Angela Merkel’s Car
During the G20 summit of last year 2017 I can see several world leaders mounted in very high-end cars. Among them, both the President of Spain, Mariano Rajoy, and the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, used the same model, although from a different year. Angela Merkel’s car was an Audi A8 L W12 from 2016, while Rajoy’s was from 2011.
Angela Merkel’s car exterior
The Audi A8 L W12 is a very high-end luxury saloon-type vehicle. The German Chancellor reached the top of the G20 in this elegant four-door vehicle, with four seats and 5.26 meters in length. Compared to the rest of the Audi A8s, the L W12 model has a longer wheelbase, which reaches 3.12 meters.
On the other hand, the width of the model reaches just 2 meters, so it does not experience variations compared to the rest of the variants. With these dimensions, the A8 L ranks as a larger model than the BMW 7 Series L or the Lexus LS Largo, while keeping up with the Mercedes S-Class.
The aesthetics of the Audi A8 L does not have great differences on the outside compared to the standard A8 model, except for the dimensions.
It incorporates lights with daytime LED technology with a well-differentiated cell format. On the other hand, the rear part has modern but not too flashy optics. In addition, the large tailpipes blend in well with the overall aesthetics.
As for the wheels, the Audi A8 L W12 is fitted with 15-spoke 19-inch light-alloy wheels as standard. The tires are 255/45 type, although there is the option of mounting 20 or 21-inch designs. Finally, the exterior of this luxury saloon is crowned with a sunroof in front of the B-pillar that can be fully opened or only slightly raised.
The interior of the Audi A8 L W12
In the passenger compartment of the A8 L W12, excellent quality materials can be found, such as wooden parts in different parts of the interior. The entire internal part of the model shows quality and elegance, from the complete lighting to the finish of the control knobs.
In addition, the leather upholstery is also of superb quality and is individually arranged in various elements, such as the steering wheel and the covers of all the seats. You can also find aluminum details that provide a very special shine thanks to the studied interior lighting. With them, an interesting contrast is created between the classic elements adorned with leather and wood, and those more modern in metal.
As for passenger comfort, the front seats have power adjustment modes as standard, while the rear seats have it as an option. In the case of Angela Merkel’s car, we can assume that the German Chancellor will not have deprived herself of this type of comfort in her official vehicle.
In addition, another possible extra addition is a shelf positioned behind the front seats, so that rear passengers can enjoy an electrically adjustable footrest and massager.
Angela Merkel’s amazing car engine
This model incorporates a German made engine with 12 cylinders arranged in W. In total they add a volume of 6.3 liters of displacement, and can reach a maximum power of no less than 500 hp.
The cylinders are arranged in four rows, with three cylinders in each. In this way, two V benches are formed with an angle of 72º that optimizes power delivery. On the other hand, each bench forms 15º from each other.
With this distribution, it is achieved that this W12 engine becomes more compact than a V8. In total, the engine block weighs 274 kg and is made of aluminum and silicon alloys. The acceleration of this model allowed it to go from 0 to 100 km / h in just 4.9 seconds, a very small value if we take into account the size and weight of the car, which is not exactly a sports car.
The price of the Audi A8 L W12
The standard price for Angela Merkel’s car starts at around € 146,800, which is below competitor models such as the BWM 760i, which stands at € 160,000. It is also below the Mercedes S-Class 600 Largo, which reaches 171,150 euros, but more expensive than the Lexus LS 600h Largo Ambassador, which stays at 130,200 euros.
