Audi A8 Saloon (10 on) - Review

Two engines are initially available in the A8 line-up - one diesel and one petrol. The 4.2-litre FSI petrol is the top-of-the-range choice and this silky smooth unit has an impressive turn of pace with 0-62mph coming up in a mere 5.7 seconds. The V8 sounds great on start-up or when pushed hard, but the rest of the time, it's happy to quietly purr away. However, when you do require quicker performance, it provides effortless and non-stop acceleration with plenty of low-down grunt. Despite this, it can still return a healthy 30mpg - not bad for an engine with 372bhp. The other choice is a 4.2 TDI with 350bhp and huge amounts of pulling power - as you'd expect from a V8 diesel. Amazingly, this is actually slightly quicker than the petrol from 0-62mph, taking just 5.5 seconds - quicker than a Porsche Cayman. In truth there's little to choose between them from behind the wheel, the FSI has the edge in terms of its wonderful sound and free-revving nature, but the sheer low-down power delivered by the TDI means it feels instantly quicker. Perhaps the biggest factor is the 37mpg the diesel returns. In September 2010 the 3.0 TDI is introduced - the most popular engine in the range. There are two versions available - one with the quattro four-wheel-drive system and one with a standard front-wheel drive set-up. The quattro model boasts 247bhp and although it doesn't have the immediate pace of the more powerful 4.2 TDI, it's certainly no poor relation with plenty of in-gear acceleration. 0-62mph comes up in 6.6 seconds yet it returns 43mpg - an improvement in economy by 27% over the previous model. CO2 emissions have been reduced by 22% to deliver 174g/km - better figures than equivalent models in the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class ranges, neither of which offers four-wheel drive. The non-quattro 3.0 TDI has less power with 204bhp but is even more economical with an average of 47mpg - a remarkable figure for a car of this size. An eight-speed automatic tiptronic gearbox comes as standard on all cars and delivers incredibly rapid yet smooth shifts. The new system uses 'intelligent' technology and the eight-speed tiptronic gearbox will not allow you to change up before a corner. The A8 is able to do this through its communication technology: the sat-nav tell the central computer where the car is on the road and if you are too near a corner the driver will be unable to change into a higher gear. It also features steering-wheel mounted paddle shifts, allowing you to control the gears yourself. In 2010 Audi has exclusively added the flagship 491bhp 6.3-litre W12 FSI engine to its long-wheelbase version of the A8. Acceleration is stunning. The most powerful engine on the range can get the A8 L from a standing start to 62mph in 4.9 seconds. The A8 L has a top speed of 155 and is electronically limited. The engine is mated to the tiptronic automatic gearbox.

The A8 is a great all-rounder - smooth and relaxed on the motorway but happy tackling tight corners or country lanes. This is helped by the excellent Audi Drive Select system which comes as standard. It allows the driver to fine-tune the throttle response, steering assistance, gearshift points and air suspension settings across pre-set levels - comfort, automatic and dynamic. There's a noticeable difference between the three, but the automatic setting is so capable, it tends to be most drivers' default choice. All models, with the exception of the lower powered 3.0 TDI, come with the renowned quattro four-wheel-drive system as standard. This means extra reassurance and grip when accelerating hard, or when cornering in wet or slippery conditions. The air suspension guarantees a superbly forgiving ride and the A8 is incredibly stable and reassuring at high speeds. The only minor criticism is the steering - it's responsive and direct, but feels quite artificial, especially through tight bends.