29 Jun 05
4.2 TDI will crack 60mph in under 6sec; 30mpg economy not to be sniffed at either
Most owners are unlikely to nitpick over the amount of feedback through the steering wheel, but we'd bet that more than a few will complain about the wheel itself. Shaped to mimic the family grille, the steering wheel design looks rather heavy and clumsy in an otherwise superbly executed interior. Wheel aside, the A8's cabin remains one of the car's most appealing aspects. Here, Audi's restrained style and purpose, and the excellent build quality and materials, makes for one of the finest driving environments around. Even the MMI (Multi Media Interface) which controls the many entertainment, navigation and in-car functions, is intuitive to operate after a moment of familiarisation.
It's fantastically comfortable inside, too. The seats offer excellent support, are highly adjustable and leave plenty of room for shoulders, elbows and legs. For particularly lanky rear seat passengers then the long wheelbase version is available with all engines, adding 13cm for around £3,000 depending on the model. The giant boot can swallow several golf bags, too.
Audi has made some changes to the specification for 2005. SE trim is now standard; Sport models can be specified, adding bigger alloys, revised suspension and the like. New to the options list is a sensational Bang & Olufsen advanced sound system and carbon ceramic brakes.
