Audi has laid claim to the cleanest luxury carmaker with the arrival of its new entry-level 2.8-litre A8.
Emitting just 199g/km, the 210PS V6 arrives with a raft of improvements for the 2008 model range that brings greater spec, handling and ride.
Borrowed from its smaller A6 brother the 2.8 undercuts the diesel since it drops the diesel 3.0-litre’s four-wheel drivetrain. The 2.8 also gains more efficient direct injection and CVT transmission instead of a thirstier conventional automatic enabling it to average 34mpg on the combined cycle.
Sprinting to 8.0sec the petrol neither sacrifices performance for fuel consumption while slotting into the 26% BIK tax bracket.
Meanwhile, throughout the rest of the range models benefit from tweaked suspension to reduce body roll and greater use of sound deadening to ensure it is amongst the quietest in its class.
Business drivers will appreciate the addition of standard DAB digital radio and Bluetooth hands-free, while, for the first time, blind spot assist (£400) and lane keep assistance (£450) hits the option list. Both systems are new to Audi’s and will eventually appear on all models from the all-new A4 upwards. The blindspot assist detects vehicles alongside and shines a yellow LED in the side mirrors, while lane keep assist employs a camera in the interior mirror that detect if the car strays from its lane sending a warning vibration through the steering wheel.
The new model stands out from old with its gaping single grille and LED strip indicators and rear LED lamps.
The 2008 model range becomes available in October with the fleet friendliest of options, the 2.8, kicking off at £49,995.
To test drive a host of new Audi’s including the A5, TT and Q7 register for BusinessCar Live.
