Luxury taken to the next level - The new generation Audi A8

The latest flagship combines revisions to its weight-optimised, predominantly aluminium body with a raft of technological advances including new MatrixBeam LED headlights and an upgraded lineup of EU6-compliant engines.

Built around the lightweight aluminium Audi Space Frame, the almost entirely aluminium body of the new generation A8 has been finessed by subtle resculpting of the bonnet, the single frame grille, the front bumper and the lower edge of the headlight units. New chrome elements, new high gloss black window surrounds and five new colours also mark out the updated car.

The visual appeal, visibility and active safety of the new generation A8 can also now be enhanced by new optional headlights employing MatrixBeam Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology, which sets new benchmarks.

The length of 5,140mm, wheelbase of 2,990mm, width of 1,950mm and height of 1,460mm of the new generation A8 remain unchanged, and this also applies to the A8 L models with their additional 130mm of wheelbase and body length added in the interest of rear passenger space.

The even sleeker new standard and long wheelbase bodies house a choice of seven petrol and TDI engines, the majority of which have been revised to improve performance and efficiency. The supercharged 3.0 TFSI petrol engine is boosted from 290bhp to 310bhp, the V8 twin-turbo 4.0 TFSI moves from 420bhp to 435bhp, the highly efficient 3.0 TDI clean diesel increases from 250bhp to 258bhp and the 4.2 TDI clean diesel gains 35bhp, taking it to 385bhp. Its already mighty torque output is also increased by 50Nm to a prodigious 850Nm.

Paired with quattro all-wheel drive, the 4.0 TFSI now powers the A8 from 0 to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds, but under partial load the Audi cylinder on demand (COD) system deactivates four of its eight-cylinders to give priority to fuel economy. The most efficient diesel engine is the 3.0 TDI, which returns up to 47.9mpg, corresponding to 155g of CO₂ per kilometre. All engines satisfy the Euro 6 standard, helped by friction-reducing measures, which reduce fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent.

In the lavishly trimmed and very comprehensively equipped interior, customers can choose from a new range of upholstery and inlays in new colour schemes. Additions include the woods Fine grain poplar brown-silver and Fine grain ash brown-gold natural as well as the leather Unikat, which is particularly natural-looking, soft and breathable.

Particularly indulgent interior options include front seats with ventilation and massage settings, relaxation seats with powered footrests, electrically adjustable, individual rear seats, a continuous, leather-covered centre console (exclusively for A8 L models) and power-assisted door closure. The Audi exclusive personalisation range offers additional individualisation options for particularly discerning customers.

The new Audi A8 is expected to reach its first U.K. customers in January 2014. More information will be released when it come to Singapore.