17 Jul 2018
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Audi’s fourth-generation A8 sedan rolled into Australian dealerships in late July 2018 and was offered initially with two powertrains in both standard and long-wheelbase guise.
The A8 50 TDI was powered by a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 diesel delivering 210kW/600Nm, while the 55 TFSI used a 3.0-litre turbo V6 petrol pumping out 250kW/500Nm. Both were matched with an eight-speed tiptronic transmission driving all four wheels via the quattro all-wheel-drive system.
Both powertrains included a 48-volt mild hybrid system that the company said helped improve fuel use by 0.7 litres per 100km.
The 50 TDI consumed 5.9L/100km and emitted 154g/km of CO2 and the 55 TFSI used 8.2L/100km and emitted 186g/km.
It was built on the same VW Group MLBevo platform that underpinned the Audi Q7, Q8 and A6, as well as the third-generation VW Touareg and Porsche Cayenne.
The A8 was engineered with world-first autonomous technology that can replace the driver in moderate freeway traffic – the Traffic Jam Pilot was capable of allowing the driver to watch a video behind the wheel in a freeway traffic, at speeds below 60km/h where the multi-lane road is straight and divided.
However, the lack of autonomous vehicle regulations anywhere in the world prevented Audi from offering the tech in any market from launch.
As expected, it was packed with high-end luxury features and the latest connectivity and safety tech, but a lot of goodies were only available in options packs.
