I'LL come clean from the outset and say that so far as expensive luxury cars go, the Audi A8 was never among my favourites.
In fact I always found the series a bit anonymous; certainly no match for benchmark saloon the Mercedes S-Class.
Well it's time for some re-assessment, because the all-new A8, which hit showrooms last month, is a magnificent piece of machinery.
Whether it be the car's elegant yet slightly aggressive style or that state of the art interior, there's no escaping the conclusion that Audi are really on to a winner.
Let's start from the beginning. The A8 is built out of aluminium, something Audi pioneered a decade ago. It is actually based on a developed version of the company's space frame structure in which the panels are connected to each other.
Not only does this provide the basis for excellent performance and handling but it also means the car's weight is around half that of an equivalent steel body.
In the case of the A8 3.7 quattro - there's also a 4.2 litre version for an extra four grand - you are looking at a weight of only 1,770 kilograms, something that benefits both economy and agility.
And if the fuel figures are nothing to jump through hoops over, the car's dynamics most certainly are.
The V8 powerplant blasts out 280bhp, delivered via the proven quattro four-wheel drive system to ensure you never lose traction.
And the conflict between the handling qualities of a sports car and suspension comfort of a limo are resolved thanks to the Audi's adaptive air suspension, the settings of which the driver can control.
There's a standard automatic height, dynamic mode which lowers the vehicle for maximum agility, comfort mode to enable an extra smooth glide over all kinds of surface and a fourth 'lift' setting which raises ground clearance.
Whether you just leave the six-speed tiptronic transmission in automatic or use the paddle shifts on the steering wheel, there's no doubting the kick when you floor the accelerator. So much so that the 70mph warning bleep seems to sound almost instantly.
The A8's interior matches the elegance of the car's profile with a large cabin that boasts sumptuous leather seats, relaxing space for four and a simply arranged dash area.
There's also a neat new layout for the centre console due to the absence of a traditional handbrake lever. Instead an electromechanical parking brake makes its debut, operated via a small pull/push control.
But the interior's real trump card is something they call MMI, or Multi Media Interface. This is a clever yet easy to use selection of a dozen buttons that operate all the audio, sat-nav, TV and telephone functions. There isn't a system around to match it.
Audi's four rings may still lack the kudos of the Beamer or Benz badges but in the new A8 Audi has a luxury car every bit as well crafted as anything its rivals offer.
FAST FACTS
Audi A8 3.7 quattro
Price: £51,050 on the road
Mechanical: 280bhp, 3,697cc V8 petrol engine driving all four wheels via 6-speed automatic gearbox
Max speed: 155mph
0-62mph: 7.3 secs
Combined mpg: 23.7
Insurance group: 18
CO2 emissions: 286g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 12yrs anti-rust .