With the new A8, Audi is launching a model offensive with which it wants to rejuvenate its own lot. This, in the case of the German Holy Trinity, is considered to be the oldest, so we are offered a new generation of admiral ship A8 in response. Its story dates back to 1988, exactly thirty years ago, when the previous V8 was presented, while the A8 brand appeared on the market for the first time six years later, in 1994. Ever since, three generations have emerged to this day, It's fourth. It replaces the one with the internal mark D4, which persisted in the market with a single rejuvenation for a long nine years, and greatly helped the Germans as globally they have sold over one million Audi A8 cars since 1994.
The new A8 is 5 meters and 17 centimeters in length, which means that it is 37 millimeters longer than the predecessor, but you can also consider the 13-inches extended version of the A8 L. Formally neither one nor the other surprises too much, at least not at the front, and both of them continue to be characterized by a large hexagonal motor mask, which is already covered by the LED-matrix headlamp. These are also optionally available with laser technology, which can help A8 at over 70 kilometers per hour, to light up to 600 meters away. However, the new admiral boat is nevertheless the result of a new designer, you will notice a quicker look at the rear. There are LED lights with a lantern that stretches over the entire length of the trunk, and OLED lights are also available, which further emphasize their 3D effect.
The Audi A8 will be much more persuasive in the fourth generation. Here, at first glance, they made the greatest progress and entered a completely digital age. The dashboard is still much more purified, mostly predominant simple moves, all of which have been achieved by replacing the classic switches with two large touchscreen displays. The first measures 10.1 inches and is slightly lower than the previous generation in the center of the dashboard, and under it the space has found another screen, which measures 8.6 inches in diameter. It is designed to manage the ventilation system, while most 12.3-inch digital meters can be shown to most of the more important data drivers. Also, on the projection display, they did not forget that the rear passengers would not feel deprived at the back, there you can also see two large screens installed on the back of the first seats, and the center console's centerpiece hides a 5.7-inch large tablet, which at the same time works as a mobile phone.
As the overall length has also increased the wheelbase, which is 2.99 meters in the classic version, while the extended A8 L is as much as 3.13, you can notice this in the passenger cabin. The Audi A8 is still a pedestrian, but you can also consider two completely separate seats in the rear, and in the case of an extended version even the passenger's seat can be fully foldable. Only in this way will the rear seat right turn into the right place for rest. In addition to foot support, even a full body massage and foot massage will be available, and there will be no possibility of heating them. Heated are however all the seats, a steering wheel, armrests, as in the center back and the rear. In short, in the new eighth it will not be bad for any passenger. As said, everyone will be able to enjoy extra space in both the knee and the head area, while the luggage space with 505 liters remains unchanged in volume.
Back interior:
In addition to the interior design, the greatest achievement of the eighth is in the field of security and assistance systems. Even more; we can say that at this moment there is no money in this area. It is the first car that leaves production bands with the possibility of autonomous third-level driving. As many as 41 systems and 24 different sensors in this case make sure that the car can be fully started, driven, rolled, and braked on all roads that are separated by a full or broken line. The congestion system can move automatically to the speed of 60 kilometers per hour of the driver, and automatically A8 can even park and unlock and then drives itself to the driver. We could say that this is true science fiction, but I must tell you that it is all accompanied by a rather bitter touch. Most of these systems do not yet work, but the problem does not concern the Ingolstadt Admiral ship, but in legislation and infrastructure that do not allow such a ride. When it comes to it, it's a second question, but I can tell you that the systems that work perfectly in the eighth, are not lacking anyway. On the contrary, there are so many that systems such as those for controlling dead corners, unintentional lane change, emergency braking and radar cruise are not even mentioned. Exposing only a few new ones, such as an intersection assistant that detects vehicles from the transverse direction and, if necessary, prevents lateral collisions by braking, new maneuvering assistance and incorrectly attached wheels are new, even on the edges can warn that the rims will be at least 17 up to a maximum of 21 inches longer remained undamaged. But not all in active safety, even in the passive, the new generation has taken a big step forward, for example, the A8 is the first model with two airbags installed between the front passenger and the rear, which in the event of a side collision prevents them from their heads were running together.
Before we start motor versions, I suggest that we first clarify their new naming. Namely, in Ingolstadt, they decided to completely change the name of the motor versions with the arrival of the new eight, which means that we will no longer see classic tags such as the 2.0 TDI, 3.0 TDI and the like. According to the new one, the space is allocated to one of the ten numbers between 25 and 70, which will instead mark the capacity class instead of volume, except for the sports versions S, RS and R, which will not yet receive new tags. The new A8 is initially only available with two six-cylinder engine versions, namely 3.0-liter TFSI and TDI. The gasoline instead of the old 3.0 TFSI carries the new name 55 TFSI, which means that the six-cylinder produces 250 kilowatts of power (340 hp) and 500 Nm, while the turbo diesel TDI under the 50 TDI code hides 210 kilowatts (286 hp) and 600 Nm of torque. Later, the offer will be enriched by even stronger versions of the model, including eight and twelve rollers. There will be no plug-in hybrid version of the A8 L e-tron quattro, where the powertrain will be composed of the already-known 3.0-liter turbocharging V6 and a powerful electric motor that can only carry up to 50 kilometers with lithium-ion batteries, and the filling it can also be wireless on an induction basis.
All versions of the new admiral ship are also slightly hybrid, which is based on a higher 48-volt electric voltage. For this reason, the system can allow for up to 40 seconds of sailing at a speed of 55 and 160 kilometers per hour, with the drive unit not even plugged in. Higher tension also helps with starting, which means lower fuel consumption. Approximately seven deciliters per hundred kilometers is supposed to be known in practice, but the 8-speed automatic tiptronic gearbox with an electric oil pump will be greatly enhanced. As Audi V8, exactly thirty years ago, the new A8 continues its tradition and, unlike its closest competitors, is already equipped with a quattro quattro quattro four-wheel drive, which, as you can see, is right here right now. In addition to the engine versions, the gearbox and the drive, they emphasize the space frame. So far, it has been assumed that it was predominantly made of aluminum, which is now only 58%, as materials such as carbon and magnesium are the first to be present. By doing this, they achieved a 24 percent higher body rigidity, which does not only provide greater safety, but also significantly better sound sealing, which can be confirmed after the first kilometers. They are all equipped with air suspension and electronically adjustable shock absorbers. Alternatively, there is an active chassis, dynamic four-wheel steering, and even active sports gear for even better handling at the rear.
Although the new eight was already basically conceived with the idea of
the extended version of the A8 L, the old continent will predominantly be shorter, and also cheaper. A8 fits along the BMW 7 Series, mercedes-benz grade S and lexus LS. The differences between comparable motorized and equipped versions are just a few thousand, which means that you will deduct at least € 107,500 for the cheapest gasoline A8 (A8 55 TFSI quattro, 8th sam), and for diesel, you will have prepared at least another € 500 ( A8 50 TDI quattro, 8th sam.). If you want your Audi A8 to look like the one on photos, then prepare a nice bunch of money. It is one of the promotional vehicles that offer in fact all the technology that Ingolstadt's admiral ship does have at all costs, so on average they cost between 170 and 180 thousand euros. We would probably want to have a sales representative of the brand that they would be as numerous as possible, but they will probably be satisfied if they sell about 40 vehicles annually, such as the goal for the first full year.
Overall the new Audi A8 is a great car, but too expensive for many. It definetly fits in luxurious class.
All photos are property of Audi offical.