New Audi A8 Hybrid at Frankfurt – on sale in 2012

2012 Audi A8 Hybrid arrives at Frankfurt

Audi turned up at the Geneva Motor Show in 2012 – just a few months after the launch of the New A8 – with a fully-featured concept of an Audi A8 Hybrid.

At the time we expected them to roll out the A8 with hybrid gubbins by the end of 201, but that didn’t happen. Now, Audi are bringing the A8 Hybrid to the Frankfurt Motor Show next month in full production guise, ready to go on sale in 2012.

The A8 Hybrid in production guise has stayed quite faithful to the concept, but the usual show car fripperies – like big alloys – are gone. In their place sit some very under-sized looking 18″ rims that make the A8 Hybrid look a bit low rent.

But there’s nothing low-rent about the way the A8 is put together or the quality of the interior; that’s pure Audi A8 and very appealing in a Teutonic, understated, it’s-do-nicely-done kind of way.

But the raison d’etre of the A8 Hybrid is the eco-gubbins.

The eco-gubbins on the A8 hybrid consists of a parallel hybrid powertrain with a 2.0 litre TFSI turbo delivering 210bhp, and an electric motor that chips in another 53bhp which, Audi says, can deliver up to 243bhp when working together.

The electric motor goes where the torque converter in the modified tiptronic box would normally live and powers the front wheels and is powered by lithium-ion batteries which live in the boot. They can store enough energy to move the A8 for up to 1.8 miles at speeds up to 60mph. But not at the same time, we think.

The driver does get the choice of an EV mode – which is just the electric motor – ‘D’ where the A8 sorts it all out for itself and ‘Sport’ where everything works together to get you there in quick sticks.

But when it all boils down to it, the A8 Hybrid is only of any use if it delivers decent performance and outstanding economy, and we’re not sure either is anything to write home about.

Performance is a 7.7 seconds 0-62mph and top speed 146mph and average economy comes in at 44.1 mpg. Which, for a big, luxury car are very commendable figures.

But the A8 3.0 TDI quattro gets to 62mph in 6.1 seconds and averages 42.8mpg A lot quicker and withing a gnat’s on economy. And you can bet the farm that the A8 with the green halo will cost significantly more than the bottom of the range A8 3.0 TDI.

Where the Hybrid A8 will score is on NOx and Particulates – which we applaud – but with diesel engines fast catching up with petrols in that regard – and with emissions limits the same regardless of diesel or petrol in the US – that is a weakening advantage.

And one that won’t make it worth paying through the nose for the complicated technology of the 2012 Audi A8 Hybrid.

Unless you need to make a statement.

(19 photos – click any thumbnail for full gallery)

By Cars UK