navin in KC

The 2014 order guide lists a $3500 Sports Plus Package (SPP) as including:

-Adaptive Air Suspension, Sport
-Audi Quattro with Sports Differential
-Audi Dynamic Steering

(BTW: the same priced 2013 SPP required purchase of the $4500 Sport Design Package, which includes a 22 way ventilated seat, "Valcona leather", Wood Inlays, and 20" wheel/tire upgrade)

My questions are:
1) How much pizzaz will these things add to my car?
2) Will The Sports Differential cause worse gas mileage?
3) How noticeable is the Dynamic Steering?

derfA8L

The suspension will ride a bit firmer vs. the non-sport. The sports differential coupled with the dynamic steering option is very good and worth the cost of the entire package IMO. It adds precise control of the car in tight turns (like when running through the twisties on back roads, or in the event of emergency maneuvers). Controls the rear-end of the car so you go exactly where you aim the front end. It's functionality can be set via MMI in Comfort, Auto, Dynamic mode. I leave mine in Auto and it works quite effectively---makes driving through tight turns a dream, and I do not notice any negative impact on fuel economy.

IMO, the rear sports diff (with dynamic steering) should be standard equipment on the A8/A8L. I'm quite annoyed that you can't order it as a stand-alone, as you could in 2011. At least you're not forced into the expensive Sports Design nonsense in order to get the better handling functionality of the Sports pkg.

I keep my steering set to Dynamic all the time, so I'm not sure what impact the dynamic feature in the rear sports diff package has, other than tightening up the steering when the rear sports differential does its thing.

navin in KC

Okay, thank you for the info derfA8L.