Audi A8 gets more power, more equipment and a new Sport spec

The Audi A8, Audi’s flagship saloon, gets updated for 2015 with more power for the diesels, lower emissions, more equipment and a new Sport model.

Audi has given the A8 a bit of a shake up for 2015, including an new Sport model, more powerful diesel engines, lower emissions and more equipment, despite which the starting price has only risen by a fiver to £59,585.

The new Sport model – which replaces the old Sport Executive – inherits its looks, to a degree, from the S8 with its S Line bumpers and side skirts and a set of 19″ seven-spoke alloys as well as LED running lights, 600w Bose Sound and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Prices for the A8 Sport start at £65,825 for the 3.09 litre TDI and go up to £76,435 for the really rather appealing 4.2 TDI. Sensibly, as the A8 Sport is aimed at drivers who want to drive and hustle rather than sit in the back, it doesn’t look like Audi are going to bother offering it in LWB guise.

Other updates include HDD Sat Nav and MMI Infotainment for all A8s, Valcona leather, better sound and double glazing for the SE model and reversing camera, keyless, comfort seats and privacy glass for the SE Executive.

Engine tweaks for the 3.0 litre diesel see it getting a whole extra 4bhp (it now has 258bhp) and emissions that dip under 150g/km, and the 4.2 litre diesel now squeezes under 190g/km. Petrol engines – from the 2.0 TFSI Hybrid to the W12 – appear to be unchanged.

The updated A8 is now on sale at Audi’s UK dealers (except the new A8 Sport, which won’t be available until June).