Autobytel 2014 Luxury Car of the Year: Audi S8

by Michelle Naranjo

・

January 2, 2014

・

3 min. Reading Time

Voting for this year's Autobytel 2014 Luxury Car of the Year was hotly contested amongst the editors but the Audi S8 edged to the top of the final three by a narrow margin.

What makes a great luxury sedan in 2014? It definitely takes more than a bit of leather and hot-headed engine under the hood. These days, nothing less that the most advanced driving dynamics possible with 4 doors, comforts that nearly predict how your personal body temperature is going to feel 5 minutes from now, and designs that turn heads and woo even the hardest hearts into believing that God is in the details, will work.

Read on to see why our Autobytel 2014 Luxury Car of the Year, the Audi S8, and the other top two rank above the rest.

Autobytel 2014 Luxury Car of the Year: Audi S8

As if a luxury perfomer like the Audi A8 couldn't get any better, the Audi S8 comes along and claims the title of Autobytel 2014 Luxury Car of the Year.

A performance enhanced model based on the Audi A8, the S8 boosts and boasts the V8 to 520 horsepower and 481 pound-feet of torque with a 40% weight loss and improved fuel efficiency that leaves the old V10 in the dust. Priced from $112,000.00, the benefit-cost ratio is still a win with enhancements to the S-package, including the larger grille that makes this beast as mean on the road as it feels.

Autobytel 2014 Luxury Car of the Year Finalist: Mercedes-Benz S-Class

There is no fun in being #2 but in the case of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class, coming so closely in second place for Luxury Car of the Year has never made #2 look – or feel – so amazing.

The 2014 Mercedes-Benz S-Class has a 4.6-liter biturbo V8 engine that sends 449 hp and 516 lb.-ft. of torque through a seven-speed automatic transmission, while also sending the 4,700-lb. super sedan from 0-60 in a mere 4.8 seconds. All that, a list of "insane" creature comforts, and a price tag that has lowered this year's S550 price from last year's down to $92,900 to start. Of course, for those who really enjoy their conspicuous consumption, there is also the 2013 S63 AMG 4-Matic for $139,500.

Autobytel 2014 Luxury Car of the Year Finalist: Cadillac CTS

When we say that the competition for the luxury car segment was tight this year, we really mean it. Just slightly behind in the editor's votes this year, the Cadillac ATS shows up in our list of Top 3 Luxury Cars in its second year of critical acclaim.

For 2014, Cadillac has brought the ATS back with improved features and finishes, showcasing Cadillac's determination to keep their new lineup fresh, contemporary and competitive. Don't let the super-prices of the Audi S8 and Mercedes S-Class deter you from thinking all of the luxury car segment is going to the 1%: the 2014 Cadillac ATS starts at just $33,065 and tops out at a still affordable $48,195. It may lean more towards the compact luxury segment but it is holding its own with the big boys, thank you very much.

Autobytel 2014 Awards

The editorial team of Autobytel has chosen the previous vehicles as the best of what we have seen in the category for 2014, and while there are many others in this class that probably deserve some kudos as well, we'd love to hear which you would choose for yourself. Let us know on the Autobytel Twitter or the Autobytel Facebook page.

More of the Autobytel 2014 Car, Truck and category of the Year winners can be found by browsing the collection below.

Autobytel 2014 Car of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Truck of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Compact Car of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Convertible of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Sedan of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Luxury Car of the Year

Autobytel 2014 SUV of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Luxury SUV of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Crossover of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Sports Car of the Year

Autobytel 2014 Alternative Fuel Car of the Year