A8 – Page 2 – Automobiles Review

2014 Audi A8 L TDI – US Price $82,500

Audi US has announced the pricing of the new 2014 A8 L TDI. The luxurious saloon offers stylish exterior, superb comfort, technology, performance and efficiency. All this comes at reasonable price of $82,500.

2014 Audi A8 L TDI has a 3.0 liter diesel with 240HP (179 kW) and 550Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque. 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 6.4 seconds and an an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city / 36 mpg highway/ 28 mpg combined.

For the 2014 Audi A8 L TDI, the package options were optimized to better reflect customer demand. The available Premium Package now consists of Audi side assist and pre sense rear, 22-way multi-contour comfort seats, font seat ventilation with massage and full LED headlights.

The A8 L TDI joins an expanding model line-up including the A8 3.0T, A8 4.0T, S8 4.0T and A8 W12. The A8 L TDI will be available in the long-wheelbase version only.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD8WDoto-T0

Source: Audi

February 1, 2013

Audi A6,A7,A8 and Q5,Q7 Powered by 3.0 V6 TDI

Audi will introduce the new TDI range in L.A. The range includes A6,A7,A8,Q5 and Q7, all of them powered by a 3.0-liter V6 TDI diesel engine.

The flagship 2014 Audi A8 TDI will arrive next spring and will return a sensational 24 mpg (9.8 L/100km) in city and 36 mpg (6.53 L/100km) on highway. Despite the low fuel consumption, the 3.0 liter V6 TDI is pretty sporty – 240HP (179 kW) and 550Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 6.4 seconds and a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph).

The new 2014 Audi A6 TDI will make its appearance at the end of the month in Los Angeles, before going on sale in fall, next year. The car will come with a lot of extras, driver assistance systems, and Audi pre sense plus for detecting imminent collisions and initiating protective measures.

The beautiful 2014 A7 will join the lineup at the same time as well as the Q5 TDI and a revised Q7 TDI, which will provide 10% tter fuel economy compared to the previous model. The big SUV will be able to return 19 mpg (12.38 L/100km ) in city and 28 mpg (8.4 L/100km) on the highway. The range with a single tank of fuel will be 1126 km (700 miles).

Source: Audi

November 20, 2012

ABT 2012 Audi AS8 – 620HP and 780Nm

ABT Sportsline has announced their tuning package for the facelift of the big limo of Audi – the A8. The project name is ABT AS8 and it comes with both styling and performance packages.

“For us, the new AS8 is the best of both worlds, that is, the best in terms of both comfort and acceleration and agility“, commented Hans-Jürgen Abt, managing director of the globally largest tuner of cars produced by the Volkswagen Group.

“After all, the AS8 has to meet our premium customers’ standards when it comes to performance and luxuriousness.”, he added.

The big 4.0 liter TFSI V8 is boosted to whopping 620HP (456 kW) and 780Nm (578 lb-ft) of torque, this is an increase of 100HP and 130Nm of torque. 0-100 km/h in 4 seconds, 60-100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and 80 to 120 km/h in just 3.5 seconds in fifth gear. 0-200 km/h is faster than Lamborghini Gallardo – 13 seconds.

The top speed is limited to just 290 km/h (180 mph).

Other upgrades include ABT Level Control, which lowers the pneumatically suspended car’s CG.

The styling mods are a set of new ABT alloy wheels available in 20” to 21” and in combination with high-performance tires.

August 20, 2012

2012 Audi A8 Hybrid – production version

Audi has finally announced that the new Audi A8 Hybrid will hit the showrooms this spring. The luxury vehicle is the only European car in this segment. Furthermore, it is the world’s most efficient luxury-class hybrid sedan.

2012 A8 Hybrid is powered by a 2.0 liter TFSI and an electric motor with combined power of 245PS (180 kW) and 480Nm (354 lb-ft) of torque. 0-100 km/h in 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 235 km/h (146 mph). It returns whopping 37.3 mpg (US), which is 6.3 liters per 100 km on combined cycle and CO2 emissions of 144 g/km.

The 2.0 liter TFSI engine features two balancer shafts offset second-order inertial forces to ensure virtually vibration-free and pleasantly quiet operation that goes well with the luxurious character of the A8. All other components are optimized to minimize friction ensuring smooth run. The flow-rate-regulated, pressure-controlled oil pump further reduces fuel consumption.

The electric motor has 45PS (33 kW) of power and 211Nm (156 lb-ft) of torque. Its full power is available practically right from standstill and contributes to a sportily powerful start-up.

The power is put on the road through an 8-speed tip-tronic gearbox.The propulsive power of both drive systems is applied to the road through the front wheels.

The A8 Hybrid comes with state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery mounted in the rear section of the vehicle. It is lighter and substantially more powerful than the previous version. It has a high-strength housing, and a ventilation module ensuring that it always operate within the ideal temperature range.

However, the luggage compartment doesn’t suffer at all – the capacity is 400 liters.

The hybrid drive is designed for fully electric-powered driving up to 65 km/h (40 mph) and for a distance exceeding two kilometers – especially well-suited for driving in the city or residential suburbs.

So everything on paper is just perfect and have to wait a while to see, how the new A8 Hybrid handles the real conditions.

2012 Audi A8 Hybrid - production version — 2012 Audi A8 Hybrid – production version

Source: Audi

March 26, 2012

MTM Tweaks for Audi 4.2 TDI V8

Diesel engines – the workhorses of the automotive industry have been undergoing a status update for several years now. It’s not that unusual to find them in executive saloons, SUV’s and even performance cars. And when one thinks about it, what’s not to like about them? They burst with torque, run smoothly, remain loyal and reliable and are very economical. All these qualities even seem to intensify when we are talking about the magnificent Volkswagen AG TDI units.

German tuning company MTM are well aware of that but being a tuning company, they always see the potential of even more performance. Now their eyes are on the epic 4.2 TDI V8 that can be found in the Audi A8, Q7 and Touareg. The standard 350 bhp are far from insufficient but by applying an MTM special V-Cantronic, the company is able to get rid of the speed limiter and thus take the top speed up to 282 km/h. It’s a delicate procedure this and to whomever might be interested, it costs $1845 to do it (only on the A8). For a total of $2372 one can step it up a notch and amp the power to 410 bhp and 930 Nm of Torque on all vehicles with some MTM technology. Also, again only for the A8, there can be a combination of two Cantronics (an M and a V) which will break the torque barrier of 930 Nm and go even further.

To round things up, MTM are also offering different varieties of wheels, brakes, exhaust systems and chassis components which all give the A8, Q7 and the Touareg some extra character.

Source: MTM

January 31, 2012

Audi dominates ”Best cars of 2012″ Poll

Audi has proved itself very popular within the German community which is rather unsurprising. This year, the German-based magazine ”Motor und sport” surveyed a six-digit number of people to determine the “Best Cars of 2012”. The thing is that many people that took part in the research were from other countries as well – The “Motor und sport” magazine has a fan base in more than 13 European countries, Brazil and China. These are all vague numbers and speculations but the fact remains that Audi is one of the most referred to car makes on the market today.

Gaining 37.9 percent of the participating votes, the Audi A1 is crowned victorious in the battle for the best small car segment. The A4/5 on the other hand, won the best mid-size car title with 24.9 percent of the votes cast.

Runner ups include the Audi A8 which got the second place in the luxury class and so did the A6/7 in the upper mid-size category. The R8 Spyder was left behind the winning SLS AMG Roadster in the convertible segment. Audis were seen on third places as well: the R8 in the sports car segment and the Audi A3 also came in third among all midsize models.

Source: Audi

January 27, 2012

Audi S7 Spot on 2012 Super Bowl

The Super Bowl is as much about the commercials as it is for the football itself. So for the fifth consecutive year, Audi will air a :60 spot during the first quarter of the Super Bowl with focus landing on LED technology. The San Francisco-based Venables Bell & Partners studio is in charge with the creative ad. The only other known fact is that the 2013 Audi S7 sedan will also be somehow featured. The rest can be seen on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012 when the big game starts.

LED usage in headlights first started appearing on Audi’s 10 years ago and the effect on the market since then has been tremendous – virtually every other car maker now offers LED with their latest products. Today, Audi LED lights are efficient and elegant. Traditional lights take 0.2 seconds to engage while LEDs are immediately activated making driving safer, faster. In addition to safety, LED lights save resources by using 50-percent less power required from the alternator – which in turn reduces the load put on the vehicle’s engine – and can last the lifetime of a vehicle.

The new Audi S7 is also efficient and elegant with the sleek profile of a coupe and the four doors of a sedan. Standard technology includes Audi connect™ which enables you to browse Google Maps™ and Google Search™ and provides for you a Wi-Fi® hotspot. Hope that connection is fast enough to keep up with the S7 for under the hood lays a 4.0 TFSI 420 hp/406 lb-ft of torque masterpiece which will take you anywhere you want in a matter of seconds.

Past Super Bowl spots on Audi have included the A8, the “green car of 2009” A3 TDI and the legendary R8 and they have all been pretty good. Can’t wait to see what Venables Bell & Partners have come up with this time.

Source: Audi

January 18, 2012

Anderson S8 Venom Edition

Audi has been a major player in the luxury class for over sixteen years now. It all started with the arrival of the A8 which carried some image-defining technology such as permanent all-wheel-drive and a body made from aluminium. Today it is a worthy adversary against the giants from BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Now the Audi S8 (the performance edition of A8) has undergone an impressive makeover supervised by the capable ANDERSON Germany. Say hello to the S8 Venom Edition. Let us start with the paint – the overall body is in satin grey matte while various bits and pieces such as the radiator grill, the logos, the door handles and the panels are in glossy black. The added body kit consists of a front apron which has LED lights, a rear one as well and also a pair of side skirts. The fenders now house two striking air intakes while the tinted windows and tail lights in turn, give a certain menacing look to the car. Noticeably lowered, the S8 sits on four massive 265 tires with shiny black callipers peaking out from the 22 inch rims. Carbon fibre is applied on the side view mirrors, tail flapper and the grille frame.

Anderson Germany Audi A8 Venom Edition (2011)

The carbon trend continues inside as well as the exclusive sports steering wheel, door panels and the centre consoles are all deliciously garnished with fibres. Otherwise the interior is a feast of grey leather and light grey Alcantra (a unique and innovative covering material). There is also something for the teenager in all of us (or our kids I suppose) – A neat sound system complimented with headrest monitors and a Playstation 3.

ANDERSON is not all about style and glamour. Yes, now you can adjust the sounding of the exhaust pipes with a remote control but they have also fiddled with their weight and thus increased the power by 16hp. Not only that but they have also tuned the engine management system, fitted a sports filter and a racing catalyst and the result is 442bhp as opposed to 350bhp.

Undeniably, ANDERSON Germany is working for the image of the A8 which already is underneath the spotlight thanks to a number of appearances in the media and politics.

Source: Anderson Germany

December 13, 2011

Hofele Design Audi SR 8

Hofele Design has revealed their tuning program for Audi’s flagship – the A8 D4. The name of the project is SR8 suits perfect to the mighty look of the big car.

Hofele-Design Audi SR8 comes with an aggressive body kit including a complete front bumper with original RS5 mesh inserts, a rear apron with diffuser, a 4-tube sports muffler and a rear trunk spoiler.

The car stands on enormous 9J x 20” or 10J x 22” alloy wheels fitted with low profile performance tires. The electronic speed-related lowering module ETS lowers the Audi A8 with air suspension up to 40mm. The system is only active on speeds under 70 km/h, on speeds over 70 km/h the system is deactivated to give the chassis its full comfort and security.

The mighty 4.2 liter V8 FSI is boosted from 372 PS to 390 PS and the 4.2 TDI CR is tuned from 350 PS to 390 PS and sensational 900 NM.

The interior boasts a bi-colour leather interior. The two-coloured seats have a quilted stripe made of soft nappa leather which crosses the seats in the middle. This wonderful masterpiece is available with special stitching and as a combination of different premium materials like smooth leather, rough leather or Alcantara (ecsaine / ultrasuede). Also available are leather-covered door panels and a steering wheel.

Source: Hofele Design

October 14, 2011

Audi A8 L W12 Exclusive Concept

Audi has introduced A8 L W12 Exclusive Concept at the current Frankfurt Motor Show. The luxury sedan presents an exclusively finished interior – with leather of the prestigious Poltrona Frau brand and olive ash natural inlays.

It is powered by the famous W12 6.3 liter petrol engine with whopping 500PS (368 kW) and 625Nm (461 lb-ft) of torque. 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.9 seconds and a top speed of of 250 km/h (155 mph), electronically limited of course.

The seats are upholstered in Cognac-colored leather by the exclusive Italian manufacturer Poltrona Frau – a grade with an exceptionally soft, even, natural finish. There are highlights of granite gray piping on the center sections of the seat and seat backs. Leather elements on numerous parts of the interior – such as the dashboard, the center console, the tunnel, the door trims and seat consoles – round out the equipment; even the car key is trimmed in leather.

Audi A8 L W12 Exclusive Concept will be available in limited series of just 50 units as each will receive a number plate.

Source: Audi

September 14, 2011

Cars in movies – top 5

Each car enthusiast has a movie that makes them smile just thinking of it. You will have the opportunity to read a little more about some of the most cherished cars used in movies.

Number 5

AUDI A8 W12- Transporter 2

This car is taking a serious part in the plot of the movie. Jason Statham needs to chase the bad guys all over the place and the Audi is a serious partner in his mission. The movie is abundant with stunts that the A8 has to perform. Thanks to the massive twelve-cylinder 6.0 liter engine and some driving skill of course, it almost looks easy to do.

Number 4

Nissan Skyline R34- The Fast and the Furious

One of the fastest cars in the world, the dream of the PlayStation generation. The Skylines used in the movie are GTRs but not quite – the purpose of these cars was to draw attention and being all wheel drive, the grip was too much for burnouts and fun. That’s why the Skylines used, had their front driveshafts excised and the magic was done. As you already know the GTRs are claimed 280 hp from the factory, which is ridiculous for a 6 cylinder 2.6 twin-turbo engine. Still one of the two fastest skylines used in the movies is claimed 505 hp, which is enough to do 12 seconds in the quarter mile run. The main car used in the movie has been equipped with HKS tuning parts, JIC’s suspension and 3 NOS bottles, neither of which had something to do with the engine. Being so full of “extras”, AWD and AWS removed, the performance is not quite as what is expected from a skyline though.

Number 3

Mini Cooper S John Cooper Works – The Italian Job

Complicated relations, a lot of money, a lot of thrill and a couple of Mini Coopers as a final touch. In the plot several old friends are trying to get to a huge amount of gold. For the purpose they need small, maneuverable and still fast cars. The Mini Cooper turns out to be the best option for the job. The Aero body kit makes the cars look stunning. Did you know that gasoline-powered vehicles were not allowed in the subway system of LA, that’s why a couple of electric cars were built for these scenes? In total 32 Minis were used in the movie, some of them specially customized to make some of the incredible stunts possible.

Number 2

Volkswagen Beetle – Herbie Fully Loaded

This is a car with a lot of history in the movie world. It has participated in a couple of Disney movies starting in 1968 – The Love Bug. What is strange and interesting about Herbie is that it is almost a human being – has his own thoughts, soul and drives himself. 30 Beetles were used for the footage of the last movie of the series – “Herbie Fully Loaded”. One of the beetles has a 200hp engine that is capable of getting the car to over 135 mph. Unfortunately having all the effects of modern cinema, the car looks normal no more. It moves its bumper, blinks, gives out noises etc. Unlike the first movies from the series, where you could just feel that there was something special about the car, some kind of emotion, without making it look human.

Number 1

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 ‘Eleanor’ – Gone in Sixty Seconds

The dream machine from “Gone in 60 seconds”. Alike the movie, this car is a true masterpiece and quite a mystery. The car is named Eleanor, but initially the plan was not to use a mustang at all. At first the idea was to have a GT40 grabbing the attention. However, it turned out that building one would cost a fortune even considering what the purpose was. Basically it was all making a car from scratch – literally. The car was first put on paper and then various specialists started creating the separate parts and adapt them to fit the Mustang. What not too many people know is that the side exhausts are not functional and neither are the side air feeds. The car in the movie is shown so fast that the driver was scared of it and would talk to it prior to driving. The car ended up in a private collection, $216 700 were paid for the beauty. Still, there are garages that can build another one for you for some (in) decent amount of money.

July 4, 2011

2012 Audi S8 [rendering]

Audi will launch S8, which will be powered by 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 supplied by Bentley. The engine produces 527PS (388 kW), which is right between the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 on the planet – 6.2 liter AMG in Mercedes-Benz S63 delivering 525PS, and the brutal 6.0 liter twin-turbo V12 in BMW 760i with astonishing 544PS.

The new Audi S8 will feature quattro AWD system, but how this will work against the other sports limousines, which rely on RWD. BMW 760i features LSD (limited-slip differential) to deliver perfect traction in any circumstances, but the mighty S63 AMG has non-locking differential – bad mistake!

However, the Audi S8 is expected to be launched in the United States early next year.

Audi S8 rendering

Source: worldcarfans

March 26, 2011

Tag: A8