This is the sumptuous new Audi A8 - and while it’s as luxurious as ever, it’s also had a performance-infused makeover.
The A8, first introduced back in the mid-90s, is a cut above when it comes to executive saloons, competing with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the BMW 7 Series.
It's a car Audi proudly calls ‘the flagship’.
And while the A8 has always been about under-stated power - a real wolf in sheep’s clothing - this latest facelift adds a little more ‘show’ to the ‘go’.
The engines on offer are the same as with the outgoing car - and all are connected to an eight-step tiptronic gearbox.
The 3.0 TDI is a V6 diesel with 286 PS of power and 600 Nm of torque, while the 3.0 TFSI petrol offers more oomph, with 340 PS, and which can hit 62mph from a standing start in just 5.6 seconds - not bad at all from such a heavily-laden super-barge.
There’s also a plug-in hybrid - the 60 TFSI e quattro - which is available in both the regular A8 and the A8 ‘L’ with the longer wheelbase. That powertrain uses a 3.0 TFSI engine supported by a compact electric motor, which combine to produce a considerable 462 PS and 700 Nm of system torque. The PHEV will also shift from 0-62 mph in 4.9 seconds.
Meanwhile the most potent engine of the lot goes to the A8’s sportiest variant - the S8. This Audi continent-eater get an 4.0 litre biturbo petrol V8 generating 571 PS of power and 800 Nm of torque. It does a standard sprint in 3.8 seconds.
The strongest model in the A8 family also comes off the assembly line with particularly extensive standard equipment - including innovative suspension components, such as the predictive active suspension, sport differential, and dynamic all-wheel steering.
But the sporty stuff doesn’t stop and start with the S8 - the regular A8 also now features some sharper styling than with previous incarnations. Audi even describes the exterior as more ‘athletic’.
A spokesperson explains:
“The base of the Singleframe grille is now wider and chrome angles that increase in size from bottom to top adorn its grid. The side air intakes are more upright and just as freshly styled as the headlights, whose lower edge on the outside creates a distinctive contour. To summarize, the newly designed and precisely orchestrated design elements in the front area significantly increase the A8’s presence and authority and sharpen the profile of the brand’s top model.”
Wide wheel arches also hint at the sporting quattro drive system while the new S Line exterior package improves things further, adding a ‘distinctive blade in the area of the side air intakes’ - which looks very similar to the S8.
All of the new A8s are available with Audi’s Digital Matrix LED headlights while Digital OLED brake lights are now included as standard.
The rear lights also have a ‘proximity indication feature’ - if another vehicle comes within two meters of a stationary A8 from behind, all the OLED segments are activated.
The interior of the Audi A8 is typically ‘restrained’ but still absolutely bursting with luxury and style. In the A8 L, for example, you can find a footrest on the back of the passenger seat which actually massages and warms your feet, while the ‘relaxation seat package’ includes a back massage with 18 pneumatic cushions, electrically adjustable comfort headrests, an optional continuous centre console, four-zone deluxe automatic air conditioning, and the new remotely-controlled infotainment screens in the rear.
There are about 40 driver assistance systems available in the enhanced Audi A8. Some of them – including the Audi pre sense basic and Audi pre sense front safety systems – are standard equipment for the series. Options are clustered into the “Park,” “City,” and “Tour” packages. The assistance package plus consolidates the packages.
If you get nervous in the multistorey, the ‘Park’ add-on might be the one for you. One of the highlights there is the ‘remote park assist plus’ system, which can automatically manoeuvre the large saloon into and out of a parallel or bay parking space. The driver doesn’t even need to be in the car for it to work.
An Audi spokesperson adds: “The sharpened design coupled with established technologies and outstanding comfort in the back seats defines Audi’s premium conception in this segment. The saloon thereby represents the symbiosis of masterful comfort and sporty handling and it, therefore, covers the full breadth of driving experience. With precision in all details and many intelligent functions, the new A8 is a high-value technology pioneer.”
The starting price for the A8 is £73,375, while the long wheelbase starts from £77,375. The S8 is priced at £99,650.
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