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Audi A8 L 60 TFSI e Plug-in Debuts as €109,000 Discount Bentley Flying Spur

Audi is slowly adding plug-in hybrid powertrains to all its cars, the latest launch being the A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro. This has to be one of the most long-winded names for what's essentially a flagship.
Audi A8 L 60 TFSI e Plug-in Debuts as €109,000 Discount Bentley Flying Spur 20 photos
Photo: Audi
At 109,000 euros in Germany or $120,350 in America, this has to be the most expensive Audi plug-in ever to be made, at least until the RS6 and RS7 performance models receive their electric motors. Yet we think it's cheap, partly because other Audis cost as much, but also due to Bentley.

The new Flying Spur is being launched right now, and it owes much to the A8 L. Both are about the same size at 5.3 meters, and without Audi's technology and money, Bentley wouldn't have a good Conti sedan, as it borrows the TFSI-infused W12, the rear wheels steering or even some of the buttons.

This engine too. It's on the Bentayga Hybrid and soon the Flying Spur. The internal combustion part is handled by a 3.0 TFSI with one turbocharger making 340 HP, the same as in the 55 TFSI. Between it and the AWD system, Audi places an e-motor worth 136 HP to give 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque available from just 1,250 rpm.you a combined 449 HP and 700 Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque available from just 1,250 rpm. We suspect this powertrain is going into the Q8 too, as it was part of the Q8 Sport concept.

By now, it should come as no surprise that plug-in hybrids aren't slow if the Germans make them. The A8 L 60 TFSI e quattro will get from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). That's only slightly slower than a Panamera E-Hybrid.

As for the boring stuff, there's a 14.1 kWh lithium battery, which isn't huge by any standard. It supposedly gives the A8 an EV range of 46 km (28 miles) and won't need V6 power until 135 km/h.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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