Audi’s advancement in diesel engine technology has been proved over and over again in the 24 Hours of Le Mans races in the recent years. Some of this expertise has now been employed in the new A8, which makes it as frugal as much smaller cars, along with strong performance. Not that there ever existed an under-powered A8, Ingolstadt still went ahead and bumped up the power output across the range in the 2014 version. The popular-in-India long wheel-base A8 L 3.0-litre V6 diesel now produces 258 PS (up by eight PS) and 580 Nm (up by 30 Nm), which make for effortless acceleration at all times. Driving on the excellent roads on the outskirts of Düsseldorf it didn’t feel too off the claimed 6.1 seconds to 100 km/h. While my personal favourite, V8 powered 4.2 TDI now whips out 385 PS (increased by 35 PS) and a stunning 850 Nm (50 Nm more), hitting the tonne in a supercar-matching 4.7 seconds! In the petrol line-up are a V6 3.0-litre TFSI, now capable of 310 PS and 440 Nm; 435-PS and 600-Nm 4.0-litre TFSI and the 500-PS 6.0-litre W12 beast. The sporty S8 is powered by a 4.0-litre TFSI V8, but here churns out an impressive 520 PS and 650 Nm, dashing from zero to 100 km/h in just 4.1 seconds.
No matter which engine option I drove, the common attribute across the range was the unparalleled refinement, as hardly any noise from the engine bay filters into the cabin. And now adaptive suspension becomes part of the standard fitment, giving the A8 a rather settled ride. Only severe road imperfections, which by the way were difficult to find on these European roads, do find their way through the saloon. But overall the suspension does an excellent job of dealing with undulations. The occupants are perpetually shielded from the outside dissonance, chauffeured in the lap of luxury and bringing them as close to the state of zen as possible on four wheels.
The standard adaptive damper along with the quattro offer impressive body control for this rather big car. Driving on the very fast autobahns and also across a section of the countryside the Audi’s dynamics instilled confidence even over the usual 120 km/h speed limit. Though the suspension in Comfort mode is perfect for smooth sailing in the city, it does tender some body-roll due to the soft setup. Once in Sport mode the saloon stays nice and flat in corners, and the quattro helps to speed up faster on exit. The one drawback was that in comparison to the sporty S8, the A8’s electromechanical steering has a remote, synthetic feel.
Driving aids like navigation and, in some models, the heads-up display are an added advantage and were an absolute boon for me on the unfamiliar European roads. Another small but vital aspect was the blind spot warning system on the outer rear-view mirrors, which lit up, warning me of vehicles approaching from behind, so that I could change lanes in the left-hand-drive car more confidently.
The 2014 Audi A8 will go on sale in January next year in the international markets and is expected to land on our shores shortly thereafter. There would be a slight rise in price in the range, which currently costs between Rs 1.10 and 1.30 crore (OTR, Pune). But this seems justified as the new features and updates enhance the already luxurious, elegant, and beautifully appointed saloon and, at the same time, improve its performance and efficiency. A major challenge for the Audi would be to outshine the latest generation Mercedes S-Class, which has shaken up the international luxury car market with its stellar standards.
Story: Sarmad Kadiri
Photography: Audi AG
