2019 Audi A8 Starts At $83,800 But Won’t Be Offered With A Level 3 Semi-Autonomous Driving System

The 2019 Audi A8 made its North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show last year and now we’re learning how much it will cost when it goes on sale in the United States this fall.

According to Roadshow, Audi’s new flagship will start at $83,800 before destination and delivery fees. That’s a modest increase of $1,300 over the 2018 model which starts at $82,500.

Despite the small price increase, the 2019 A8 comes loaded with features as the entry-level model will reportedly come equipped with an adaptive air suspension, leather upholstery and 18-way power front seats. Drivers will also find three screens including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.3-inch infotainment system and a lower 8.6-inch display which handles the climate control settings and seat features.

Audi made a big deal about the fact that the A8 was the first production model to offer a Level 3 semi-autonomous driving system but it won’t be available stateside. According to the publication, Traffic Jam Pilot won’t be offered in America thanks to “infrastructural and consumer issues” as well as a “quagmire of legal” problems surrounding the technology. Despite eschewing the Level 3 system, the A8 will offer a Level 2 system which includes adaptive cruise control.

At launch, the A8 will be offered exclusively with a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine which produces 335 hp (250 kW) and 369 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque. It will be connected to an eight speed automatic transmission and standard quattro all-wheel drive system with a self-locking center differential. In Europe, this powertrain enables the car to accelerate from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 5.7 seconds before hitting a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h).

Buyers looking for something more powerful will reportedly have to wait until the summer of 2019. Roadshow reports a V8 variant will be added to the lineup then but details remain elusive. As a result, it’s unclear if the publication is talking about the S8, which is slated to use a twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 with around 530 hp (395 kW), or a mainstream model with a V8 engine.