Audi A8 2006 review

Midway through 2006, Audi added the option of a turbo-diesel to its topline A8 series. Thus becoming the first of the big German marques to offer an economy engine in its top line model.

Diesels are renowned for their low fuel consumption, but there are those who question the need for fuel economy in a $210,000 motor car. That’s missing the point, because low fuel consumption also means lower emissions of greenhouse gases and rich people are often looked upon as trendsetters. 

Audi's catchline is that it advances through technology (Vorsprung durch Technik in German) and the marque has long had a reputation for leading the way with the latest in high-tech automotive engineering. Those who love to have the latest may well embrace the new Audi A8 diesel.

Other major high-tech features of the Audi A8, in petrol as well as diesel guise, are all-aluminium construction and all-wheel drive. The latter using Audi's famed quattro system to better differentiate the amount of power provided to each wheel from moment to moment.

But enough of the history and philosophy behind the new Audi A8 diesel. What's it like as a car? Or to be more precise as a luxury limousine, because this machine really does sit at the pinnacle of the Audi lineup.

To find out, we have just spent a week at the wheel of an Audi A8, as well as some time riding in the back seat to find out how the pampered few travel. Indeed, let's start in the rear seat. There really is a feeling of quality and luxury in the leather, wood and aluminium interior. 

The seats are set out for two rather than three, though a third can travel in reasonable comfort should there be the need to carry five.

There's plenty of stretch out space from the point of view of width and headroom. Legroom is plentiful, though not quite to stretch-limo standards, should those sitting in the front seats chose to have their seats a long way back they will start to intrude into the rear-seat space. Not badly so, but if your bosses are back there it would be a good idea to pay attention to the amount of room they have!

There really is a feeling of quality and luxury in the leather, wood and aluminium interior.

Ride comfort and noise reduction are features of this large Audi. It’s at its best on smooth motorways because its natural territory is the high-speed autobahns in Germany, but it can cope with the vagaries of rough Australian roads pretty well. Though there's a deliberate sporting note in the way the suspension is set up the system is variable and generally smoothes everything right out. 

Which brings us back to the driving seat, because that really is the only place from which to sample a big German limo. Audi A8 has heaps of road grip and the relatively low weight achieved by using an aluminium body means its much more nimble than you would expect for a car of this size.

Steering is responsive and there's good feel through the wheel as well as by way of the seat of the pants. A sports machine it isn’t, but it comes a lot closer than you might expect.

Power for the Audi A8 turbo-diesel comes from a big 4.2-litre V8 turbocharged unit with a hefty 650 Newton metres between 1600 rpm and 3500 rpm, so almost all drivers will have the engine in its most efficient range virtually all of the time.

The engine has a tremendous surge of energy and can power from a standstill to 100 km/h in only 5.5 seconds. Better still, it can use its enormous torque to overtake cleanly and safely, as well as to haul the big car up hills almost as though they are not there.

Only at idle do you notice that this is a diesel car, and then only those outside are likely to hear the slight diesel rattle generated by the big V8.

Fuel consumption during our testing typically ran at eight to nine litres per hundred kilometres on open country roads and motorways, and climbed to a still respectable 11 litres per hundred in suburban and city driving. These excellent figures indicate the big advances made in TDI engines in the last few years.

Audi A8 turbo-diesel is a superb car that provides an excellent display of high-technology automotive engineering. Anyone who wants to be seen as a trendsetter and who cares for the air we all breath should at least arrange to give one a serious test drive.

Model Range

A8L 3.2 FSI 3.2-litre four-door sedan - $159,000
A8 3.7-litre quattro four-door sedan - $169,950
A8 4.2-litre quattro four-door sedan - $203,000
A8 TDI 4.2-litre diesel quattro four-door sedan - $210,000
A8L 4.2-litre quattro four-door sedan - $218,100
A8L 6.0-litre W12 quattro four-door sedan - $326,00