (or at least available) and they will sprinkle in another 3-5 horsepower as well.

Went to my dealer this afternoon with the same query as I thought the A8L came with the leather package as standard. Looked at the launch A8L that they had in stock, but there was no leather package. We then went to a car that was ordered for a customer and was not a launch vehicle. It had the leather package installed as standard for the car.

I guess the launch vehicle is not a true representation of the actual released vehicle. Hope it answers your questions.

Went to my dealer this afternoon with the same query as I thought the A8L came with the leather package as standard. Looked at the launch A8L that they had in stock, but there was no leather package. We then went to a car that was ordered for a customer and was not a launch vehicle. It had the leather package installed as standard for the car.

I guess the launch vehicle is not a true representation of the actual released vehicle. Hope it answers your questions.

If the customer ordered car was a LWB then it certainly does. Thanks! :^)

The real confusing thing in this story is that the brochure lists the leather pkg as an option on both NWB and LWB---but that is in conflict with other A8 product info. Leave it to AoA to really screw up their new vehicle launch---and with demo vehicles that aren't true representations of the actual cars. Keep in mind that these demo vehicles will be for sale by dealers...Unbelievable.

slightly OT..
sat in a D4 at the dlr and the leather smells great.
not sur if extended or not. matches up to MB nicely.
much better than the vaguely gamey D3
(likely that car's only flaw , to me, subjectively)