It hasn’t been crash tested by Euro NCAP – and neither was the previous version – but Audi A8 safety is bolstered by a good track record with the rest of the firm’s models, the A4, A6 and Q5 all receiving the maximum five-star rating.

All, save for the front wheel drive Hybrid model, benefit from quattro four-wheel drive as standard so grip, even in the worst conditions, is generally outstanding. Using the firm’s Audi Space Frame (ASF) all aluminium body means it has a best in class safety performance as well as low weight.

As you’d expect from a car of this class, and list price, the A8 comes with a multitude of airbags, Isofix child seat mounts and the normal ESP stability control. All models also come with Audi pre sense which uses the ESP to detect the inevitability of an impact or accident and primes the front seat belts, flashes the hazard warning lights and closes the gap on any open windows to ensure occupants are best protected.

All models come with a system called Pre Sense which uses the ESP sensors and in the event of an imminent collision will activate the hazard warning lights, close any open windows (or the sunroof) and also tension the front seat belts. It can be upgraded (as an optional extra) to include adaptive cruise control with a stop-and-go function plus Audi braking guard.

The latter triggers various warning levels if it detects the risk of a collision, starting with a visual and acoustic alarm followed by a warning jolt, then partial braking of the car. If the driver still doesn’t intervene it’ll apply maximum braking.

Another option is night vision assist. This employs a thermal imaging camera mounted in the grille with a display on the central screen between the main instrument dials. It can look as far as 300 metres ahead and is designed to concentrate on essentials such as animals and people but is cleverly not blinded by headlights of oncoming vehicles.

Talking of which, after 2013 the A8 became available with the firm’s Matrix LED headlights which use multiple cameras to mask off sections of their light beams so as not to dazzle other road users but maintain full illumination for drivers.

On first inspection compared to a big estate Audi A8 practicality may not be that favourable – the 510-litre boot is well shaped and with a sizable opening but the A6 Avant trumps it with a 565-litre space, and you can’t expand the A8’s luggage space by folding the rear seats down.

However, it’s not all about boot space and the A8, especially with long wheelbase models, can boast of a simply gargantuan interior perfect for carrying passengers. There’s acres of leg, shoulder and headroom no matter what seat you sit in and there’s lots of little storage cubbies around the cabin – there’s even a shallow lidded section of the front door armrests. They might only be suitable for pens or cigars, but it’s a clever use of an otherwise dead space.

It was the A8 that showcased the firm’s excellent MMI (Multi Media Interface) controller and the large colour screen that slides out of the dash top. A touchpad allows you to actually hand write letters and numbers with your index finger which the sat-nav will recognise. And the sat-nav ‘talks’ to the gearbox to factor corners into its gearshifts (using its built-in mapping), avoiding unnecessary cog-swapping.