Audi A8

The Audi A8 is the flagship for the brand and while sales of the car itself will be dwarfed by the A4, A3 and, soon, the A1, it plays a crucial role in convincing car-buyers Audi is the right choice for them, whichever model they choose.

Plus the new technologies introduced in the A8 will soon surface elsewhere with the new A1 already earmarked for some of the premier car’s kit.
But for those who are actually looking to buy an A8 rather than bathe in the reflected glory, we can report the new car has undergone some significant improvements to make it an even more compelling choice.

The new A8 will be available in normal and long wheelbase form with a choice of two new petrol and two new diesel engines. They bring increases of between 15 and 22 per cent, reduced CO2 emissions of between 15 and 22 per cent, and improved fuel economy.

Audi A8

A8 3.0 TDI quattro

• This V6 is expected to account for 85 per cent of all cars sold. More powerful than the outgoing model, it has been boosted from 230bhp to 247bhp. CO2 emissions have been reduced from 224g/km to a class-leading 174g/km. Fuel economy is improved from 33.6mpg to a class-leading 42.8mpg. Start-stop technology is now fitted as standard.

A8 4.2 TDI quattro

• It too is more powerful than the outgoing model, its output being increased from 322bhp to a class-leading 345bhp while, CO2 emissions have been reduced from 249g/km to 199g/km. Fuel economy is improved from 30.1mpg to 37.2mpg. It covers 0-62 mph in 5.5 seconds.

Audi A8

A8 4.2 FSI quattro

• Again more powerful than the outgoing model it has been taken from 345bhp to 367bhp while CO2 emissions are down from 259g/km to a class-leading 219g/km. Fuel economy is improved from 25.9mpg to a class-leading 29.7mpg.

A8 3.0 TFSI

• This supercharged version will come with 286bhp, a 0-62mph time of 6.1 seconds, 31mpg and 213g/km of CO2.

All models are mated with a new eight speed Tiptronic transmission.

The two normal wheelbase 4.2-litre models go on sale this month with the 3.0-litre models and long wheelbase versions following later in the year.

We had the opportunity to put the 4.2-litre TDI version through its paces at the launch of its UK spec right-hand drive versions in Le Castellet, in the south of France.

(Follow the link to read Deputy Editor Stuart Milne’s first impressions of the car from the Audi A8 international launch when he had the opportunity to drive the left hand drive versions of the car.)

With prices that range from £54,835 to £66,450 and an options range which can make the final price tag a six figure sum, Audi appreciates its customers can afford the best but don’t necessarily want to put that wealth on show too much.

And for a car which is now wider and longer than luxury saloon rivals; the BMW 7 Series, the Mercedes Benz S-Class and the Jaguar XJ, it manages to conceal its bulk within a very elegant exterior.

The combination of conservative styling and cutting-edge technology, including all LED highlights, is pure Audi.

The new interior follows that theme inside with the new Multi Media Interface integrated discreetly into the dash with the controls sitting just in front of a new gearstick design (described as “yacht style” by Audi, think upside-down golfing wood) which feels very natural to use.

This is where a lot of Audi’s latest batch of the clever stuff comes into play.

Driving smart

The MMI-housed Navigation system works with the transmission and headlights.

This means the gearbox “knows” if there’re a series of corners coming up, the headlights “know” what kind of road you’re on and will vary to suit the location e.g. junction lights at a crossroads, even continental set-up lights when you cross the channel, bringing a new meaning to automatic lights.

And there was indeed a different response depending on whether I was on the winding mountain roads or the motorway. Spooky at first, but if you’ve got the money, something you could soon get used to.

The satnav can also link up with online services including weather reports and Google points of interest. Later this year the technology should be in place to make the car itself a mobile hotspot allowing complete access to the Internet, including Google earth for integration into the mapping.

All models benefit from Audi’s quattro four wheel drive system but the 4.2-litre TDI, which is due to take a smaller but significant proportion of diesel sales than the 3.0-litre, also benefits from the quattro sports differential, previously featured in the S4 quattro, as standard.

In essence it sees pulling power directed to the outer wheel when cornering which increases stability and the potential for quicker acceleration out of bends.

Despite its all-aluminium lighter and stiffer frame, the Audi A8 is still a lot of car and though this feature may not be required for motorway cruisers it certainly made a difference on our twisting route.

As for ride comfort, the standard 4 corner adaptive air suspension helps ensure the comfort levels you’d expect from a luxury saloon with full double glazing and leather keeping occupants comfortable and cosseted.

Safety

The new A8 also comes with a new raft of safety devices under the banner of its pre-sense systems, some available as standard but with the option to add further features.

These include improved adaptive cruise control (now with two radars rather than just one), as well as night vision thermal imaging (the camera is concealed within one of the rings of the Audi badge) which can pick out pedestrians ahead and display them on the screen.

This is also a feature in the BMW 7 Series launched and updated to include the 740d last year.

Available in SE and SE Executive trim, the new Audi A8 is the supremely competent car one would expect from the super-efficient German manufacturer’s flagship model.

Its abilities on road, refinement and newly-improved CO2 emissions and fuel economy should put it on any luxury saloon buyer’s shortlist.
At which point it might just come down to brand, and whether Audi has convinced you it is the one for you.