Road test: Audi A8 L

The A8 L has a choice of five engines, two diesel and three petrol units. The base 3.0 TDI V6 diesel produces 247bhp and 405lb-ft of torque. It’s a very good engine: quiet and refined, it only becomes a low growl when the accelerator is prodded and the car starts to gain pace rapidly. And as it can complete the 0-62mph sprint in a very respectable 6.2 seconds, the landscape can change at a surprising rate. However, if you do want a diesel with more poke, there’s also a 4.2-litre V8 generating 345bhp and 590lb-ft. This engine propels the car to 62mph from a standing start in just 5.6 seconds. It does feel a little quicker than the 3.0-litre and the sound that the V8 makes is very impressive, but we’re not sure it’s worth an extra nine grand. The petrol engines follow the convention of the diesels, with a 3.0-litre V6 and 4.2-litre V8. The 3.0 TFSI is a new supercharged unit that produces 286bhp and mirrors the similar-sized diesel in its 0-62mph time of 6.2 seconds. It feels similarly quick and makes the right kinds of noises for a V6. The 369bhp 4.2 FSI V8 allows you to dispatch the 0-62mph sprint in a creditable 5.8 seconds – although it’s worth noting that the additional torque of the 4.2 TDI allows it to undercut it by 0.2 seconds. All the same, the traditional whomping soundtrack of a V8 is there in full effect. The range-topping W12 is a 6.3-litre monster producing 493bhp and 461lb-ft of torque, so 0-62mph is possible in just 4.7 seconds. Putting it in context, that’s the same time as a Porsche 911. It is genuinely rapid: you never forget it’s a big car, but when it starts to really stretch its legs you’re beguiled by the sonorous tones of the engine at full chat. Of course, its utter madness to build a car like this in these cost- and environmentally conscious times, and Audi are unlikely to sell many at £92,515, but you have to admire the German carmaker for being audacious enough to push the boat out.

All A8 Ls come fitted with Audi’s Quattro four-wheel drive system, so it always feels planted, with plenty of grip at its disposal. Indeed, the car handles very well for a car that is this big (5.2m long and 2m wide), negotiating bends and corners accurately, thanks to steering that initially feels quite light, but which weights up nicely as the speed increases. But it’s fair to say that it’s the ride that is going to be the more important element of the A8 L. The A8 L is therefore fitted with an adaptive air suspension system with three presets – Comfort, Auto and Dynamic – that controls the damping and adjusts the ride height. Comfort is likely to be the default mode: it has softness and compliancy that manages to preserve the occupants’ comfort at all times. Auto also offers a perfectly comfortable ride: at higher speeds, it adds an extra edge of tautness to the already well-contained body and lowers the ride height. The Dynamic mode was fine on our test drive over smooth German roads, but we suspect that it might feel on the harsh side when it has to contend with the cracked and broken UK surfaces.

Read the full Audi A8 road test

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