FearLess Posted April 18, 2020 Posted April 18, 2020 (edited) Why? Well, judged solely on what a luxury limousine needs to deliver, namely supreme refinement and smoothness for the passenger, and low-running costs and low emissions for the owner, the new A8 60 TFSIe is not just simply on a par with its petrol and diesel equivalents, it’s better. But then again, it should be. Both BMW and Mercedes have had plug-in versions of their respective limos on sale for the past couple of years, giving the engineers at Ingolstadt both something to aim for and also the opportunity to make use of the newest hybrid tech on the market. That tech includes a 126bhp ‘permanently excited’ electric motor (like a Porsche Taycan) paired to a more conventional 335bhp 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 petrol engine. The total combined output of 443bhp is sent to all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic gearbox, resulting in some pretty punchy performance. 0-62mph takes just 4.9 seconds (quicker than both the S560e and 745e) and given the run of a German Autobahn it will accelerate up to an electronically-limited 155mph. What's it like? Indeed, with a fully charged battery, the plug-in A8 to all intents and purposes functions like a fully electric vehicle; Audi’s ‘permanently excited’ unit having enough poke for most situations. It’ll even accelerate up to 84mph on battery power alone, making for a beautifully serene experience for passengers, with no engine noise or jerky gearchanges disturbing the relaxed ambiance. When the V6 petrol engine does eventually kick-in, the transition from electric to petrol power is seamless to the point of being nearly undetectable. This, combined with a distinct lack of wind noise, makes the manner in which it accelerates somewhat deceptive, the 60 TFSIe gaining speed like an A380 at takeoff. Should I buy one? Well, it all depends on how you’re going to use your A8. If you cover big motorway miles, go for one of the diesels. You won’t reap the benefits of the electrified powertrain otherwise. However, if you spend a great deal of time in a city, then the 60 TFSIe is a true no brainer. Not only is it smoother than its diesel counterpart, it's quieter than a pair of Bose noise cancelling headphones and impressively frugal – we saw over 100mpg on our inner-city test route. Plus, with a nearly 30 mile all-electric range and a CO2 rating of just 60g/km, the 60 TFSIe is not only congestion charge exempt, but it should also make for a relatively cheap company car, too. If those kinds of figures don’t demonstrate the virtues of electrification, we don’t know what will. Edited April 19, 2020 by -Dark Closed topic / Complete 1 day
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