Review of the new Audi A8 range

There are some tough jobs in the world of motoring. Chief trophy polisher at Ferrari F1, head of warranty claims at TVR, Evil Knievel's osteopath: all are highly demanding roles but if they sound taxing, try the one Audi's A8 has been landed with. The A8 is Audi's flagship car, no longer the most expensive or biggest Audi, but still the standard bearer for one of the largest and most diverse model ranges going. It also has to compete in the luxury saloon segment against some of the finest motorcars in the world. In short, the A8 needed to be extremely good and Audi has pulled out all the stops to make it so.

Previous A8 models have carved out an enduring reputation for engineering innovation, quality and style. The people behind today's car set out to build on that platform and have made improvements across the board without drifting too far from the core values behind the ultimate Audi. We're faced with a quattro all-wheel-drive luxury saloon of advanced aluminium construction furnished with a formidable arsenal of technology. Will it be good enough?

Some of the powertrain options in the A8 are as tempting as you'd imagine but the majority of customers will end up with the 3.0-litre TDI diesel that props up the mighty V8s. It's a 250bhp engine that will feel far from weak thanks to the 550Nm of torque that courses forth from minimal revs. More compelling is the 4.2-litre V8 TDI with its 350bhp and huge 800Nm torque output. With this unit, the A8 becomes a certified executive express covering the 0-62mph spring in 5.5s and hitting the 155mph speed limiter with plenty to spare. The petrol option is Audi's 4.2 V8 and it's got 372bhp along with 445Nm of torque. It's a shade slower than the diesel but fast enough with a 5.7s time for the sprint.

"The A8 is a showcase for the Audi's best and most advanced technologies"

All of the A8 models get Audi's latest quattro all-wheel-drive technology to ensure the surest of footings on the road surface and optimum distribution of power. The 4.2 TDI models also get's Audi's Sports Differential to divide the thrust between the rear wheels and help it make the most of that monumental torque. The gearbox is an 8-speed tiptronic with Drive or Sport shift programmes that can be operated manually through the wheel-mounted paddles.

Audi needed the A8 to achieve the highest standards of ride comfort while also displaying strong dynamic abilities when required and the job of squaring that particular circle falls to the Drive Select adaptive chassis technology. With Comfort, Auto and Dynamic modes, the system adjusts damper settings and other parameters to deliver the optimum ride/handling compromise. It works in conjunction with the A8's all-aluminium suspension and the adaptive air-suspension system to take the A8's capabilities beyond what would be possible with a conventional chassis set-up.

Never one of the luxury saloon sector's most ostentatious players, the A8 tends to maintain a cool studied elegance in its design. This car might not quite equal the beautifully long and sleek profile of its predecessor but there's more of a sinewy tautness about its lines, resulting in an imposing road presence. The sheer size of the A8 helps instil the necessary gravitas with measurements of 5,137mm for the length and close to two meters for the width. Audi's familiar single frame grille and stylish LED embellished headlamps characterise the front.

Audi vehicle interiors rightly remain the envy of the world and the A8 just finesses the details up another couple of notches. There's a wide choice of different leathers, trim inlays in wood and metal, seats and technology features but the basic layout conforms to Audi's usual policy of clean design and the highest quality.

The latest version of the excellent MMI control interface marshals the ancillary controls on a colour display screen that glides out from the dash. It helps the A8 do a better job than any of its rivals of keeping the dreaded button clutter to a minimum. Special mention must go to the gorgeous aeronautical gear lever than makes you feel like you're bringing a 747 in to land. There's also a touch pad on which drivers can trace letters with a finger to input destinations to the satellite-navigation system.

The options list on the A8 is humungous but quite a bit of the technology comes as standard. SE and SE Executive trim levels are available with even the standard car getting leather trim, multi-adjustable powered seats, a satellite navigation system with a 60 gigabyte hard drive, keyless start and Xenon headlamps with LED running lights. The SE Executive adds a powered boot lid, the Audi Parking System reversing camera, keyless entry and 19" alloy wheels.

The A8 goes up against a small but select group of luxury saloon rivals led by the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the BMW 7 Series. Jaguar's XJ and the Lexus LS will also be competing for the attentions of the same well-heeled buyers. A look at the options list also confirms that it would be quite possible to specify an A8 up to the considerably higher price point where super-exclusive models from Porsche, Bentley and Maserati reside. A 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, a rear seat entertainment system with a pair of 10" LCD screens, adaptive cruise control, Night Vision assist and a set of 20" wheels can quickly tag £20,000 onto the asking price.

Even in a car this opulent, heed must be paid to issues of efficiency and running costs. All A8 models have Audi's Recuperation system which recaptures kinetic energy to charge the battery when the car is coasting or braking. Increased use of lightweight aluminium construction also helps by shaving weight and this A8 is as much as 200kg lighter model for model than the previous generation car. These measures and many others help the petrol V8 to nearly 30mpg on the combined cycle with 219g/km CO2 emissions. The V8 diesel manages 37mpg and 199g/km.

At the top of the Audi model range and close to the pinnacle of the world luxury car market, the Audi A8 is there to be shot at from all sides. It's a vulnerable position and the only protection available is rooted in its own in-built excellence. The A8 is a showcase for the Audi's best and most advanced technologies. Aluminium construction, quattro all-wheel-drive, advanced petrol and diesel engines - they're all there and they come together with Audi's classy design and robust build quality to make a formidable motorcar.

TOP 5 A8 DEALS

The results below show the top A8 deals on buyacar

Audi A8 3.0 TDI Quattro Executive SE 4dr Tip Auto Diesel Saloon
Price £51,397 Read A8 Reviews	Save £7,803
Audi A8 3.0 TDI Quattro SE 4dr Tip Auto Diesel Saloon
Price £49,157 Read A8 Reviews	Save £7,438
Audi A8 4.2 TDI Quattro SE LWB 4dr Tip Auto Diesel Saloon
Price £60,671 Read A8 Reviews	Save £9,264
Audi A8 4.2 TDI Quattro SE 4dr Tip Auto Diesel Saloon
Price £57,137 Read A8 Reviews	Save £8,708
Audi A8 3.0 TDI Quattro SE LWB 4dr Tip Auto Diesel Saloon
Price £52,617 Read A8 Reviews	Save £7,993
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