Composure redefined – the Audi A8

- Audi is honing the character of its flagship model
- More powerful engines, new assistance systems and innovative Matrix LED headlight technology
- Fuel consumption reductions across the board

Systematic lightweight construction, excellent comfort and a broad portfolio of high-end technologies: Audi has given its flagship, the A8, a wide-sweeping update. The engines are even more powerful and efficient, while new assistance systems and the innovative Matrix LED headlights provide for an added level of composure.

The new A8 places Audi among the innovation leaders in the luxury segment. One great strength of the big sedan is its lightweight construction. The Audi A8 3.0 TFSI with the normal wheelbase has a curb weight of just 1,830 kilograms (4,034.46 lb) – 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 (509.27 lb).

Length (5.14 meters [16.86 ft]), wheelbase (2.99 meters [9.81 ft]), width (1.95 meters [6.40 ft]) and height (1.46 meters [4.79 ft]) remain unchanged, making the Audi A8 the sportiest sedan in the segment. The A8 L gains an additional 13 centimeters (5.12 in) in both length and wheelbase. Both body variants feature a new trunk layout for easier loading. Additional noise damping measures reduce the already low interior noise level even further.

The dynamic design of the big sedan has become even more expressive. The engine hood, the Singleframe grille and the front bumper are even more sculptured; the lower edge of the headlight units is straight. In the German market, LED headlights are standard in all models with a V8 engine. Audi also offers optional headlights featuring Matrix LED technology, which sets new benchmarks with respect to design and technology. With these headlights, the high-beam comprises 25 individual light-emitting diodes per unit that can be switched on and off or dimmed individually depending on the situation.

This enables the headlight system to react extremely precisely to other vehicles while always brightly illuminating the road. Additional features of the new headlights are the intelligent cornering light, new-look daytime running lights and dynamic turn signals. The lighting system in the A8 uses predictive route data from the navigation system to adjust the distribution of light in response to the current driving situation. In combination with the optional Navigation plus with MMI touch, the system recognizes route data contained in the navigation system, such as curves and road classifications.

The LED lamps at the rear of the new Audi A8 have also become flatter. In all models except the S8, the redesigned bumper houses two rhomboid tailpipes. New chrome strips and high-gloss black window frames round out the differentiating design details. There is a choice of twelve colors, including five new ones. Wheels are available in sizes up to 21 inches.

The engines: more power and efficiency
Audi offer the A8 on the German market with two gasoline and two diesel engines. These are the supercharged 3.0 TFSI with 228 kW (310 hp), the V8 twin-turbo 4.0 TFSI with 320 kW (435 hp), the highly efficient 3.0 TDI clean diesel with 190 kW (258 hp) and the extremely high-torque 4.2 TDI clean diesel, which produces 283 kW (385 hp) and 850 Nm (626.93 lb-ft).

Performance has increased with most engines. When paired with quattro all-wheel drive, the 4.0 TFSI now accelerates the A8 from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.5 seconds. Under partial load, the Audi cylinder on demand (COD) system deactivates four of the eight cylinders. The most efficient engine is the 3.0 TDI clean diesel, which consumes just 5.9 liters of diesel per 100 kilometers (39.87 US mpg), which corresponds to 155 grams CO2 per kilometer (249.45 g/mile) All engines satisfy the Euro 6 standard. Friction-reducing measures reduce consumption by as much as 10 percent.

These variants are joined by three additional models. The top-of-the-line model is the luxuriously equipped Audi A8 L W12 quattro. Its gasoline engine is particularly short and lightweight thanks to its W layout. Displacing 6.3 liters, it produces 368 kW (500 hp). It also boasts best-in-class fuel consumption of 11.7 liters per 100 kilometers (20.10 US mpg), corresponding to 270 grams CO2 per kilometer (434.52 g/mile). It also has a COD system that was designed specifically for it. At low load, it deactivates the fuel injection and ignition for six cylinders. The available Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) ensures excellent acoustic comfort.

With 380 kW (520 hp), the S8 is Audi's big sports sedan. Paired with quattro all-wheel drive, its sonorous 4.0 TFSI accelerates the S8 from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 4.2 seconds. Average fuel consumption for the S8 is just 10.1 liters per 100 kilometers (23.29 US mpg), corresponding to 235 grams CO2 per kilometer (378.20 g/mile). The COD system plays a key role here, too. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), a technology that is also used in the A8 4.0 TFSI quattro, the A8 L W12 quattro and the A8 hybrid, uses precise antiphase noise to compensate for intrusive noise in the cabin while operating on four cylinders while active engine mounts dampen vibration. The chassis and many body details reflect the sporty positioning of the S8.

The Audi A8 hybrid combines a 2.0 TFSI and electric motor to produce a system output of 180 kW (245 hp) and system torque of 480 Nm (354.03 lb-ft). The engine's power flows to the front wheels via a modified tiptronic. The lithium-ion battery in the rear enables purely electric driving at up to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) with a range of roughly three kilometers (1.86 miles). The A8 hybrid consumes on average just 6.3 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (147 grams CO2 per kilometer [37.34 US mpg/236.57 g/mile]).

The new A8 comes standard with a fast and smooth-shifting, eight-speed tiptronic. The electronically controlled automatic transmission is paired with quattro permanent all-wheel drive. Audi also offers an optional sport differential for the rear axle, which distributes the power between the rear wheels as needed. The sport differential is standard in the S8 and the A8 4.2 TDI clean diesel quattro.

The sedan owes its sporty character in large part to the sophisticated chassis. The Audi drive select system, which varies the function of various technology modules, is standard. It also controls the adaptive air suspension with adaptive damping. Audi offers the air suspension with a sporty setup upon request. The power steering uses an efficient electromechanical drive. Dynamic steering, which varies boost as a function of the speed driven, is available as an option. Carbon fiber ceramic brake discs are available for V8 models and the A8 L W12 quattro.

Another option is for 9 J x 20 aluminum-technology wheels which are based on forged support wheels. A special process joins the support wheel to a ten-spoke design element of high-strength polymer.

Hand-built character: The interior of the Audi A8
The interior of the Audi flagship dazzles with its elegant lines and generous spaciousness. Options for the front seats include ventilation and massage. Electrically adjustable, individual rear seats are available as an option for the A8 and the A8 L. The A8 L is also available with a continuous, leather-covered center console. The first-class solution here is the relaxation seat with power footrest. A large number of additional features are also available, from four-zone automatic air conditioning and power-assisted closing to a cooler.

All components in the new A8 have been carefully chosen and processed with the utmost precision. Each of the lovingly executed details documents the hand-built character of the interior. A new range of choices for seat coverings, inlays and colors is available in many areas. New additions include the woods Fine grain poplar brown-silver and Fine grain ash brown-gold natural as well as the leather Unikat, which is particularly natural-looking, soft and breathable.

The Audi design selection offers a preselection of exclusive materials and colors for the interior, including sycamore gray/marble gray. The design selection black/vermont brown with Carbon twill copper inlays is available for the Audi S8. The Audi exclusive range offers additional individualization options for particularly discerning customers.

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.

For more composed driving: the assistance systems
Driving is even more composed with the optional assistance systems. The adaptive cruise control with Stop&Go function is coupled with an expanded version of the standard Audi pre sense basic safety system. The same applies to Audi side assist. New in the A8 are Audi active lane assist, which makes slight steering adjustments when necessary, and the park assist system with 360° display, which handles steering when parking. The head-up display, which is also new, projects important data in the driver's field of vision on the windshield. The night vision assistant can now also recognize larger animals in addition to pedestrians.

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.

The new Audi A8 is scheduled to arrive at German dealerships in November. Despite the upgraded trim level (standard LED headlights in all V8 models) and the powerful engines, prices are changing only slightly. Prices in Germany for the new Audi model start at 74,500 euros.

hould accelerate from 0-100 km/h in less than 4.2 seconds

The Audi S8 offers performance that belies its size but owners looking for a little more schnell might want to check out the latest tuning program from ABT Sportsline.

Starting under the hood, the twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8 engine has been tuned to produce 640 PS (471 kW) and 780 Nm (575 lb-ft) of torque which is an increase of 120 PS (88 kW) and 130 Nm (96 lb-ft). ABT declined to release detailed information but they said the top speed has been increased to approximately 280 km/h (174 mph).

Besides the performance upgrades, the model can be equipped with a stainless steel four-tailpipe exhaust system and an electronic lowering module which reduces the ride height by approximately 25mm. The company also offers an assortment of 20- and 21-inch alloy wheels.

It’s a very, very rare thing to be let out on the Circuit de la Sarthe during the 24 Hours of Le Mans race week unless you’re a racing driver—but then, that’s rare enough, too. Motor Authority was fortunate enough to have that opportunity, in an Audi A8 L TDI.

What’s that? An A8 L TDI is hardly an ideal vehicle for a track drive, especially one as daunting and difficult as the home of the greatest endurance race in the world? Yes, that’s true--we'd have much preferred to be out there in the new R8 LMX. But when you get the opportunity, you take it.

As the video shows, the proportions of the track are hard to imagine until you’ve seen them first hand. The straights are immensely long (even though they’re now interrupted by chicanes); many of the corners are impossibly tight. The braking points used by the race cars are unfathomable from within the cabin of even a rather capable street car.

The sights, too, are incredible. Starting out at the Ford Chicanes, coming down the front straight with the grandstands on either side, soaring up under the Dunlop bridge, down through the Esses to Tertre Rouge, then up the long Mulsanne Straight with its two chicanes, pinning the brakes for Mulsanne corner, back up through the gears and staring into the blinding sunlight to Indianapolis and Arnage, then the Porsche Curves, the Maison Blanche, and the 8.47-mile lap is complete.

Of course, at speed, things look a little different. For an idea of how things used to look, in one of the fastest cars ever to tackle the circuit, compare the lap above to the lap below, by Derek Bell in a Porsche 956.

Torque bumped to 477 Nm

Senner Tuning has released a power boost program for the pre-facelift Audi A8.

They worked on a version equipped with the V8 4.2-liter FSI engine which in its standard configuration delivers 372 PS (273 kW) at 6,800 rpm and 445 Nm (328 lb-ft) of torque at 3,500 rpm. It’s enough for a 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) run in 5.7 seconds and a limited 155 mph (250 km/h) top speed. However, the engineers from Senner Tuning weren't satisfied with the output numbers so these were bumped to 397 PS (292 kW) and 477 Nm (352 lb-ft).

Despite packing more punch, Senner says the pre-facelift Audi A8 4.2 V8 is now more efficient as fuel consumption has been reduced by 1.5 - 2.0 liters / 100 km. The added oomph was possible by installing new sport air filters together with a power converter while the stock exhaust was replaced with a stainless steel unit equipped with chromed 100mm end pipes which promises to provide a "wonderful V8 sound."

Other changes include 22-inch Oxigin14 Oxrock alloy wheels featuring a black full polish finish and wrapped around in Continental Sport Contact 3 tires measuring 265/30 R22. There's also a KW lowering kit for the air suspension with a Wi-Fi module allowing owners to adjust the A8's air suspension via an iOS application. Rounding off the list of changes are the red brake calipers and LED number plate lighting.

All enumerated goodies will set you back €9,500 (VAT included).

For whatever reason, neither Audi nor BMW followed in the footsteps of their star rival Mercedes and its S63 and S65 AMG cars, with Ingolstadt being content with its S8.

Audi has no plans for a future RS8 that we know of, but German tuner MTM has come up with the next best thing: the S8 Talladega, which might as well be the RS8 in everything but the name and the pedigree.

In stock form, the S8's 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 puts out 520PS (510hp), 40hp less than the RS6 that gets the same engine, but after MTM's hardware and software changes, the eight-cylinder lump gains 240PS (237hp) pushing the tally to 760PS (750hp) at 5,950 rpm and 945Nm (697 lb-ft) between 1,700 and 5,500 rpm.

The S8 Talladega booms from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 3.48 seconds, passing the 200 km/h (124mph) yardstick in 10.51 seconds before reaching its top speed of 325 km/h (202mph), with MTM stating that its maximum speed is limited because of the road-legal tires, otherwise it would exceed 350km/h (218mph).

MTM also gives the S8 Talladega new carbon and ceramic brakes on both axles, an electronic module to lower the air suspension, an aerodynamic kit that mimics the looks of Audi's RS models together with RS-style twin oval, instead of the S8's four pipes, and a set of 21-inch Bimoto alloy wheels shod in 295/30 Michelin Pilot Super Sports rubber.

A brand new S8 will cost you €115,800 (US$144,000) in Germany, to which you'll have to add €35,000 (US$43,500) for the engine tune, €2,200 (US$2,700) for the suspension module, €6,300 (US$7,800) for the wheels, and €15,000 (US$18,700) for the aero kit. All told, a new MTM S8 Talladega will cost you €189,708 (US$236,000).

In stock form, the S8's 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 puts out 520PS (510hp), 40hp less than the RS6 that gets the same engine, but after MTM's hardware and software changes, the eight-cylinder lump gains 240PS (237hp) pushing the tally to 760PS (750hp) at 5,950 rpm and 945Nm (697lb-ft) between 1,700 and 5,500 rpm.

If MTM's recent 760PS (750hp) Talladega is the RS8 of S8s, then the new 802PS (791hp) Talladega S should be the RS8 Plus of S8s…

To be presented in a world premiere at next week's Geneva Motor Show, the Talladega S is a super-fast tuned version of the existing Audi S8, which in standard form employs a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 pushing out 520PS (510hp).

MTMs new tune raises that number to a mind-boggling 802PS (791hp) and 945Nm (697 lb-ft – the same figure as the regular Talladega) for a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 3.1 sec, 0-200km/h (124mph) in 9.9 sec and 0-300km/h (186mph) in 29.0 sec, with a quoted top speed of 350km/h (218mph).

For comparison, the 760PS Talladega hits 100 km/h (62mph) in 3.48 seconds and 200 km/h (124mph) in 10.51 seconds before reaching its top speed of 325 km/h (202mph).

The only visible difference on the outside over the regular Talladega is the 'S' model's fixed rear wing, otherwise it gets the same 21-inch Bimoto alloy wheels in 295/30 ZR tires, lowered air suspension and RS-style aerokit. Stopping power comes from a carbon ceramic braking system.

Including the price of a new Audi S8 (€124,300), the Talladega S with all the mechanical, exterior and interior revisions (such as the RS sport seats and door panels) will cost you €222,249 or about $249,000 in Germany.