The number of rivals in the luxury-car sector may not be great, but the quality of cars in this market is exemplary, making the A8’s win in this category all the more impressive.
The past year saw Audi lay claim to be the cleanest luxury car maker 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 better spec, handling and ride.
Borrowing its engine from the smaller A6, the 2.8 A8 undercuts the diesel version on price, since it drops the diesel 3.0-litre’s four-wheel drivetrain. The 2.8 also gains more-efficient direct injection and a CVT transmission instead of a thirstier conventional automatic, enabling it to average 34mpg on the combined cycle.
Sprinting to 60mph in 8.0sec, the petrol does not sacrifice performance for fuel consumption, yet still slots 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 the accomplished A8 is among the quietest in its class.
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