Audi A8 – Page 2 – Automobiles Review

2015 Audi A8 – US Price $77,400

Audi US has unveiled the pricing of the newly redesigned 2015 A8 model line. The luxury sedan boasts a wider stance and more dynamic look.

“As the flagship of the Audi brand, the A8 represents the best in Audi innovation, design and craftsmanship” said Scott Keogh, President, Audi of America.

“The A8 has been a strong contributor toward building our brand and the changes for the 2015 model year will continue to build upon that success.”, he added.

The ASF aluminum construction of the A8 and S8 models provides exceptional rigidity and performance while enabling excellent efficiency due to its lightweight characteristics. Completely redesigned LED headlights are now standard on the full model line and are complemented by powerful creases in the hood as well as a newly designed grille, bumper and splitter.

The interior of A8 offers 22-way front comfort seats with five different massage functions, as well as improved acoustic measures for a quieter cabin experience and optimized trunk packaging for increased space and usability.

Suggested retail pricing:
– 2015 Audi A8 3.0T: $77,400
– 2015 Audi A8 L 3.0T: $81,400
– 2015 Audi A8 L TDI: $85,100
– 2015 Audi A8 4.0T: $86,400
– 2015 Audi A8 L 4.0T: $90,400
– 2015 Audi S8 4.0T: $114,900
– 2015 Audi A8 L W12: $137,900

Prices above exclude destination charges, taxes, title, optional equipment and dealer charges. Dealer sets actual price.

Source: Audi

June 4, 2014

Audi Reveals The Interior Of 2014 A8 L W12 Exclusive Concept

The interior of the exclusive concept vehicle 2014 Audi A8 L W12 has been just revealed by the brand. The outstanding special edition of its flagship has a W12 engine that can produce up t 500 hp (368 kW). The small-series production model will have a limited production of 50 numbers and is scheduled to begin rolling off the assembly line in March 2014.

As one can see from the released teaser image, the interior is elegant and features premium materials. Audi designers have utilized here aniline leather in the color Agatha cognac. As a matter of fact, this leather is sourced from the tradition-laden Italian designer furniture maker Poltrona Frau.

It is characterized by softness of touch and natural look. Moreover, the center sections of the seats include diamond quilting, while the inlays are made of fine grain olive ash natural silver brown.

The latter has a gray-brown shade that perfectly matches the granite gray piping, stitching and central pleat of the seats. The shade granite gray can be also seen on the steering wheel, the door top shoulders and the upper section of the instrument panel.

Fine Nappa leather on the other hand is used on the aforementioned part of the instrument panel. The headlining is in snow white Alcantara, the rear shelf is covered with cognac brown Alcantara and the carpeting is jet gray. At last, what has been revealed is that each vehicle will have a special logo on the door sill trims.

Source: Audi

November 18, 2013

2014 Audi A8 Facelift – Price €74,500 [video]

Audi has finally revealed the facelift version of the A8. The 2014 A8/S8 range will be available in Germany starting November – from €74,500.

The exterior boasts a revised front bumper, new front grille and more sculpted hood. There are also LED headlights (standard for V8 models) and Matrix LED headlights available as an option featuring 25 25 individual light-emitting diodes per unit which can be switched on/off individually depending on road conditions. Other highlight are the sequentially illuminated LED turn signals with 18 LEDs in the headlights and 24 LEDs in the taillights.

At the rear, there are also LED taillights as well as reworked rear bumper featuring two rhomboid tailpipes (except the S8 model). There are new chrome strips and high-gloss black window frames. The manufacturer offers twelve paint schemes and wheels in sizes up to 21”.

The Audi A8 3.0 TFSI with the normal wheelbase has a curb weight of just 1,830 kilograms (4,034 lbs) – best-in-class for models with all-wheel drive. The body is made almost entirely of aluminum; an Audi Space Frame (ASF) design, it weighs just 231 kilograms (509 lbs).

The engine range includes a 3.0 liter V6 TFSI with 310HP (228 kW), a 4.0 liter V8 TFSI with 435HP (320 kW) and 3.0 liter V6 TDI with 258HP (190 kW) as well as 4.2 liter V8 TDI with 385HP (283 kW). The top-of-range A8 L W12 quattro comes with a 6.3 liter W12 petrol with 500HP (368 kW). The S8 has a 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 TFSI with 520HP (380 kW).

The 2014 Audi A8 Hybrid is powered by a 2.0 liter TFSI and and an electric motor – combined power of 245HP (180 kW) and 480Nm (354 lb-ft), which is more than enough for decent dynamics. The conventional engine drives the front wheels while the electric motor powers the rear axle.

The 3.0 TDI clean diesel needs just 5.9 liters / 100 km (40 mpg US) with CO2 emissions of just 155 g/km. The 6.3 liter W12 boasts best-in-class fuel consumption of 11.7 liters / 100 km (20 mpg US). The hybrid version averages 6.3 liters / 100 km (37.3 mpg US). All engines satisfy the Euro 6 standard. Friction-reducing measures reduce consumption by as much as 10 %.

The interior boasts super luxury like ventilated front seats with massage function, along with individual electrically-adjustable rear seats optionally available for the A8 and A8 L. The latter can also be configured with a continuous, leather-wrapped center console, as well as other optional goodies like four-zone automatic AC and relaxation seat with power footrest.

As is typical for Audi, the new A8 features exemplarily clear controls despite the abundance of functions. Taking center stage is the MMI control element on the tunnel’s center console. MMI navigation plus also includes a touchpad. The driver draws characters on the pad (MMI touch) to control numerous navigation and multimedia functions.

Audi connect including car phone is available as a supplement to MMI navigation plus. It uses an integrated UMTS module to connect the new A8 to the Internet. Passengers can surf and e-mail freely via a WLAN hotspot. For the driver, the system delivers the tailored online services from Audi connect to the car, such as online traffic information, Google Earth, Google Street View and online news. The multimedia highlight is the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System. The Rear Seat Entertainment system includes two displays, Bluetooth headphones and a DVD player.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM5yGR1LWIo

Source: Audi

August 21, 2013

Audi A8 To Be Equipped With New Turn Signal Light

Audi has just released the information that the new 2014 A8 model is going to be equipped with brand new turn signal light. The latter will comprise of lighting elements that illuminate in a defined sequence. The aim behind this is to make it easier for others to perceive the driver’s turning intentions.

The new turn signal lights will show the turning direction in an innovative way. In fact, the lights provide a visual signal, which allows a clearer and quicker perception, and even in long distances or in poor visibility.

To be more precise, each headlight contains 18 light-emitting diodes. They in turn are arranged in a strip that is subdivided into seven blocks. On the other hand, each tail light comprises of 24 LEDs in eight segments, which are used to dynamically indicate the turning direction.

How they work: during flashing, the blocks are sequentially activated at 20 millisecond intervals. The direction is from the inside to the outside and in the desired turning direction. All segments turn bright after 150 milliseconds. After another 250 milliseconds they illuminate with full intensity. Then, the turn signals go dark ahead of repeating the lighting sequence again.

Audi Matrix LED headlights are definitely a cutting-edge innovation. In each headlight, 25 light-emitting diodes develop a highly variable high-beam light. Audi A8 is equipped with an on-board camera as well. When it detects other vehicles ahead, the Audi Matrix LED headlights mask the relevant sections of the high-beam by dimming or shutting off individual diodes.

They also include navigation-based cornering lights which work in conjunction with the night vision assistant. The latter is a marker light which signals when pedestrians are in the vicinity in the dark. It also alerts the pedestrians.

The upgraded version of the Audi A8 with the new turn signals will be showcased at 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show in September.

Source: Audi

August 15, 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

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

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

Audi Confirms A8 Hybrid For Series Production

Luxury class grandeur meets compact class efficiency in the Audi A8 hybrid, which this week has been given the green light for series production beginning in 2012, and will reach the UK late next year. Employing a four-cylinder petrol engine for the first time in an Audi model at this level, the Vorsprung durch Technik brand’s latest paragon of economy will offer performance befitting its 245PS and 480Nm outputs, despite delivering more uncharacteristic sub-148g/km CO2 output and all-electric, completely local emissions-free running at speeds of up to 62mph.

The Audi flagship model is designed as a highly efficient parallel hybrid. Its 2.0-litre TFSI engine, which has been modified in some areas, generates an output of 211PS and makes a 350 Nm torque peak available between 1,500 and 4,200 rpm. The combustion engine works together with a disc-shaped electric motor which generates 40 kW (54 PS) and 210 Nm.

The permanent magnet synchronous motor is mounted in the space usually occupied by the torque converter in front of the modified eight-speed tiptronic transmission. A multi-plate clutch that operates in an oil bath connects or disconnects the electric motor and the TFSI engine, and does so ultra-precisely and gently in all situations. The smooth and fast-shifting hybrid transmission guides the torque to the front wheels, and its wide gear spread contributes to the efficiency of the Audi A8 hybrid.

The short-term system output of 245PS and the system torque of 480 Nm serve to provide impressively strong response. According to the provisional figures generated by early-stage tests, the Audi A8 hybrid will be capable of reaching 62mph from rest in 7.7 seconds and continuing to a top speed of 146mph while returning in excess of 44mpg in the EU combined cycle test, along with CO2 emissions of less than 148 g/km.

The Audi A8 hybrid can drive at up to 62mph purely on electric power and has a range of up to 1.86 miles at a constant 37mph. This gives the driver the choice of three modes: The ‘EV’ setting gives priority to the electric drive, while the ‘D’ option efficiently controls both the engine and the electric motor. The ‘S’ mode and the tiptronic gate place the emphasis on optimal acceleration. The hybrid saloon has five operating states: with the TFSI engine alone, with electric drive only or in hybrid mode; recuperation and boosting are also possible. Two displays show the driver all operating modes in detail.

The lithium-ion battery, which weighs 36.7 kilograms, is located in a crash-proof area in the boot. It provides 1.3 kWh of nominal energy and up to 40 kW of power. Two different methods are used to air-cool the battery, depending on need: air is either blown from the passenger compartment by a fan or via a separate cooling circuit coupled to the automatic air conditioning system. The battery is thus kept within the temperature window required for it to perform to its full potential over a wide range. The electric motor and the compact power electronics which serve as a controller between the electric motor and the battery are water-cooled.

In visual terms, the Audi A8 hybrid is distinguishable by subtle details such as its 18-inch or optional 19-inch ten spoke alloy wheels which resemble turbine blades, hybrid badges and an exclusive Arctic Silver paint finish. The metallic paint finish is a standard feature, as are three-zone automatic air conditioning, LED headlights and a BOSE sound system.

Thanks to the brand’s ultra-lightweight construction expertise, the Audi A8 hybrid will be one of the lightest saloons in its category. Its ASF (Audi Space Frame) body is made almost entirely of aluminium, with ultra-high-strength steel used only for the B –pillars to optimise rigidity. Weighing just 231 kilograms, it is roughly 40 per cent lighter than a comparable steel construction.

Source: Audi

August 25, 2011

Monster MK1 – “Frankenstein” car

Here is an interesting car – Monster MK1. Practically, it is an experiment to see, which the worst combination of car parts, ever is. As you may suggest, there are part from the whole bunch of premium models currently on the market.

The ‘body parts’ of the ‘Nightmare MK1’

Make and Model	Car part
Audi A8	Brakes
BMW M3	Suspension
MG TF	Engine
Land Rover Freelander	Gearbox
Mercedes-Benz V-Class	Ignition
Renault Megane	Electrics
SEAT Alhambra	Air-conditioning
SEAT Toledo	Heating & Cooling systems
Volvo C70	Steering system

The Warranty Direct-inspired horror vehicle would break down every other month and cost an average of £2,050 to fix each year.

The Reliability Index is a unique tool that measures car reliability by considering average cost of repair, frequency of failure, age and mileage. Overall, the Monster Mk1 claims a Reliability Index figure of over 500 – more than five times that of the average car.

“The Monster Mk1 represents the worst-performing vehicles in every sector, from suspension to electrics, on our roads today.”, commented Warranty Direct managing director, Duncan McClure Fisher.

“The wide range of cars included in our special blend highlights how mostly reliable cars can be dragged down by one problem part.”, he added.

July 12, 2011

Tag: Audi A8