Until recently, the über-limo
class was considered the
pinnacle of automotive engineering.
However, this is no longer the case. There are limits in terms
of how you make a two-tonne
behemoth go, stop and handle, and these were reached a while ago.
The A8 illustrâtes the fact that this class is, basically, in a bit
of a dead-end.
It s effortlessly quick, much
more agile than two tonnes has a right to be, luxuriously comfortable and
quiet, and loaded with more bling than Donald Trump’s jewellery box, but it's nothing spécial because today they're ail like that.
The Mercedes S Class is stitt
the standard setter, Jaguars XJ offers a refreshingly radical take on luxury
interiors and BMW's 7 Sériés is the gun handler.
The A8 is a credible rival.
Start money buys the 184kW 3.0-litre Vo turbodiesel. The direct-injection 273kW
4.2-litre petrol V8 (tested) is $234,000, while the 258kW (and, ahem, 800Nm of
torque...) 4.2-litre twin turbodiesel is $238,000.
AU run an eight-speed auto and
quattro all-wheel drive.
Long wheelbase versions are
also available.
As with the Jag, the A8 uses
an aluminium body so it’s lighter
than most. It's a superb high- speed handler, with a range of adaptive
drivetrain/chassis options from comfort to sports-flavoured.
Audi Australia is also
considering the S8, which runs Audi s new 382kW/650Nm twin- turbo petrol V8
engine and can hit the 100km/h mark in just seconds. An A8 hybrid, also
available in Europe, is being looked at as well.
THINGSWE LIKE
- Falling asleep in the back seat
- Incredibly refined drivetrain
- Fatigue-free long-range bomber
- Beautifulinterior design
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
X Resale values are ugly
X Performance is wasted at our
low speed limits
X Heavy steering
X Boot space isn’t generous
X V8 lacks grunt below 3000rpm
SPEX (4.2i)
✓
Made in Germany
✓
4.2-litre V8 petrol/eight-speed automatic/all-wheel
drive
✓
273kW of power at 6800rpm/445Nrn of torque at 3b00rpm
✓
0-100km/h m 6.4 seconds (claimed)
✓
7.2L/100km highway; 13.3L/100km city; 98 octane
premium; CO émissions are 219gkm
✓
Warranty: Three
years/unlimited kilométrés
✓
Standard: Eight airbags. stability control, 19-inch
alloy wheels. Bluetooth. USB port, DVD. rear caméra, front and rear parking sensors, leather, navigation, swivelling
bi-xenon headlights, power boot lid. TV. voice récognition
✓
Redbook future values:
3yr: 40%; 5yr: 27%
