Considering that this big boy from Ingolstadt has been around since as long as 1994, the latest A8 is only in its third generation right now which means Audi has been taking it slow to get it right. While the latest version has been around for over a year, Audi has now introduced the A8 with the stonking 4.2 TDI engine. ZigWheels puts it to the test!

Get alerts on new cars reviewed by ZigWheels

So, who is the most popular premium luxury car maker in India? Well, if you consider recent sales figures, Audi, the Ingolstadt based car maker makes quite a strong case for itself even as the race for the best gets even more intense. Throwing in model after model in the market, and most of them doing quite well (especially the Q series), Audi at the moment is pretty much at the top of its game.

The latest from the Audi stable is the new A8 L 4.2 TDI. India already had the 4.2 FSI and the 3.0 TDI and the new car will complete the diesel line-up. Like the other variants, even the 4.2 TDI comes in the 'L' (longer wheelbase) avatar. Now the question is, do we really need a more powerful diesel considering the 3.0 TDI is plenty fast already? Let's find out…

Beauty lies in the subtlety

See it coming from afar and you might mistake it for an A6 thanks to the family styling, but as it gets closer you realise it’s anything but an A6. Sitting nice and low, the A8 is wide and how. At almost about six feet wide and a humongous 17 feet plus long the A8 boasts titanic dimensions. Beneath the acres of paint is the brilliant and not to mention very light aluminium Audi Space Frame which weighs almost 40 per cent less than its steel bodied competitors. Horizontal chrome strips that dominate the grille and radar sensors that look like front fog lights are intended to emphasise the A8’s sporty credentials by giving an impression of low-slung width. 

There are no overtly dramatic lines and like always Audi has stuck to its subtle but elegant philosophy. If it’s flash you are looking for, better look elsewhere; heck, even a Toyota Corolla has more curves and drama than this big boy here. But if it's class and character that you’re looking for, this Audi has it by the bucketload and then some.