Audi A8 L W12

What‘s it? Assessing Audi A8 L W12’s plutocratic flagship coming from the driver’s seat is really a little like summarising the RMS Queen Mary 2 following a tour from the engine room, but it’s worth disassembling the helm of the enormously expensive long-wheelbase model just to experience the quilted bludgeon wedged beneath its bonnet. Audi has gone to the difficulty of boring out its W12 engine to six. 3 litres and equipping each one of the 12 cylinders with direct fuel injection. The result‘s a 49bhp increase in output to 493bhp and also a 460lb ft wave of torque at 3250rpm via an eight-speed automatic gearbox. 

What is it like? Those figures could be news to anyone who has got driven the car at normal speeds. The vast petrol powerplant is supposed to become neither seen nor heard, and it also goes about its business using the noiseless industry of a very good valet. However, should the mood take you, there’s sufficient poke at the conclusion from the accelerator to crack 62mph inside a preposterous 4. 7sec. In fact, the A8 never feels quite that quick. 

Instead, it feels like Audi A8 L W12 has gone towards the vast expense of having the earth pulled rapidly from beneath you whilst you hold a steering wheel inside the aural equivalent of the church vestry. Those feelings of disconnect from the surroundings is brought hammering home when one thinks of the unpleasant job of stopping and turning this 2055kg gin palace. There’s enough quattro-inspired stability to handle most misjudged corner entries, but even that potentially stimulating experience is wrought sterile by anaesthetised control surfaces. Should I buy one? Our advice usually is to leave the tiresome act of driving for an underling and retire towards the rear, in which the deluxe surroundings – and 130mm of extra legroom – could be savoured at leisure. Audi A8 L W12Price : £104, 505 ; Top speed : 155mph (limited ) ; 0-62mph : 4. 7sec ; Economy : 22. 8mpg (combined ) ; CO2 : 290g / km ; Kerb weight : 2055kg ; Engine : W12, 6299cc, petrol ; Power : 493bhp at 6200rpm ; Torque : 460lb ft at 3250rpm ; Gearbox : 8-spd auto.