[ad_1]
If you are on the market for a large luxury salon, your choice is probably between the German Big Three-Der Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the BMW 7 Series or the Audi A8.
Yes, of course there are more options for the left field, including Jaguar XJ, Lexus LS and Maserati Quattroporte, but it is the Teutonic trio that sewed this sector.
First impressions
The new (rich) child on the block is the Audi A8 of the fourth generation – larger, more technically progressive, more efficient and more efficient than ever.
It was available from £ 69,415 and in standard or long wheel wheel, it was awarded the best luxury car at the World Car of the Year Awards 2018.
Like many Audis before, you could have difficulty distinguishing the new A8 from the outgoing model.
At first glance, the changes are more evolutionary than revolutionary. For example, there is a flatter, wider frame cooler grill at the front, floating lights with full width and subtle humps over the wheel boxes.
With regard to the size, the new flagship from Audi is slightly higher and longer (5.172 meters) than its predecessor, which both puts the BMW and the Merc in the shade.
However, the size is not everything and it is the complete package that is important, especially if you buy a car that can end up at £ 80,000 if you start the tempting list of treats on the option list.
And for some buyers it is the impressive advanced technology of the A8 that could help swing Audi’s decision.
For example, Audi claims that the new A8 is the first production car that was specially developed for highly automated driving. With the gradual introduction of autonomous Audi Ai Parkpilot, Garage Pilot and Staupilot functions from 2018.
When the AI Staupilot is active, it takes over to slow traffic and controls all the necessary driving functions up to a speed of 37 km / h.
It is the first technology that could make it possible for a driver to carry out other tasks in the car and not pay attention to the street, as it can be transmitted from the standstill, accelerating, steering and braking on the lane.
However, Audi cannot enable self -driving characteristics in Great Britain due to the applicable legislation.
For many, the sign of a luxury car is space, and there is a lot of it in the A8, in which the lines are clean, simple and modern and the hectares of leather and excellent processing quality give a lush feeling.
In the middle of the dashboard there is a practically button-free dual touchscreen setup. The upper is for infotainment and navigation, especially for climate control, but it also hides a scribble pad that you can write on (a bit like the small touchpad that was found on the outgoing car).
The system is intuitive and a pleasure to use, the graphics are smooth and incredibly detailed (especially with Google Maps), and the touchscreens have haptic feedback that gives an impression of a button that is pressed. There are also Audi’s familiar and excellent, virtual cockpit display in front of the driver.
Engine options
The A8 is initially only available with two 3.0-liter turbo engines-a 3.0 TDI diesel, the 282 hp (9% for the previous car) and 600 Nm torque as well as a 3.0 TFSI petrol gasoline 335 BHP and 500 Nm developed.
Depending on the wheel size, the diesel emits 145-152 g/km CO2, while the figures for the gasoline are 175-182 g/km.
With a time of 0.9 seconds and a top speed of 155 km / h, the diesel is able to do a top speed of 5.6 seconds (5.7 seconds in the long -wheel version) and a top speed of 155 km / h delivers.
Both are combined as standard with a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission, and the diesel (50.4 MPG) is surprisingly economical in particular, while the gasoline returns a decent 37.7 MPG.
How does it drive?
I have tested the diesel version, which is now confusing as Audi A8 50 TDI Quattrro – and the first impressions are excellent.
First of all, there is a weak indication that there is a diesel under the bonnet, but from then on it is excellently refined, while the cabin is generally well destroyed.
The A8 pulls smoothly and powerfully, and as you would expect, there is also the possibility to change driving modes (comfort, dynamic, individual, automatic and efficiency). Nevertheless, leading limousines like this are not about the performance level of the route, but about effortless and luxurious. The A8 makes the big and floating, but not in a bad manner with excellent traction, thanks to its quattro all-wheel-wheel system.
In general, it hides its mass well, even though they are aware of its size in the city and on smaller country roads. Thanks to an all -wheel drive mechanism that makes the turning circle of the A8 “smaller than that of an A4”, it is surprisingly easy to maneuver in the city, even though you need a large parking space.
The chauffeur in the A8 is also a special experience with impressive legroom, magnificent seats, individual controls and excellent perspective, while the boots beats 505 liters of luggage.
Audi A8: The judgment
The Audi A8 is a beautifully built, reserved luxury imalone that is a pleasure to drive or be driven in. Powerful, smooth and sophisticated, it is full of technology and is a worthy shop window for Audi lead in diameter technology.
[ad_2]