As well as the 3.0-litre TDI version of the new A8, Audi has another variant that sneaks in below 200g/km, a figure that until recently would have been unheard of among luxury saloons.
The model in question emits 199g/km and is a 4.2-litre 350hp monster capable of 0-62mph in 5.5 seconds yet official fuel consumption is 37.2mpg. The big diesel engine offers a massive surge of power when required, defying the saloon’s (admittedly slightly reduced) bulk in its latest incarnation.
This biggest problem for the most expensive A8 on sale, bar the 6.3-litre range-topper, is that the 3.0 TDI diesel is such a good engine, offering 42.8mpg and 174g/km, that paying the extra £9000 for the 4.2 could be seen as something of an extravagance. An RV of 31.4% is also slightly behind the BMW 740d, which is less powerful but more fuel efficient, so has a cost per mile around 8p cheaper than the Audi’s 138.1p.
That price tag can also be spectacularly pushed up. Our car was fitted with an eye-watering £24,000 of options without seeming like it had a ridiculous number of toys. Beware: it’s easy to go over-the-top on the options list with this vehicle.
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