The A8's facelift is part of Audi's busy campaign to update models, writes Michael McAleer, Motoring Editor
Prepare for a serious market assault by the Audi brand in Ireland over the next two years. Amid preparations for the takeover of Irish operations by the German parent company in October 2008, Audi is busy expanding and updating its product line-up while recording new sales records.
Over a year before the Germans take over the reins, the four-ringed brand is set to top 5,000 sales for the first time later this month; and that's before the arrival of an all-new A4 model range. When it arrives here in January, it will join a growing line of new models and updated ones launched this year.
Last weekend saw the Irish arrival of the R8 sports car, which is now on sale with prices starting at €159,020. It follows the recently introduced A5/S5 coupé range and a facelifted flagship A8.
This is the latest tweaking to the A8 model range first introduced in 2005. Since then the car has got a mild makeover to the front, adopting the single grille format introduced on A3 and A6 some time ago. Now it's getting the latest mid-life facelift, this time featuring new LED lights at the rear and an additional entry-level engine in the range: a 2.8-litre V6 petrol. This offers 210bhp and 280 Nm of torque, while a mix of eight seconds from standstill to 100km/h and 8.3L/100km means there is a decent performance matched with relative fuel efficiency.
We were surprised how well it carried the large Audi along, but it is not quite as quiet or as smooth as the rest of the range. In reality it is offering a new entry-level price to the range, but it's unlikely to offer much of a challenge to the most popular engine in the range: the 3-litre TDI which represents 80 per cent of A8 sales.
The diesel is still the best all-rounder and anyone buying an A8 would be hard-pushed to look for any other version, particularly if they have to consider the future resale value of the car.
The most distinctive - and admirable - changes are the LED lights at the rear. Other premium brands have dabbled with LED lighting before but they always turned out rather garish. Here they look smart and distinctive.
While all seems rosy at Audi, there is some sad news to report. As the performance RS4 model shares its production platform with the current A4, the ending of the mainstream model's production sounds a deathknell for the current RS4 range.
That means fans will have to wait at least three years before seeing an RS version of the new A4 model. By that time the Germans will be well settled in their new roles in Ireland, with eyes firmly set on challenging BMW and Mercedes for top spot in the premium market.