The highly anticipated flagship car from the four rings brand, the 2011 Audi A8 was unveiled at Miami recently, the sporty luxury car features revolutionary features and equipment that is an Audi and Industry first.
Powering the car is the upgraded 4.2 litre FSI direct injection engine producing 372hp, the motor has been reworked to produce more power and at the same time reduce fuel consumption by 15 percent, also on offer is an 8- speed tiptronic gearbox and Quattro system with optional sport differential. After Audi first used the Audi Space Frame (ASF) fifteen years ago in the first generation A8, the 2011 A8 also features an ASF frame that is 40 percent lighter to a comparable steel structure The Audi A8 is bigger than the current A8 and is longer, wider and shorter than its competitors.
The Audi A8 also gets the signature LED treatment as on other Audi cars but with industry first full LED headlights with a rating of 5500 Kelvin. The lights also connect to the navigation system which helps in choosing the preferred light in advance according to the route, this breakthrough feature is an industry first and will make driving easier and enhance safety, this feature however comes as an optional extra. The MMI uses a unique touchpad feature that uses input from the user’s finger to enter data which can help in operating the navigation system or phone, the system recognizes up to six different languages.
Optional extras available on the A8 to name a few include 21 Inch wheels, comfort seats for the driver and front passenger can be adjusted 22 ways; heating, ventilation and a massage feature with five programs and a breathtaking 1400 Watts, 19 Speaker sound system from Bang and Olufsen with 10 inch monitors placed behind the front headrests offering a rich multimedia experience. The 2011 Audi A8 will hit US showrooms by late 2010 and should be worth the wait. Here is the original press release:
“The new Audi A8 - the sportiest sedan in the luxury class
Fascinating sportiness, innovative technology and superior comfort: Audi is bringing the next generation of the A8 to the starting line. The new flagship demonstrates the brand’s proverbial Vorsprung durch Technik with its light aluminum body, its powerful and highly efficient engines, the further improved MMI operating system, new driver assistance systems, the full LED headlights and an elegant interior with a craftsman’s level of workmanship.
With all this technology the new Audi A8 car offers the perfect synthesis of dynamics, perfection in design, workmanship and pioneering efficiency.
“The new Audi A8 is the sportiest sedan in its segment,” says Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “It combines numerous functions in a new and intelligent way. And it’s unmatched in the stylistic elements and impression of the interior.”
The new luxury sedan, to arrive at U.S. dealerships in late 2010, is a technical work of art. Its elegant and forceful body is an aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF), weighing about 40 percent less than a comparable steel structure. The interior is captivating, with its new and spacious design and uncompromisingly high-quality workmanship full of attention to the smallest detail. The comfort on board is first class – from new, emotionally charged ambient lighting to the luxurious, power adjustable seats in the rear.
The Audi A8 combines a new level of intelligence with exemplary and easy operation. Its multimedia interface (MMI) includes a pioneering innovation: Combined with the standard (in the U.S.) navigation system it has a touchpad. MMI touch enables the driver to control many functions intuitively; for example, the navigation destination can be entered by writing the letters on the pad with the touch of a finger.
MMI navigation plus is networked in a novel fashion with the advanced driver assistance and safety systems. It follows the route in advance during driving and provides the data to the control units for the automatic transmission, the headlights and for the ACC stop & go function. Their enhanced intelligence enables these systems to recognize complex scenarios and to make anticipatory decisions to assist the driver. The new technologies include a night vision assist with marking of detected pedestrians, the Audi pre sense safety system as well as – in the course of 2010 – a speed limit display.
Another high-end solution on board the new A8 is the full LED headlights, which use light emitting diodes for all light functions. They give the luxury sedan an unmistakable appearance even in daylight and even more so after the fall of darkness. The revolutionary optics used in these headlights mean a departure from the tubular light modules commonly used today. The full LED headlights herald a new chapter in lighting technology.
The new A8 starts off with a 4.2 FSI with 273 kW (372 hp). The engine affords increased power and torque – but the fuel consumption has dropped by around 15 percent, thanks to intelligent and efficient technologies like the recuperation system and innovative thermal management.
The new tiptronic: eight speeds for more comfort and efficiency
The standard new transmission also plays a large role in increasing efficiency – the extremely convenient 8-speed tiptronic finely graduates its eight gears while achieving a large overall spread. Its control system is purely electronic, operated with an elegant selector level and rocker switches at the steering wheel. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive has a distinct sporty and rear-end character. On request, the sport differential dynamically distributes the forces between the rear wheels.
The new A8 also documents its standing as the sportiest luxury sedan on the market in the chassis sector. The distribution of the axle loads is balanced, and all wheel control arms are aluminum. The adaptive air suspension together with adaptive damping is always on board, forming part of the Audi drive select vehicle dynamics system, also standard. The optional dynamic steering is a supplementary component.
At a glance :
The new Audi A8
Body
- Lightweight and yet ultra-strong aluminum body with ASF design
- Flowing design, full LED headlights on request
Interior and controls
- Luxurious interior with newly developed, spacious styling
- Craftsman-level workmanship, emotionally charged interior lighting
- Advanced MMI operating system, MMI touch navigation system with pioneering operating concept
- Seats with optional ventilation and massage functions, luxurious individual rear seats optional
Safety
- New Audi pre sense safety system for avoiding accidents and for minimizing their consequences
Infotainment and driver assistance systems
- Navigation system of the next generation closely networked with the assistance systems; high-end audio systems and online services
- Night vision assistant with pedestrian marking, adaptive cruise control with stop & go feature and advanced driver assistance systems
Drivetrain
- One gasoline engine, with direct fuel injection and 273 kW (372 hp)
- Consumption improved by 15 percent with enhanced performance
- New 8-speed tiptronic as standard, shift-by-wire control
- Standard quattro all-wheel drive, optional sport differential
Chassis
- Lightweight wheel suspension, balanced axle load distribution
- Audi drive select driving dynamic system including standard adaptive air suspension and adaptive damping, optional dynamic steering
Source: The 2011 Audi A8
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