Selling an Armored Audi A8 Is Trickier Than Expected, Vendor Makes It Cheaper

As you already know (from the title), this four-door features ballistic protection. The ad, which we will get to toward the end of this story, reveals that the car boasts VR9 protection. What does this tell us? That it can withstand gunfire and small explosive devices (grenades).

Thus, the thick plating around the passenger compartment and fat windows could make a difference between life and death. The 20-inch wheels sport run-flat tires wrapped around them, so this machine can keep driving and distance itself from the bad guys before having to pull over.

The ballistic protection is not the only highlight of this Audi A8, which is an L. That means it's a long-wheelbase version of the regular car, which means more space between the axles, translating into superior room on the inside, especially for backseat occupants.

The car offers seating for four, and if passengers get bored of looking out the window, then the entertainment system should keep them busy and make the time fly. A small cooler sits behind the rear seats, and the vehicle also gets the typical screens at the front, ambient lighting, multi-zone climate control, leather upholstery, and a few other high-end features.

The V8 motor is still a thing at Audi, and although it's part of a dying breed, getting ready to succumb to smaller motors, often with electric assistance, it is found under the hood of this Audi A8 L. According to the vendor, the armored German limo uses a 4.0-liter unit with dual turbos that steams out 563 horsepower (571 ps/420 kW). This A8 L Security is said to return the equivalent of 14.2 US mpg (16.6 l/100 km) combined, 16.9 US mpg (13.9 l/100 km) on the highway, and 8.7 US mpg (27 l/100 km) in the city. The carbon dioxide emissions are rated at 375 g/km.

A brand-new Audi A8 will set you back at least €104,400 (equaling $112,880) in Germany. The A8 L has a recommended retail price of €107,900 ($116,665), and the S8 begins at €154,800 ($167,375), boasting a 563-horsepower (571 ps/420 kW) and 590 pound-feet (800 Nm) of torque V8, and taking just 3.8 seconds to rip to sixty-two mph (100 kph). In our market, the 2024 Audi A8 has an MSRP of $90,900 (€84,055), and a brand-new S8, from the same model year, comes from a cool $123,400 (€114,110).

Therefore, an armored and stretched Audi A8 cannot possibly cost an eye-watering amount of money, can it? Well, as it turns out, it sure can. We first laid eyes on this Audi A8 L Security back in August this year (2024), and it was then listed for €731,580. That comes out to $791,015, which means that it used to be much more expensive than a larger and much more luxurious Rolls-Royce Phantom. Sure, the British company's flagship sedan doesn't feature ballistic protection, at least not for that money, but you get the point, don't you?

Shortly after we covered that initial story, we forgot about this Audi A8 L and presumed it found a home. However, as it turns out, selling an armored German limo can be trickier than expected, even if the ride in question is brand new, with only the delivery miles under its belt, features a nice V8 engine under the hood, boasts some interesting amenities inside, and has the ability to save the lives of its occupants. Still, we were wrong because this vehicle failed to find a new home, and the vendor actually slashed the asking price.

Mind you, it's not a significant drop, as it is now €18,175 ($19,650) more affordable. What does that mean? Well, interested parties will have to cough out €713,405 ($771,360) before they'll be able to sign their name on the dotted line, and that's still a huge amount of money that could otherwise get you almost seven brand-new Audi A8s in its homeland of Germany, six Audi A8 Ls, or four Audi S8s. You could also land a couple of Rolls-Royce Ghosts, three Bentley Flying Spurs, or two Lamborghini Temerarios if you're into brand-new plug-in hybrid supercars.

Hollmann International is still responsible for selling this Audi A8 L Security; by the looks of it, they might have a tough time finding a new home for it. As a result, we wouldn't be surprised if they slash the asking price by a few thousand in the near future. Thus, if you're shopping for an armored Audi and this A8 L Security has caught your attention, you may want to negotiate before transferring the funds. You can access the ad here, and before that, let us know what car(s) you'd buy on an almost $800k budget.