We review the Audi A8 from price to economy and all its features
THE A8 is the car that’s made Audi A-list.
It’s the executive express that has propelled them from being niche Quattro experts, selling 280,000 a year in the 80s, to the world’s second-biggest prestige firm with almost a MILLION sales a year.
Added glitz ... Audi A8
The A8 has been the subtle marketing weapon to add glitz and value to the brand. In a PR masterstroke they cleverly raised their profile by chauffeuring top celebs to the most glamorous parties and premieres.
Catwalk And next week Audi will elegantly make sure the Bafta guests arrive in ultimate style in the back of their sleek A8s.
The four rings logo has become commonplace alongside Gucci, Jimmy Choo and Cristal, adorning red carpets and the pages of Hello and Tatler. Versace and Vorsprung durch Technik are suddenly catwalk pals. Appropriately Audi launched their plush new version of their flagship on Oscar nominee day last week in Malaga. Avatar might be up for nine of the famous gold statues but this new limo is another awesome production with a capital A.
And when it comes to special effects, the A8 can match James Cameron for wow factor. It’s like the Starship Enterprise, KITT from Knight Rider and James Bond all rolled into one.
The interior comes with a wraparound dashboard and a gear selector that looks like it’s come from a £20m Sunseeker yacht, and some beautiful ambient lighting.
But for all the technology on board, it’s very clean, uncluttered and classy — even the wood trim has been varnished by hand. Legroom and boot space are vast, and there is plenty of innovation. The updated MMI multimedia system — complete with a touchpad that allows the driver to “write” a destination into the sat-nav in any language, and boasting a Google search function — and the infrared nightvision system that can spot pedestrians in the dark are the highlights.
There’s also DAB digital radio, Bang & Olufsen music system with 19 SPEAKERS — some of which are ultimate in cool pop-up miniature devices — producing a Royal Albert Hall-like 1,460 watts of power — and seats that MASSAGE you five different ways... two more settings than any of their rivals, Audi were proud to boast.
But in truth it’s not your body that gets massaged in the A8, it’s your ego. This is a car that makes you feel very special. It made me feel like a VIP just standing next to it with my tux on and a £1,000 bottle of Cristal.
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Outside, it exudes success. The huge grille booms towards you like the boss strutting into a boardroom.
The lines on the bonnet and sides are crisp and neat like a perfectly-ironed shirt, the new sparkling LED lamps are unmistakably Audi and have a Roger Moore discerning raised eyebrow expression. It’s Germany’s version of the ultimate English gent. On the road Audi’s flagship feels more like a cruise ship.
There are three engines to choose from, a 4.2-litre V8 petrol, 4.2 V8 diesel and an upgraded 3-litre V6 diesel — a model which will account for the majority of UK sales.
The pick of the bunch is the 3-litre diesel.
Thanks to an aluminium spaceframe that’s 24 per cent lighter than the old car, the new A8 weighs 200kg less than its rivals. Together with a new eight-speed automatic gearbox and energy recovery, it’s remarkably efficient.
For the first time the 3-litre is fitted with stop-start that emits just 159g/km of CO2 and gives you an impressive 43mpg, while even the range-topping 4.2-litre V8 TDI diesel I tested emits 199g/km and returns almost 40mpg. While the 0-62mph time of just 6.6 seconds is impressive, it’s the acceleration thereafter that gives this luxury saloon a racy edge.
It eats Tarmac for fun, floating silently along at high speed like that Sunseeker yacht. The cornering is precise and its nimbleness disguises just how big it is.
With Audi’s legendary Quattro — the only four-wheel-drive in its class — grip is outstanding. The 4.2 TDI and 4.2 FSI petrol also get active sport differential as standard. Together with Audi’s Drive Select system, which allows you to tune throttle response and steering assistance, plus Auto, Comfort and Dynamic modes, the A8 can play sports saloon one moment and cruiser the next.
Over 70 per cent of A8s are company cars and most are bought by older business bosses, which is reflected in the colour scheme. It’s all very clinical in greys and beiges — a bit like the stay-press trousers you find in the back of Sunday supplements. It maybe lacks a little bit of excitement.
But you could also say the same about rivals BMW 7 Series and Mercedes E-Class — they are supremely accomplished, they just lacking in the X Factor. That’s is something the forthcoming Jaguar XJ has in bundles. The Jag will give this Audi its biggest test.
However the A8 is still a very special car — the best yet from Audi — and has interior style and glitz no rival can match.
It’s available to order now, with prices ranging from £54,760 to £63,690. A hybrid will be unveiled next month.
But ultimately it’ll be a case of rolling out the red carpet again for this A8 — it’s going to be a box office blockbuster in its own right.
What to look out for when buying a used Audi A8 Mk3 (2010-)
Audi has a reputation for superb reliability and hassle-free ownership, and the third-generation A8 is no different.
There appear to be no common faults, and there has only been one factory recall (in late 2010) to do with possible breakage of the glass sunroof. This should have been fixed, but check with the dealer before you hand over your cash.