Review of the new Audi A8 4.2 FSI Quattro

Overlooked and generally forgotten about, the Audi A8 has always been seen as the poor relation when compared to the likes of the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes-Benz S Class. Things have changed however, since the launch of the second generation version, represented by the 4.2 FSI quattro variant we're looking at here. With BMW creating a rod for their own back as a result of their controversial styling of the 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz having problems with the build quality of of their cars, the door is now open for the A8 to make significant in-roads on the sales of these two market leaders in the high-end luxury car market.

Is it good enough though? Certainly the styling is more conventional and understated than its competitors, even now that all A8s feature the single frame grille what was reserved for the W12 models, and this should appeal to those former BMW customers who just can't bring themselves to order a new 7 Series. Similarly, top-of-the-range Audis like this A8 are screwed together and fitted out so well that the once dominant position of Mercedes-Benz in this area is now being challenged.

The A8 is made of aluminium and is now torsionally stiffer than the previous model, which contributes significantly to both safety and driving dynamics. The engine is a recently introduced 4.2-litre FSI V8 powering Audi's trademark quattro four wheel drive transmission through a six-speed automatic gearbox, which is now a standard feature on both the short and long wheelbase models. Should you feel suitably sportif, you can knock the stick to one side in order to perform 'manual' shifts. This is the A8's unique selling point - being a real 'driver's car'. The 4.2-litre version is a car that can waft along with untroubled ease, yet has enough power to rapidly get you out of the trickiest situation should the need arise and comes alive on a tight, twisty road.

"This A8 feels lighter on its feet than before..."

The 4.2 FSI takes its place towards the top of a recently improved A8 range. The current model benefits from a smarter design for the trademark single frame grille, LED indicator strips in the side mirrors and LED tail lights. The shorter wheel based A8 4.2-litre is priced at £60,995 and if you want more leg room in the back it will cost you from £64,365. There's a choice of SE or Sport trim levels. This luxury saloon stacks up well with rivals such as the BMW 7 Series, and it is the BMW sales figures that will feel the most effect of this car's presence. Cars like the VW Phaeton, the Mercedes S Class and the Lexus LS460 are a little too comfort oriented to directly compare with the hard charging Audi although some will find its charms hard to resist. The 4.2-litre quattro variant we're looking at here is certainly a car that rewards the driver. With just 12bhp less than a BMW 750i and around 370lbs (the weight of two 13 stone passengers) less weight to lug around, the 4.2-litre is a rapid performer. The all-wheel drive system means that it gets off the line without any fuss every time, sprinting to 62mph in just 6.1 seconds. The top speed is limited by the gentleman's agreement among most German manufacturers to a sensible 155mph (250km/h).

Unlike some of its rivals, the styling of this model has followed an evolutionary theme, looking even more slippery than the rather bluff first generation A8, the sides now being contoured into an almost Jaguar-like fuselage. The front features chrome-ringed grilles above and below bumpers that look rakishly aggressive, whilst the back features a high mounted light cluster which doesn't.

As you would expect for a car of this price the specification is pretty impressive. As well as the quattro permanent four-wheel-drive and the automatic six-speed Tiptronic transmission with paddle shift, this A8 comes with Adaptive air suspension, a MMI multi media interface control system, a front and rear acoustic parking system, double glazed and heat insulated tinted glass, a 230 watt sound system with six disc CD auto changer and cruise control, plus electric front seats with active head restraints, memory and 14-way adjustment. The interior is upholstered in Valcona Leather with Alcantara door trim inserts.

Mechanical improvements to the latest A8 range include a re-engineering of the rack-and pinion speed-dependent steering to permit a more direct feel, and revision of the dampers, supports and general settings of the adaptive air suspension designed to give the A8 even tighter body control through corners and an even more unruffled ride. In conjunction with these measures, supplementary insulation using innovative new materials has also been added throughout the car, the result being that the A8 now records the lowest rolling, road and ambient noise levels in its class.

Like the Mercedes S-Class, this Audi adopts a full air suspension set up with four different set ups to suit differing needs. The A8 feels lighter on its feet than before but ride quality has also improved. This was the one big complaint with the old car, namely that the handling was good but you had to pay for it with significant bump and thump from the suspension. The power steering has been retuned to offer more feel, but it reverts to a fingertip lightness at parking speeds.

The size of the Audi A8 makes it an inherently safe car to start with but the safety features included as standard are indeed impressive. They include driver, passenger and side airbags, the SIDEGUARD head airbag protection system that deploys when hit from the side, new brake and indicator lights using rapid illumination LED technology, ABS brakes, electronic brake force distribution (EBD), electronic stability programme (ESP), electronic differential lock (EDL), traction control and anti-slip regulation (ASR) traction control.

The Audi A8 4.2 FSI quattro is the luxury saloon that many discerning buyers will go for. The more aggressive styling of the MK2 model will help to prise away some disaffected BMW customers, but it may have too sporty a feel for the likes of Mercedes-Benz and Lexus buyers. So will it remain a niche player? It deserves not to be.

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