2010 Audi A8 Reviews

Anyone who is a fan of driving movies will know what I mean when I say The Transporter should up his asking price and add "delivery guaranteed." That is, of course, if he’s upgrading to the new Audi A8 the pricetag now starts at a tickle over $225,000 but there’s a stack more gear, more grunt and less fuel being burnt.It’s subtle, perhaps too conservatively styled, but it feels like it could tackle any sealed road excursion with the best of German composure.VALUEThe 4.2 V8 is priced from $225,904 a $19,000 price rise over the old car, but there’s more vehicle for the money as the wheelbase has grown 48mm to 2992mm, contributing to an overall increase in length to 5137mm, up 75mm.The features list is extensive (and some of the options expensive) but the interior is dominated by a redesigned centre stack and dashboard, with a new multimedia interface. There’s the full sat-nav system which has the touchpad for manual entry of letters or numbers (probably easier for a left-hander to use), a Bose surround-sound 600-watt 14-speaker sound system, power-adjustable seats and quad-zone climate control.The options list includes a Valcona leather trim package for $26,385, plus there's an additional leather package that ups that again by a little over $20,000. Also available are full LED headlights for $2700, adjustable rear seats for an additional $9440, $5500 of heating and cooling for the front seats, the 1400-watt Bang and Olufsen 19-speaker sound system (including subwoofer) at $14,430 so if your bank balance can deal with is then the pricetag could easily approach $300-large and that’s before you get to the safety equipment options.TECHNOLOGYThe drivetrain has benefitted from the latest in engine tweaks, with outputs from the 4.2-litre direct-injection V8 up a little to 273kW and 445Nm, but the increases are offset by the use energy recovery systems, lower internal friction and an on-demand oil pump.Team all that with a very clever eight-speed auto and a lean (for its girth) 1835kg kerb weight and it all adds up to 13 per cent lower fuel consumption the claim is 9.5 but in the real world (with some enthusiastic use of the V8) that rose into the teens.SAFETYTop of the pile in safety equipment is the Audi pre-sense drive safety system, which offers three levels of driver assist systems (up to $10,000 on the options list). The accident anticipation system keeps an eye on the road ahead and will prep the car, warn the driver and then take action if it deems necessary to reduce or avoid an accident. We didn’t test it to that extent but it does get your attention.There’s also dual front and side airbags (front and rear), full-length curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability control The test car had the $5400 optional night-vision system (that uses thermal imaging) and the adaptive cruise control system (with Stop and Go function), but its the former that was tested with interest.The pedestrian spotting function I had dismissed as a bit of a gimmick not just on Audis version either but a dark suburban street with two hidden walkers soon changed my mind.The adaptive headlights also proved worthwhile on a night run, probably saving the life of a dawdling koala on the exit to a corner he was lit up a few valuable seconds earlier.DRIVINGIt might not be a lakeside retreat but it was easy to ask "How’s the serenity?" A very quiet cruiser, the lack of any exterior noise was near the top of the class.The big sedan feels light to drive in its comfort or automatic (the latter the better for most driving) suspension mode, easily taking in its stride road imperfections that would previously have had this breed thumping a little, even riding on 45-profile tyres.Switching through to dynamic mode offers very effective body control without the same level of nervous jiggle that the top handling mode can deliver in such systems. There’s also much less of the remote feeling that some adjustable air suspensions can return.The big V8 sings sweetly but almost too quietly (bring on an S8 please) as it zips with almost no discernible change through the eight gears, swiftly and quietly dispatching of a back road run with unruffled elegance and a grin on the drivers face.The new-look transmission selector, reminiscent of a fighter-plane video game control, makes selecting Sport mode easy but in the other direction more than a few times I overshot Reverse and went into Park at in-opportune moments.The cabin is a beautifully lit cocoon, with comfortable seating and climate-controlled tranquility. If you had to drive from Perth to Sydney there are probably few better machines in which to do it.Unfortunately, not everything worked to plan Audis normally unflappable systems were marred by a sat-nav/infotainment freeze, which included shutting down the Bluetooth. The driver was well looked after by the active bolsters and massage function but the front passengers system stopped and (unlike the infotainment problem) failed to return.VERDICTA seriously capable uber-saloon that covers a broad breadth of duties with aplomb a few niggles did take the shine off and for this money you’d want everything to work.AUDI A8 4.2 FSI QUATTROPrice: from $225,904Engine: 4.2-litre DOHC continuous intake and exhaust camshaft adjustment 32-valve direct-injection V8Transmission: eight-speed tiptronic auto, all-wheel drive with self-locking centre differentialPower: 273kW at 6800rpmTorque: 445Nm at 3500rpmPerformance: 0-100km/h 5.7 seconds, top speed 250km/h (governed)Fuel consumption: 9.5 litres/100km 95 RON, on test 14.6, tank 90 litresEmissions: 219g/km, EU5Suspension: Five-link front suspension, upper and lower wishbones, tubular anti-roll bar, air Suspension (front); trapezoidal-link suspension with wishbones, tubular anti-roll bar, air suspension (rear)Brakes: four-wheel ventilated discs, with ESP/ABS/EBD, brake booster; hydraulic brake assist, electromechanical parking brakeDimensions: length 5137mm, width 1949mm, height 1460mm, wheelbase 2992mm, track fr/rr 1644/1635mm, cargo volume 510 litres, weight 1835kgWheels: 19in alloys.

While I don’t go to bars anymore, to me they're not much different to a new car showroom. You know before you even reach the glass front door that you could exchange a lot of money for fleeting thrills. If it's a luxury car, that thrill could cost you upwards to $300,000 and the next morning's hangover would be $50,000-plus in depreciation. So you want to get it right.Consider the Audi A8, Jaguar XJ and BMW 750i.Compared with the Jaguar XJ, the A8 is unobtrusive. Compared to the BMW 750i, the A8 is feminine. Sashay into a dim bar after dark and you'd immediately lust after the XJ. There's no doubt that with the XJ absent, you'd flirt with the A8 at the bar. If it was the 750i, you'd be attracted but always wonder what's under the skirt. But looks aren't everything.VALUEIt’s unlikely Audi A8 buyers just won Lotto. This, like the BMW and the Jaguar, is an Amex trinket designed for the “love ’em-leave ’em” coolness of the corporate world. Value is, of course, subjective to how much you have in your wallet. Or the colour of your Amex.The A8 is top of the wozzer for high-tech equipment and is the only Audi sedan to get the 4.2-litre V8 engine and eight-speed auto box with all-wheel drive - undeniably an enticing package.Value? Hey, it's your money but there are some strong rivals (two above plus Mercedes and Lexus) so look around.TECHNOLOGYLet me impress you - the A8 is a wonder of aluminium castings and tubes over which is stretched 11 taut body panels, also made of aluminium. The engine is also aluminium and the bits that are left are leather, wool carpet, slices of trees and rubber. There's steel in there somewhere but it's not on show.The V8 comes standard - the 3-litre V6 turbo-diesel is an option - with its impressive eight-speed auto and chassis dynamics that let you dial in the air suspension's firmness and engine/steering response.It has a brilliant sat-nav system and TV, plus lots of buttons and strips of wood and perforated and quilted leather seats.DESIGNIt is contemporary but conservatively styled, appearing that the designer wanted to appease all possible buyers. During the drawing process, he somehow found himself stroll too far into an accountant's loungeroom. The sum of the exotically-made parts is a shape that is taut, trim and utterly efficient,­ but not seductive and doesn't portray the sticker price or the technology beneath its skin.Inside, it doesn't feel big and even the rear seat room isn't limousine class, though there's a long wheelbase version. But, and it's a big but, the workmanship is superb.SAFETYLots of airbags, heaps of electronic aids and the size of the A8 go a long way in attempting to preserve its occupants.There's nothing wanting here and, at nearly a quarter of a million bucks, there wouldn't want to be.DRIVINGOddly, it doesn't feel as big as the dimensions suggest. It sits snugly on the road and it's only until you hit undulations that there's a suggestion that the A8 is made for comfort. The electronically-controlled air suspension can, however, be switched through various degrees to achieve a firm-ish ride and to settle down any blancmange sensations through the corners. This chassis softness is probably precisely what the A8's audience wants, yet it is at odds with the noticeable growl of the V8 engine when the driver massages the accelerator.If you expect this car to leap away from the lights, it does. It's quick but that's not the whole story. The V8 is audible but the transmission's upchanges are almost invisible. All you feel is a slight tug as the next cog is fed through. Audi will let you play with the box, providing steering-wheel paddles to click up and down the ratios, but you may tire of this effort in a car made for serenity, not competition.VERDICTLovely job in terms of quality and technology but buyers may be lured more to the more stylish offerings, such as the Jaguar XJ.AUDI A8Price: $225,904Engine: 4.2-litre V8; 273kW/ 445NmTransmission: 8-speed sequential auto; AWDThirst: 9.5 litres/100km

THE previous Audi A8 had a hi-tech system you don't find in other cars: a fingerprint reader like the ones on business laptops. It could authenticate a driver and then load their preferences for seating, mirrors, aircon and audio. When the car emerged in 2002, this was very novel.TECHNOLOGYIn the new A8, which goes on sale next month, the fingerprint reader has disappeared but there's something else that's exclusive to Audi: a touchpad that allows the driver to input letters or numbers by tracing them with a finger. You might use it to set a destination on the sat-nav or call up a number on your Bluetooth-linked mobile.Audi doesn't say why the fingerprint reader has disappeared; it was presumably not as useful as it seemed. Where a car is used by different drivers, their preferences can be stored on each individual's key. If buyers were demanding it, other carmakers would have followed suit. But they didn't. The fingerprint reader turned out to be a technological cul-de-sac in the car market.Even though it's only just arrived, I suspect the touchpad will go the same way. Each letter must be traced as a capital and confirmation given by the system before moving on to the next. Once you get the hang of it, it's reliable -- except for the letter A, awkward for a company called Audi -- but slow. In right-hand-drive markets such as Australia, you must write with your left hand, the wrong one for most people. Voice recognition is quicker and you don't have to take your hands off the wheel.The touchpad will no doubt appeal to some buyers, but ultimately it's a bit of a gimmick. In the context of the new A8, though, it does the vital job of keeping up appearances. Audi, in common with most carmakers, uses its flagship luxury sedan as its technology spearhead.The A8 is positively packed with new technology. For the first time it has an active cruise control system that can brake to a halt, then get going again without any driver intervention. There's night vision that can recognise and highlight pedestrians, and a system that detects an imminent collision and applies the brakes. There are “intelligent” LED headlights and clever ambient strip-lights in the cabin.These are sophisticated systems that have been finessed to a high level in the A8. However, all of them have already been offered elsewhere. In the equivalent Mercedes, BMW or Lexus, some of this technology has been available for four years or more.Except, of course, for the touchpad reader. Audi has that to itself.This doesn't make the A8 less desirable. But it does make Audi a follower, rather than a leader, in top-end technology. And that runs counter to the brand's carefully cultivated image. The touchpad is the cherry on top of a splendid gateau that's not quite as fresh as it appears.DRIVEThere's a similar problem with another a key claim for the car. “The A8 is the sportiest sedan in the segment,” says Audi Australia's managing director Uwe Hagen. That's a big call against the new Jaguar XJ, BMW 7 Series and even the stately Mercedes S-Class.On vital statistics, the A8 compares fairly well. It's a bigger car all around than before, but weight gains have been minimised by aluminium construction, which Audi pioneered in this segment in the mid-1990s. The 4.2-litre V8 under the bonnet has been made 13 per cent more fuel efficient -- helped by a new eight-speed automatic transmission -- but can still propel 1.9 tonnes to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds.The all-wheel drive system splits torque 40:60 front-rear, in common with most upmarket Audis. The aluminium suspension features adaptive dampers and a sports differential, which can divide torque between the rear wheels.Audi always makes sweet-sounding engines and this V8 plays a typically enticing tune, with the volume turned down a bit for the sake of refinement. The pace doesn't feel electrifying, but it's sufficient. It's as quick as the 5.0-litre V8 Jaguar XJ, which is lighter, but a half-second slower than the 300kW BMW 750i.The launch drive in Queensland, up a winding road to the Atherton Tablelands, made the most of the Audi's strongest dynamic virtue: grip. The all-wheel drive system hangs on tight and makes the car secure at speed through tight corners. In wet weather on tricky roads, it would be a boon.For the purist, though, rear-wheel drive will be more involving and, unfortunately, Audi's claim of sportiness comes unstuck elsewhere. The body rolls around quite a lot, even on dynamic settings, and the weight transfer side-to-side or front-rear isn't as controlled as rivals achieve.The steering is inert and it's hard to dial in a corner without lots of little adjustments, while bumps send shudders through the wheel. The brakes are easy to modulate -- they often feel over-assisted in Audis -- but they're a highlight in an otherwise less-than-engaging experience.The same engineering that makes the A8 a place-getter in the sporting stakes also handicaps its bid for luxury supremacy, with a ride quality that's too floaty in comfort setting and too jittery in other modes. Despite these qualifications, the A8 is undeniably a lovely car, fitted and finished to Audi's exemplary standards. If it's optioned to the max, you will want for very little.DESIGNThe cabin, especially with satin metal trim, is one of the most appealing at this level. The seats are excellent and the range of adjustment is the most comprehensive I've seen. You could probably fold the front pew into an origami animal, with enough patience. Audi has overhauled its control system for the car and aside from the aircon, which still requires too many button-presses for simple functions, it's first rate.The A8 is also competitive on boot space, although one surprise was less-than-generous space in the rear of the cabin. This is odd given the car's additional length, although it's probably explained by the fact the A8 will eventually be offered as a hybrid. Some of the extra real estate has been set aside for the electric gubbins. The hybrid is unlikely to be offered in Australia, but a 184kW turbo-diesel V6 will join the V8 towards the end of this year.The exterior of the A8, while obviously new, works within the brand's design parameters. That's enough to make it feel attractively modern, if oddly conservative. In design terms, Audi is the strongest of the German carmakers and the A8 reinforces this reputation through consistency rather than innovation.VERDICTThe A8, like its predecessors, arrives as a contender in the top luxury segment rather than its heir apparent. Most Australian customers at this level go for the other Germans, with a new Mercedes S-Class selling as many in one year as the previous A8 achieved over its entire life cycle.This is unlikely to change, even though this A8 is both more efficient and less expensive than its rivals. The A8's real significance is this: having unveiled a lot of technology for the brand, Audi can quickly move it into other models.In the race to make premium cars in as many niches as possible, Audi has been streaking ahead. In the eight years since the previous A8 appeared, it has added multiple new model lines, including the A5 junior executive, the R8 supercar and two SUVs, the Q5 and Q7. Within a year or two, we'll see an A1 entry model below the A3 hatchback, a smaller Q3 compact softroader and much more.Once the A8 has done its job as master of ceremonies for new technology, Audi can fit it into the smaller premium segments where it will wow the young, fashion-conscious buyers it's chasing most effectively. Because at this level, there are few extra sales to be had.AUDI A8 - $225,904 plus on-road costsVehicle: Large luxury sedanEngine: 4.2-litre V8Outputs: 273kW at 6800rpm and 445Nm at 3500rpmTransmission: Eight-speed automatic, all-wheel driveRead more about prestige motoring at The Australian.

The new Audi A8 is seen as the flagship for the brand but also a forerunner for the brand's future direction, including the small A1, the recently-unveiled A7 and the new A6, all set for 2011 appearances.The company's A8 flagship is aiming to be seen as progressive, luxurious and still a driver's car, but it's hard to get past the immense amount of technology within its aluminium body and spaceframe.Safety systems, interior design, materials and features are all contributing to the A8's target of being desirable and prestigious.New Audi Australia managing director Uwe Hagen has been looking forward to the release of the company's new flagship, calling it the ambassador for the future.The new A8 is priced from $225,904 and is due to go on sale in September, the three-litre TDI model is due before the end of the year and the 4.2 turbodiesel is coming in 2011.Engines and gearboxesThe launch model is powered by a 273kW/445Nm 4.2-litre direct-injection V8 - increases of 20kW and 5Nm over the previous car.The A8 sedan boasts energy recovery systems, lower internal friction and an on-demand oil pump, which with the eight-speed auto all contribute to lowering fuel consumption by 13 per cent, from 10.9 to 9.5 litres per 100km for the petrol V8.Coming later this year will be the 3.0-litre turbodiesel V6, which offers 184kW and 550Nm, boasting a fuel consumption figure of 6.6 litres per 100km and emissions of 176g/km, with a 4.2-litre TDI V8 planned for 2011.Both engines have braking energy recovery to store normally-wasted energy in the battery to reduce charge loads on the engine and reduce fuel consumption, but the three-litre TDI only will have start-stop when the vehicle is stationary.The drivetrain is headlined by an eight-speed automatic, teamed to the quattro all-wheel drive system that runs 40 per cent front, 60 per cent rear -- although that can rise to 85 per cent under appropriate conditions.It also has as standard the sport differential (for V8s) that distributes the drive between the rear wheels as well.Equipment, features and pricing.Top of the heap on the safety front is the pre-sense drive safety system, which offers three levels of driver assist systems (up to $10,000 on the options list) in a similar manner to Benz systems, employing the radar cruise control systems with the stop-start technology, braking and suspension systems to assist the driver in avoiding an accident, including rearward-facing systems. There is also a $5400 night vision system (that uses thermal imaging), adaptive cruise control system (with Stop and Go function), lane and blind spot assist systems.Standard fare as you'd expect is considerable - dual front, side (front and rear) and full-length curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability control, electronic centre diff lock and a quattro all-wheel drive system sit beneath the lightweight aluminium spaceframe.The petrol V8 gets the sport rear diff to send drive left and right as required, which is optional on the diesel; sports air suspension is optional on both the petrol V8 and the three-litre diesel.The petrol V8 gets 19-in alloys, the three-litre TDI will arrive on 18in wheels; both will have the option of 20in rims, with latter also able to opt for 19in wheels.Inside the opulent, flowing cabin there is full leather, 22-way power-adjustable seats, full satnav, a Bose surround sound 600-watt 14-speaker audio system (a $3000 option on the 3.0 TDI) with multi-media system including a touchpad for manual entry of letters to search for numbers or locations.Also standard is the quad-zone climate control, with controls in the rear armrest.OptionsThe list of extras is considerable, kicking off with an epic interior leather package that is extremely opulent, very comfortable but also expensive.The Audi design selection in Balao brown is full Valcona leather trim package, includes seats, dashboard, rear comfort head restraints, ash wood inlays, brushed aluminium silver trim inlays - pricetag $26,385.But as they say .... wait, there's more - an additional leather package, full–range option that ups that by a little over $20,000.There are also full LED headlights for $2700, adjustable rear seats for $9440 (which drops the rear seats to two), $5500 worth of heating and cooling for the front seats.The Bang & Olufsen 19 speaker sound system (including subwoofer) with more than 1400 Watts is a $16,950 option on the 3.0 TDI and a $14,430 upgrade on the petrol V8.DrivingIt's a near silent ride in the new A8, apart from a bit of tyre noise which is probably only noticed because the absence of other noise.The new A8 feels light on its feet, with the four-mode suspension delivering a well-sorted ride; even in the dynamic mode the A8's suspension system has been given the smarts to get rid of the jiggle present in some active systems.Audi have boasted that they have not forgotten about the driver and it's a claim with substance.The big V8 sings sweetly but quietly as it zips through the eight gears, with near-DSG quality and speed.The big Audi doesn't drive like a heavy car, topping the scales at just over 1800kg when much of its competition is nearing two tonnes.The optional sound system and seating fitted to the launch car is exceptional in quality but carrying a correspondingly crippling pricetag.Audi A8 sedanPrice: from $225,904.Engines: 4.2-litre FSI direct-injection petrol V8, 3.0-litre common-rail direct-injection variable-geometry turbodiesel V6.Power: 273kW; 184kW.Torque: 445Nm; 550Nm.Transmission: eight-speed automatic, all-wheel drive.Performance: 0-100km/h 5.7 secs (3.0 TDI 6.6), top speed 250km/h (governed).Suspension: Five-link suspension, upper and lower wishbones, tubular anti-roll bar, air suspension (front); trapezoidal-link suspension with wishbones, tubular anti-roll bar, air suspension (rear).Brakes: four-wheel discs, front ventilated, with anti-lock and stability control systems.Fuel consumption/capacity: claimed 9.5 l/100km (3.0 TDI 6.6), on launch drive 13.5, tank 90 litres.Emissions (g/km): 219 (3.0 TDI 176).Dimensions: length 5137mm, width 1949mm, height 1460mm, wheelbase 2992mm, track fr/rr 1644/1635mm, boot 510 litres.Weight: 1835kg (3.0 TDI 1840kg).Rivals:BMW 7 Series, from $203,000.Lexus LS460, from $191,164.Mercedes-Benz S-Class, from $214,900.Jaguar XJ, from $246,000. 

The best part of a decade ago, Audi's second generation A8 was the car that had heavyweight German rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz looking over their shoulder in 2003.A fresh challenger with a technological tour de force that included an aluminium space frame construction and a brilliant interpretation of BMW's own iDrive system -- so good that BMW borrowed facets of it back for their later generations of the interactive system -- the A8 seemed worthy of its place in elite company.While that challenge didn't quite live up to early expectations, here's an early tip for the super-luxury segment leaders: take another good look behind -- because the third generation of Audi's limousine is closing fast.  For their latest offering, Audi has kept the best and improved the rest to produce a car that pleases the eye nearly as much as the senses.DrivetrainsFor Australia, the A8 will arrive for its July launch party boasting a pair of 4.2-litre V8 engines -- a 258kW and 800Nm turbo diesel and a marginally less brutal FSI petrol offering with 273kW and 445Nm. Both engines, driving all four wheels through a standard eight-speed gearbox, are more powerful than those in the outgoing models and yet up to 22 per cent more efficient the TDI boast an impressive 7.6L/100km on the official ADR test cycle while the petrol is an equally frugal (for its size) 9.5L/100km.A 3-litre V6 TDI version will reach Australia by the end of the year, but unlike the front-drive European eco-leader the Aussie car will have quattro AWD and boast fuel economy of 6.6L/100km enough to benefit from the government's sub-7L/100km tax incentives.Pricing and equipmentPricing and specification for Australia have not been finalised but given the likely level of new equipment and the new engines it would be fair to expect some price increase over the $206,600 (FSI) and $211,400 (TDI) of the outgoing models.  Favoured as standard equipment along with the usual raft of safety and comfort technology expected in any luxury car approaching a quarter of a million dollars by the time you get it in the garage are a couple of delight features that will set the A8 apart.Once again, the techno think tank at Audi has taken the MMI (multi media integration) to a new level with the inclusion of a human-machine interface scratchpad that allows phone dialing and navigation instructions to be delivered by writing on the pad with a finger. The integration software recognises the character or numeral and then offers a voice confirmation before accepting the next character.Also expected to be standard on the Australian A8s are adaptive air suspension, comfort seating with 22-way adjustment, the playful ambient lighting which allows for a choice of three mood settings for the interior, parking system with rear camera, adaptive Xenon headlights and 19-inch alloys.If you still have some change left there will be a good range of optional extras including LED headlamps, Google-map ready adaptive cruise control with stop and go function, night vision, lane assist, side assist (which clearly warns of a car in the blind spot), a spanking 19-speaker sound system and rear seat entertainment.DrivingThe A8 is a big car… and you can't help but notice that as you walk around it. Sit inside it and the space equation is again driven home.  There is room to spare, front and rear ... and all of it in an environment of quality luxury styling and trim that lifts this car to the benchmark of anything sub-Bentley. It is quite simply a beautiful execution.Yet, the real magic of the A8 is that it does not drive like a limousine. There is all the refinement at speed and isolation from just about any noise intrusion that you expect from a true luxury vehicle, but the feel of the car and the driving dynamics are that of a sports-oriented mid-size sedan.There is no doubt that the big Audi benefits from its aluminium construction … a claimed 200kg weight saving over a similar-sized steel chassis car is no small thing. But it is more than that.  The chassis and suspension teams have performed a minor miracle in getting a balance of ride quality and connection with the road almost in spite of the adaptive air suspension, a system which across any number of marques has been acknowledged to average off driver's-edge performance for comfort.There is a similar fuzzy definition between the A8s basic comfort settings and the dynamic mode. Ride stiffness and steering feel are ... different ... in the dynamic setting, but not necessarily a great deal more engaging. Where the A8 wins is that even in the basic armchair setting there is still a grand degree of driver engagement rarely found in the limousine class.We simply left the system on automatic and allowed the computers to make their own choices. It didn't diminish the enjoyment of the drive.  Across motorways and dauntingly narrow, steep and twisting mountain roads the A8 rode and reacted with a confidence-inspiring assuredness and the aplomb of a true aristocrat.Power delivery from both the FSI and TDI engines is excellent but there is no doubt that the pick is the diesel which boasts better urge across a wider rev range that, when coupled to the eight speed auto, delivers a seamless willingness to reach for the horizon.The enjoyment of the drive is helped in no small part by the power split through the quattro system that leans towards the feel of a rear-wheel drive giving the confidence to tip the car into even the tightest of corners with the capability of balancing it on the throttle.  What Audi has done for the generational change in the A8 is extraordinary.Whether it will be enough to unseat the reigning segment champions is problematical. What is beyond question is that if you are planning on spending more than $200,000 on a sedan, this car must at least be on the shortlist.Audi A8Price: from $210,000 (est)Engine: 4.2L/V8 FSI, 273kW/445Nm; 4.2L/V8 TDI, 258kW/800NmTransmission: 8-speed automaticEconomy: 9.5L/100km (FSI, supplied), 7.6L/100km (TDI, supplied)RivalsBMW 750i ($274,200)Mercedes-Benz S500 ($289,900)Lexus LS460 ($191,250)