AN Audi A8 might not seem the most appropriate car to take part in a charity road trip.
Especially as the road trip in question was Bumblebee 1000, which had 60 of the finest supercars in Ireland taking part.
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However press sportscars are in very short supply — it’s mostly EVs and SUVs these days — so I took advantage of a bit of luxury instead and opted for an Audi A8.
But this A8 was the Luxury 60 TFSI e quattro model so wasn’t a diesel, it was a plug-in hybrid.
And power comes from a 3.0-litre, twin-turbo V6 petrol engine that powers the rear wheels.
Then there is a 140bhp electric motor that powers the front wheels for that legendary permanent Audi quattro all-wheel drive.
The combined power output is 462bhp and 700Nm of torque, so it wasn’t far off supercar performance figures.
It means the big, luxury limo was bloody quick, despite tipping the scales at 2,995kg.
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KEY FACTS:
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Audi A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro
Cost: From €111,310 (£91, 075 in the UK)
Engine: 3.0-litre turbo V6 petrol plus 134bhp electric motor
Power: 462bhp (combined)
Torque: 700Nm (combined)
0-100kph: 4.7secs
Top Speed: 250kph (155mph)
Economy: 148.7mpg
Real world economy: 70mpg
Emissions: 49g/km
Rivals: Mercedes S 560e, BMW 745e, Lexus LS
Its all-wheel drive helped it launch from a standing start and hit 100kph in 4.7seconds with a top speed of 250kph.
So the A8’s performance raised a few eyebrows from the other Bumblebee 1000 drivers who were very impressed with how it could easily keep up with the supercar convoy.
The quattro all-wheel drive also meant that the A8 was sure-footed in the shocking wet weather we experienced during the road trip and the extra confidence it gave you on the slippy surfaces was really reassuring.
Imagine the stress of trying to tame a Ferrari 488 in the wet with 700bhp being sent to the rear wheels only.
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The A8 also boasted factory air suspension so was super comfy, especially driving around some of the very bumpy county roads up in Donegal.
And as I approach my big 50th birthday in November, I’m all for fast cars with a comfy smooth ride.
But put the A8 into Dynamic mode and shift the gear stick into Sport mode and it becomes a totally different beast.
This best describes the A8’s angry mode — it goes from executive to exhilarating, the gearbox shifts are much faster, the engine becomes more responsive and you get to use all 462bhp.
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It’s just a pity there isn’t an exhaust note to back up its sporty side, but the majority of the time the A8 will be used to chauffeur around VIPs.
Being a plug-in hybrid the A8 was also economical, driven sensibly of course.
It has a useful electric-only range of around 50km and that came in handy for being able to sneak out of my housing estate in complete silence before 7am without waking my neighbours as we headed to join Bumblebee in Dublin.
If you keep the battery charged then the fuel economy is really impressive and you can see 100mpg and more.
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But even with the battery depleted and gently cruising using just the V6 petrol engine, I managed 34mpg.
Inside the A8 is the epitome of luxury with cream leather seats.
And all the seats, front and back, are heated, plus there’s a heated steering wheel, dual central screens and digital cockpit for the driver, along with every conceivably extra.
And it’s arguably more comfy sitting in the back as there’s so much room and in the centre console you have your own set of cabin controls — but for me, driving always offers the most enjoyable experience.
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