WHY Volkswagen has gone to the trouble and huge expense of producing its first real luxury model, the flagship Phaeton, is hard to understand.
When the German company's Audi marque is quite capable of producing superb products like the new A8 it makes you wonder who will shell out up to £30,000 more for a car with a VW badge up front.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking Volkswagen - it manufactures quality cars and I've no doubt the Phaeton is top drawer, but I think I'd rather pocket the 30 grand and settle for the magnificent new A8.
The original A8, the first with an all-aluminium body, was launched in 1994, and proved a big hit. The latest version, despite stiff opposition from the new Jaguar XJ and BMW 7-Series, should do just as well.
Its new space frame body is up to 60 per cent more rigid, giving the A8 better balance, better road-holding capability and better crash protection.
Its remodelled shape has also managed to cut down on wind resistance and with fewer structural components, this offers further weight saving, resulting in better fuel consumption.
The A8s running gear includes optional adaptive air suspension which gives a superb level of ride comfort, which is to be expected in this class. The air suspension also lowers the suspension at high speeds, giving better grip on the tarmac and improving economy. The suspension, which has four levels, can also be set to give greater ground clearance over rough terrain.
Another innovation is run-flat tyres, which allow drivers to continue their journey for 125 miles at a speed of up to 50 mph, even if the tyre is fully deflated. Handy for those who don't want the hassle of changing a wheel at the side of the road.
I few weeks ago I drove the new BMW 7-Series with its complicated iDrive system which many regard as being over-engineered.
Audi has installed a system similar, but simpler, in the A8. It's called Multi Media Interface (MMI) which controls audio, telephone, television as well as DVD satellite navigation. The MMI uses the same operating principles to control them all, so, as a result, using the retractable dashboard screen and its logically positioned rotary and push button controls becomes second nature very quickly.
I found IMM easy to understand and immediately got the hang of it.
Power for the A8 4.2 I tested comes from a sweet-sounding five-valve per cylinder 335 bhp V8 engine. It offers astonishing thrust which can speed the Audi from standstill to 60 mph in just 6.3 seconds and on to a limited 155 mph maximum.
I managed to get 22 mpg out of the A8, which doesn't seem that great. But I wasn't hanging about and most of the week was spent on fast motorway runs or town driving.
How you drive the A8 is up to you. You can use the six-speed Tiptronic as a full automatic, as a manual shift, or use the F1 paddle system fitted behind the steering wheel.
Most people will simply stick it in Drive and plough on down the motorway, but the optional paddle system is one of the better ones around and can be more fun.
It goes without saying that the build quality is first class and the calmness and peace of the cabin is a tribute to the A8's soundproofing.
Despite being slightly bigger than the outgoing A8, the new saloon handles well. It is agile through the bends with little body roll and the air suspension irons out most of the bumps and potholes on our poorly maintained roads.
Being quattro all-wheel drive, the extra grip instils a feeling of additional security behind the wheel.
Standard equipment on the A8 is mind-boggling. It includes acoustic parking system, double glazed glass, eight airbags, cruise control, alloys, 6-disc CD, electric parking brake, electric mirrors and windows, auto-dipping rear view mirror, traction control, power sockets, anti-lock brakes and much more.
A top class motor which offers all you will ever need for luxury travel.
FAST FACTS
Audi A8 4.2 quattro
Price: £54,980
Mechanical: 335bhp, 4,173 cc, V8 petrol engine driving all four wheels via 6-spd tiptronic transmission
Max speed: 155mph
0-62 mph: 6.3 sec
Combined mpg: 23.5
Insurance group: 19
CO2 emissions: 286g/km
BiK rating: 35%
Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles; 12yrs anti-rust; 3yrs paint