Audi A8 Review, Specs & Performance

Overview of the Audi A8

Comfortable luxury saloon

Spacious interior impresses

The Audi A8 is an incredible luxurious saloon that pushes technology to its limits in several areas, including the opportunity of full driving automation. The A8 offers the best level of performance and luxury compared with its rivals and is deservedly a flagship model for the carmaker.

Engines and performance for the Audi A8

The excellent levels of performance come from a 3.0 litre TFSI petrol unit and a 3.0 litre TDI engine. The diesel unit produces 286 PS with the petrol version offering 340 PS. There's also an eight-cylinder 4.0 litre TDI unit available producing 435 PS plus the top engine is the firm's W12 which is a 6.0 litre diesel powerhouse. Audi has also installed mild hybrid technology so the car is able to coast without the engine switched on and will restart smoothly when necessary. There's also a plug-in hybrid, the Audi A8 L e-tron which has an electric motor delivering 449 PS with the 3.0 litre TFSI unit. The all-electric driving range is around 31 miles.

Equipment and handling

The latest version of the Audi A8 is much bigger than its predecessor, which helps create more space on board but it's for the intricate details and bespoke qualities that really impress. The seats have leather upholstery with four adjustment options along with a footrest for the rear lefthand seat passenger. The lucky occupier of the seat will get to enjoy a footrest that will massage and warm the soles of their feet with various settings plus the rear seat passengers have a range of functions to enjoy including a seat massage, HD matrix reading lights and ambient lighting. The main market for the Audi A8 will be as a limousine and the rear seat passengers can also make private phone calls with a separate operating unit located in the central armrest. The instrument panel is also impressive with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display and the driver controls the infotainment system which has fingertip controls. However, many potential owners will be interested in the automated driving with the traffic jam pilot taking charge of the car in slow-moving traffic - in the UK, however, the driver will still have to keep their hands on the steering wheel. There's also the firm's excellent virtual cockpit which utilises a high resolution 12.3-inch display. Whether you will be the driver of the Audi A8 or, more likely, a being driven around in it, the car offers luxury, excellent performance and impressive levels of technology and equipment to make this an incredible all-round offering as a flagship model.

More information about the Audi A8

Why not have a look at the A8 on the official Audi UK company website.