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The New Audi A8: The Art of Progress

Every generation of the Audi A8 conveys the ultimate message of the Audi brand. It is the perfect embodiment of our brand essence “Vorsprung durch Technik” and our brand values “sporty, progressive, sophisticated”.  
 
Audi of South Africa has launched the next generation of the Audi A8 –a luxury sedan that sets new standards. Its elegantly styled aluminium body has the Audi Space Frame (ASF), within its architecture. The V8 engine is powerful but simultaneously delivers benchmark efficiency. The powerful transmission and running gear combine dynamics with excellent comfort.
 
Its generous interior captivates with its luxurious appointments, third generation MMI control system and handcrafted fit and finish. Innovative assistance and safety systems provide for even greater composure. The Audi A8 is more prestigious, intelligent, dynamic and efficient, setting new standards in each of these criteria.
 
The Audi A8 will initially be offered in the V8 4.2 FSI form with more derivatives to follow in 2011.
 
PRICING:
 
A8 4.2 FSI quattro Tiptronic         R1, 096,000.00 (Including VAT)
 
Design
 
Audi design is always fascinating in its complex intelligence. With the Audi A8, the designers have refined the elements typical of the brand and brought them into an exciting balance. The result is an automotive personality with a strong presence – a flagship that represents the brand and its values at the highest level. 

The “first glance / second glance” concept

Every Audi model is designed to look "alike" at first glance.  This is the “Design DNA” which you can see in every Audi.  Reference is made to the common cues that each model has such as the single frame grille, the "one third glass, two thirds metal" side view, to mention but a few.  Now with new LED lights, we want this instant recognition of an Audi to occur at night as well as during the day.
Every Audi model is designed to look “different” at second glance.  This second glance is the period when the customer actually lives with the car and slowly discovers the many, many detail differences in the exterior and interior design.  These model-specific differences are subtle, but it is exactly these differences that customers grow to love.  Audi consistently wins design awards because of this approach. 

This first glance is deliberately designed to say "that's an Audi", rather than "that's an Audi A8".  Take some more time to take a second glance, to discover the detail differences, the Audi A8-specific differences.  These are the design differences that will create true customer satisfaction in the long-term. 

5,137 mm in length, with a 2,992 mm wheelbase, 1,949 mm in width and 1,460 mm in height – the Audi A8 boasts generous proportions. It is longer and wider than both its predecessor and its competitors. 

A revolution in lighting technology: Full LED headlights

The optional full LED headlights are new to the D segment – a technology Audi was the first to introduce worldwide in the R8 high-performance sports car. They give the Audi A8 an unmistakable appearance even in daylight and even more so after the fall of darkness. With a colour temperature of 5,500 Kelvin, their light resembles daylight and thus is much less tiring to the eyes.

The LEDs are zero-maintenance and designed for the life of the vehicle. They also score points in efficiency with their minimal power consumption. The low beams, for example, consume only 40 watts per unit, slightly less than the highly efficient xenon plus headlights.

The innovative technology of the full LED headlights led to a radically new and fascinating design. The low beams comprise ten individual lens modules extending through the headlight in a distinctive arc below the chrome contour known as the wing owing to its shape.Just below this is another arc of 22 white and 22 yellow LEDs for the daytime running lights and the turn signals. Their “thick wall" technology makes them appear to the viewer as homogenous, continuous strips of light.

Located above the wing are the high beams, whose light is generated by two powerful four-chip LEDs and a free surface reflector system. An assistance function switches between the low beams and the high beams. Additional high-output LEDs generate the highway light and the cornering light. A separate fan and heat sink moderate the temperature of each headlight unit. These lights are priced at R23 170. Standard equipment on all A8 models is bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights. 

Body

Big, strong, stable and yet amazingly lightweight – the aluminium body of the Audi A8 once again sets new standards. Its low weight of 231 kilograms is a key factor of the high driving dynamics and exemplary efficiency of the Audi A8. In steel, the body would weigh approximately 40 percent more. Including the standard quattro all-wheel drive system, the Audi A8 4.2 FSI weighs in at only 1,835 kilograms, well less than its competitors. Audi, the lightweight design pioneer of the automotive industry, once again demonstrates its authority in this important field of vehicle design. 

Body Construction

With the ASF (Aluminium Space Frame) skeleton of the Audi A8, the steel B-pillars cannot simply be welded into the aluminium body. The two materials exhibit different degrees of expansion when heated, including a risk of contact corrosion at the joints.
Instead, self-tapping screws (flow drill screws) are used for a secure hold and the utmost precision. Installed by a high-speed robot working with high axial forces, the screws melt the material lightly and tap their own threads. A structural adhesive further improves the strength of the joint while simultaneously forming a separating layer and thus solving the problem of contact erosion. 

Acoustics

The ASF (Aluminium Space Frame) body demonstrates its superiority in every field of technology. The static torsional stiffness has increased by 25 percent in comparison to its predecessor, already a leader in the field; it forms the basis for the precise, dynamic handling. The dynamic torsional rigidity of the body has improved by 15 percent, while its lightweight quality – the relationship between weight, torsional stiffness and size – has improved 20 percent over the previous generation. 

Aerodynamics

The Audi A8 glides quietly through the wind. The V8 4.2 FSI version has a drag coefficient of 0.26, with the frontal area measuring 2.41 m². Laborious fine tuning reduced the drag coefficient compared to the previous model sufficiently to offset the increase in size. Low lift coefficients at the front and rear axles ensure confident stability at highway speeds.

This luxury sedan once again leads its class in wind noise comfort. At a cruising speed of 120 km/h, the noise of the slipstream is the loudest sound source in the cabin. The Audi engineers adopted numerous detailed solutions to reduce this source of noise. A water-catching strip with a rounded leading edge, a complex door seal concept with three sealing lines and an acoustically comfortable sunroof all work together to reduce wind noise. The sunroof’s wind deflector extends in two stages as a factor of driving speed to suppress whooshing noises and booming attributable to dynamic pressure. 

Interior

The interior of the Audi A8 is a wellness lounge for the senses. With generous spaciousness, clear, elegant styling and uncompromising, craftsman-like fit and finish, the interior is deeply rooted in the philosophy of the four rings brand. In the cut it is wider, airier and more open than its predecessor – a new lightness that manifests in numbers but much more so when experienced. Audi has once again set new standards in the luxury class when it comes to interior design, ergonomics and equipment.

The salient element is the “wrap-around” – a wide arch spanning the entire cabin. It integrates both the rear shelf and the instrument panel. The “wrap-around” forms an elegant beltline as on a yacht, putting the crowning touch on the concept of lean and wedge-shaped lines.

The large curve integrates the unusually sleek and low instrument panel. It begins well below the base of the windshield and angles slightly downward toward the seats. Although the seats in the Audi A8 are mounted sportily low, most drivers can see the entire hood thanks to the low front end.

The Audi brand’s clear and intuitive operating philosophy is one of its classic strengths and reaches new heights in the Audi A8. All important functions have remained in their familiar places: the headlight controller is on the right; the switch for the emergency flashers in the middle. This switch is flanked by a strip of secondary buttons, at the centre of which is a high-quality analogue clock with a black face. Located below the strip of buttons and behind a cover are the slots for the DVD player and the memory cards.

Instrumentation

The instrument cluster includes two large dials for engine speed and driving speed. Their red needles point to six o’clock when in the zero position and run up and fall back down when the car is started. With their black markings and clear, classic graphics, the instruments can be easily read at a glance, as can the kidney-shaped displays for the coolant temperature and fuel level at their edges.

The standard high resolution driver information system (DIS), which serves as a fully fledged control centre has an all new layout. The display located in the centre of the driver’s field of view between the instrument dials grew 40 percent from 5 to 7 inches (diagonal). It consolidates and visualizes the numerous functions of the Audi A8 in an easy-to-understand concept. 

Temporary warnings and hints are displayed in the header. The main menu bar with tabs for vehicle functions, audio, telephone and navigation is permanently displayed here. The topic selected by the driver appears in the large field below. The status line at the bottom of the display shows the time, the outside temperature, the gear selected and the odometer reading.

Operation of the DIS via the leather multifunction steering wheel also features new solutions. As before, two buttons and two press-and-turn roller controls are located in each spoke. The control fields are supplemented by two paddles delicately framed in chrome. The typical Audi levers for the turn signals/high beams, cruise control and windshield wipers are located behind the wheel.

Every new Audi A8 comes equipped with shift paddles for the new eight-speed Tiptronic transmission. Mounted directly behind the spokes, the ergonomics are perfect. The left paddle shifts down; the right paddle shifts up. The engine is started using the standard start-stop button; the key can stay in your pocket. 
 
Third Generation MMI with Touch Pad

The console on the centre tunnel is clearly separated from the instrument panel, visually, and forms its own volume. Wide-cut and slightly inclined, it is an ergonomically perfect control panel with clearly delimited work areas.

The new selector lever for the eight-speed Tiptronic and the button for the electromechanical parking brake are located in the horizontal rear area. The control panel for the automatic climate control system and the terminal for the MMI operating and multimedia system are located on the inclined portion.

Since its debut in 2002, the Multi Media Interface from Audi has distinguished itself as the best user interface in its class. The Audi A8 features the third-generation MMI, whose development was shaped by numerous studies and analyzes with customers from different parts of the world.

When inactive, the onboard monitor is retracted into the instrument panel, with only its top edge visible as a delicate trim strip. Switched on, it moves upwards in an elegant curve, setting the scene for the system start.

Revolutionary operation: MMI touch

Audi has taken a revolutionary new path in the operation of the MMI navigation plus: it uses a touchpad like on a laptop. The touchpad is standard. To enter the destination or even the phone number, you simply draw the letters or numbers on the touch-sensitive control panel with the index finger of your left hand. The MMI touch can also be used to navigate with the map.

The new input technology functions intuitively and takes no time at all to get used to. Unlike with the touch screens used by the competition, the left hand is ideally guided because it rests on the selector lever of the eight-speed Tiptronic. The finger traces the letters and numbers almost automatically without the driver having to look down to check and see how it's doing. The driver’s eyes stay on the road.

The system acknowledges the input after each character with an acoustic feedback signal . If you make a mistake, a simple swipe from left to right is all that it takes to delete the wrong character. In contrast to voice control, touchpad input is possible even while speaking or listening to an audio source.

Along with MMI touch, the Audi A8 also offers the familiar Audi operation with the MMI rotary pushbutton. The optional voice control understands complete words, not just individual letters. Audi has made it even better: places and roads can now be spoken as commands, and it can even be used to access music data easily.
 
The control terminal features a clearly organized landscape. To the left and right of the central rotary pushbutton are four soft keys used to navigate through the menus. The four adjacent hard keys control the following areas: vehicle settings, navigation, telephone and information. They are supplemented by a menu button and a back button. Audio is controlled via a separate block with five buttons and a dial for the volume. Added to this are six fixed radio station buttons. In the MMI navigation plus version, these are a virtual touch surface called the MMI touch.

 Audi A8 drivers can remain very relaxed while operating the MMI terminal. Asymmetrically located on the centre tunnel, the selector lever of the eight-speed Tiptronic is the ideal resting place for the driver’s left wrist so that the hand can easily press and turn switches.

The Audi A8 also raises the bar in the luxury class with respect to the quality of workmanship, another domain of Audi. The materials, their look, their tight, precise tolerances between the components are the factors that create the overall impression through their harmonious interaction.

Highly emotional: Ambient Lighting

At dark another high-end feature comes into play – the newly designed ambient lighting. Produced by light emitting diodes and controlled by complex electronics, the ambient lighting turns on when the Audi A8 is unlocked with the remote. Beginning at the driver's seat, it spreads through the cabin. As soon as a door is opened, it focuses on that area. 

The ambient lighting is available in two versions. With the standard version, white LEDs in the headlining, in the footwells, and the door handles set subtly shining accents, with the strips of light between the grab handles in the headlining making a particularly premium impression. LEDs are also used for the reading lights and vanity lights as well as for the door lights. 

The ambient light package – an emotional overall orchestration – is also available as an option for the Audi A8. With this package, LEDs also illuminate the tunnel, the door pockets, and the door sill strips; the centre console appears to float in the effective lighting. Many of these LEDs are two-coloured or three-coloured – the driver can use the MMI to choose between the colour schemes ivory, polar, or ruby/polar, and adjust the brightness in four zones separately or as a whole.

First-class comfort: Front Seating

The comfort seats offer great luxury – 22 parameters can be adjusted to ideally match the seat to your body. The inclination of the head of the backrest, the depth of the seat cushion, the inclination and height of the headrest – which is equipped with side bolsters that can also be adjusted – and the width of the seat and the backrest can all be finely adjusted here. Like the four-way lumbar support, this latter function is pneumatic. Front seat heating and ventilation is standard on the Audi A8 4.2 FSI.

Audi has greatly reduced the number of switches for adjusting the seats. All primary adjustments continue to be made using intuitive switches on the side of the console that mirror the shape of the seat.A separate multifunction switch with a rotary ring and four buttons controls the secondary functions, such as the side bolsters or the massage function. Each step is visualized in high resolution on the large MMI monitor.

Wide and spacious: Luggage Capacity

The Audi A8 offers 510 litres of luggage space, 10 litres more than in the previous model. The boot is also laid out practically. Although shorter at 91 centimetres; at a best-in-class 104 centimetres, however, it has become much wider. The loading lip height of 69 centimetres is pleasantly low.

Four golf bags (size dependent) can be fitted crosswise; smaller objects are accommodated in the side compartments, which are secured by individual nets. Three lights, four spring-loaded chrome lashing eyes and high-grade piping framing the floor bed testify to the high level of quality even in the boot. A pretensioned spring automatically swings the boot lid upward when unlocked.

Audi offers an optional luggage compartment package that includes a floor net, two foldout hooks for bags, an umbrella holder and a 12 V outlet. The electric boot lid provides added convenience; it can be opened with buttons on the lid, inside the vehicle and on the remote key fob. A button on the inside of the boot closes it.

Engine

Superior power and exemplary efficiency – the Audi A8 makes its debut on the market with a powerful petrol V8 engine. Three further model introductions will take place in 2011- a 4.2 V8 TDI, V6 3.0 Supercharged and a V6 3.0 TDI. All four engines feature direct fuel injection and consume as much as 22 percent less fuel than their predecessor.

Audi uses new technologies from its modular efficiency platform in all four engines. One of these is the recuperation system. Whenever the driver lifts off the accelerator or brakes, the intelligent management system slightly increases the voltage of the generator so that it recharges the battery, which features particularly high cycle strength.

Electricity is fed back during subsequent acceleration, and the engine has to use less power to drive the generator. The generator uses a novel water cooling system. More efficient than an electric fan, this alone brings a benefit of roughly 0.1 litres/100 km.

The innovative thermal management is another example of Audi advancement. It reduces fuel consumption by around three percent. Many car trips cover less than 15 kilometres, which is why an intelligent cold start and warm up program is so important.

In the Audi A8, electronically controlled valves completely disconnect the engine from the cooling system for a brief time following a cold start. This quickly gets the motor oil up to operating temperature and shortens the phase of elevated friction losses substantially.

Once enough hot cooling water is available, the transmission oil for the eight-speed Tiptronic is heated using a heat exchanger. A proprietary computer controls a multiplicity of actuators that ideally distribute the flows of heat between the engine, the transmission and the cabin in any situation – in the city and on the highway, in summer and in winter.

V8 4.2 FSI

The 4.2 FSI draws 273 kW of power from a 4,163 cc displacement, generating a maximum of 445 Nm torque at 3,500 rpm. It accelerates the Audi A8 from zero to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds on its way to an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h. The powerful petrol engine is content with 9.5 litres/100 km – a reduction of 1.4 litres or 13 percent compared to the previous model despite a 16 kW increase in power. The CO₂ emission rate is a benchmark 219 g/km.

Like all of the engines in the Audi A8, the 4.2 FSI is a long-stroke model with a 90 degree cylinder angle and a cylinder spacing of 90 millimetres. A two-stage chain drive, placed at the back of the engine to save space, drives the four camshafts, which can be continuously moved through 40 degrees of crankshaft rotation to ideally fill the combustion chambers. A fourth, particularly quiet running chain drives the ancillaries. 

The cylinder case of the 4.2 FSI is made of a lightweight aluminium/silicon alloy. The cylinder barrels are finely honed by exposing the hard silicon crystals. An improved method and optimized piston rings also reduce friction here. The lands between the cylinders are only 5.5 millimetres wide. The V8 is unusually trim, weighing only 197 kilograms, which has a positive effect on the total weight of the Audi A8 and on the distribution of axial loads.

Like all petrol engines from Audi, the V8 uses FSI direct injection. The plastic intake manifold switches between two stages; pneumatically actuated flaps control its length and the tumble. The newly developed injectors of the common rail unit inject the petrol into this roller-shaped movement of air at a pressure of 140 bar. It vaporizes on the walls of the combustion chamber, thus cooling them. This allows a high compression of 12.5:1 for greater efficiency. All of this activity is managed by a state-of-the-art engine management unit.

The V8 has an appealing, very cultivated sound throughout the entire speed range. Among the many measures employed by Audi to further improve the acoustics is a torsion damper that decouples the drive for the air conditioning compressor.Pressure losses through the engine’s airways are minimized – from the new dual admission tract at the front of the vehicle to the exhaust system, whose backpressure has been reduced by 20 percent. The two catalytic converters sit directly behind the exhaust manifolds so that they quickly commence operation after the engine is started. The entire exhaust system weighs eight kilograms less than in the previous model, with higher-grade steels that get by with thinner walls making the difference.

Drivetrain

The Audi A8 offers the utmost superiority and the latest technology in power transmission. All four engine versions come standard with a new, eight-speed Tiptronic electronically controlled with an innovative selector lever and quattro permanent all-wheel drive. The dynamic sport differential is available from Audi as an option.

The eight-speed Tiptronic is a torque converter transmission that has been newly developed from the ground up. Its key strength lies in the high overall gear ratio of 7.0:1 between the shortest and longest gear ratio. The Audi A8 accelerates dynamically when starting off; it rolls along the highway with low, consumption-reducing engine speeds in the two highest gears.

The new transmission reduces fuel consumption by roughly 6 percent over the six-speed Tiptronic in the previous model. Its eight speeds keep the jumps in engine speed between gears low, and the engine always runs in the vicinity of its ideal operating point. Gear changes are very gentle, almost imperceptible to the driver. They are fast and very flexible.

Permanent quattro all-wheel drive

quattro permanent all-wheel drive is a major reason for the head start that the   Audi A8 enjoys over its competitors. It provides for reliable traction and directional control, and lays the foundation for dynamic handling and uncompromising road stability under all weather conditions.

At the heart of the quattro drivetrain is the mechanical centre differential that reacts virtually instantly and distributes the power to both axles. With the symmetric/dynamic standard distribution, 60 percent flows to the rear differential and 40 percent to the front differential – a sporty characteristic. 

The mechanical centre differential senses the torque, and instantly and automatically transfers most of the power to the axle with the better traction as needed. Up to 80 percent can be directed to the rear wheels and up to 60 percent to the front wheels. 

The principle of lightweight construction was also applied to the cardan shaft. It is connected to the centre differential by latching into a clamp connection. This solution saves 1.3 kilograms of weight compared to the conventional flanged joints while also providing for the smooth transmission of torque and high rigidity. 

An auxiliary shaft runs from the front end of the centre differential and along the right side of the eight-speed Tiptronic to the front differential. It is inclined slightly and therefore has a very sophisticated system of teeth. Audi has also reduced the weight and internal friction of the cardan shafts for the front axle. 

Chassis

The Audi A8 chassis combines uncompromising precision with great dynamism, superior stability, and excellent comfort. The adaptive air suspension including controlled damping and the Audi drive select dynamics system comes standard, as is dynamic steering.

Shifted forward: the front axle

The Audi engineers have shifted the five-link front axle forward by 145 millimetres compared to the previous model. The result is a well-balanced distribution of vehicle weight between the front and rear axles, with the rear-axle differential in the quattro drivetrain and the battery located in the boot contributing to this balance. The 1,644 millimetre front track of the Audi A8 is far wider than those of its competitors.

Precise and sensitive: the steering

The steering gear is a rack-and-pinion design with a casing of lightweight die-cast aluminium. With a ratio of 16.1:1, the steering is sporty and direct, communicating precise and finely differentiated feedback from the road in any situation.

A controlled-output vane-type pump supplies the necessary hydraulic energy; unlike conventional power-steering pumps, which circulate a large volume of oil internally, it delivers only as much oil as is needed at any given operating point. This reduces the fuel consumption of the Audi A8 by 0.1 litres/100 km. 

All  Audi A8 versions leave the factory with servotronic power steering, which adapts its power assist to the speed being driven to further enhance both comfort and the sporty character. The steering is precise in all situations while at the same time communicating finely differentiated feedback from the road.

Dynamics and comfort: the rear suspension

Major elements of the rear suspension of the Audi A8, which has a track of 1,635 millimetres, have been redesigned. Designed according to the track-controlled trapezoidal link principle, it combines compact design with superior performance and comfort qualities. The overall kinematics greatly suppress dive and pitch while braking and accelerating, which also enhances the sporty dynamics.

Unlike in the previous model, the struts no longer rest against the upper transverse links, but rather directly on the wheel carriers. This allows a 30 percent higher damping ratio so that the dampers react with greater sensitivity. 

The developers were also able to redesign the axle beam bearings to be more comfortable. Elastic bearings connect the wheel control arms to the axle subframe. With their high damping rate rubber mixtures, they play a major role in bringing comfort and dynamics together. 

The Standard: Audi Drive Select

Audi drive select lends an incredible range to the experience of driving in the new Audi  A8 – from highly comfortable to sporty and taut. It integrates the adaptive air suspension, the engine, the eight-speed Tiptronic, servotronic power steering and Audi pre sense basic (or plus). The system modifies the characteristics of the air springs, dampers, and the accelerator, and adapts the shift points, steering boost, and the trigger time for the reversible belt tensioners.

With the MMI the driver can change the characteristics of these modules between the comfort, auto, and dynamic modes at any time via the “Vehicle settings” menu. All adjustments are made safely and harmoniously; they make their presence known, but never irritate. You can also compose your own “individual” mode – within certain reasonable limits – corresponding to your own personal ideal by choosing settings from the portfolio.

Variable gear ratio: dynamic steering

Dynamic steering is a high-end feature that varies the steering ratio by nearly100 percent as a function of driving speed and the setting in Audi drive select.

The central component is a superposition gear integrated into the steering column and driven by an electric motor – a harmonic drive originally developed for robotics and space flight applications. The unit is compact and light and reacts free of play, precisely, and with low friction. The harmonic drive can transmit immense amounts of torque and is very efficient.

Sporty and very comfortable: adaptive air suspension

The Audi A8 comes standard with the very comfortable and yet sporty adaptive air suspension. When integrated into the Audi drive select system, this combines a high-end air suspension with controlled damping. It takes ride comfort to a whole new dimension – the Audi A8 reacts to irregularities in the road surface smoothly and confidently.

The air supply for the adaptive air suspension is located in the rear of the Audi A8. The extremely quiet compressor generates 18 bar of pressure and fills a 5.8-litre cylindrical pressure vessel of aluminium. Control from the pressure reservoir substantially accelerates the level regulation processes.

There are many improvements that enhance comfort. The struts have been newly developed; their increased air capacity now allows a soft characteristic even without an auxiliary accumulator and a fine response even to slight irregularities.

Safe and agile: ESP

ESP makes a considerable contribution to the agile, sporty character conveyed by the Audi A8. The stabilization system uses a high-performance, six-piston pump that generates pressure dynamically and controls it precisely and comfortably, free of jolts and perceptible vibrations. The weight of the brake booster has been reduced by 30 percent compared to the previous model. 

ESP offers a second mode – the sport mode. In this mode, engine intervention is largely deactivated and brake intervention somewhat reduced so that experienced Audi A8 drivers can drive very dynamically on winding roads. 

ESP also offers other functions. For instance, it stabilizes a trailer that is threatening to fishtail by braking the wheels of the Audi A8 in a rhythm opposed to the oscillations. This intervention takes place in three stages depending on how critical the situation is. 

The stabilization system works very closely together with the dynamic steering, the damper control system and the sport differential. Audi has networked the chassis control systems of the Audi A8 in an innovative manner so that they now work faster and more closely together than before, with the ESP controller serving as the central integration platform. 

The Audi A8 comes standard with a tyre pressure indicator that is also integrated into the ESP. This is a system that measures indirectly, has no sensors of its own and thus adds no weight and requires no maintenance.It displays a warning on the onboard monitor to inform the driver of a loss of pressure in one or more tyres. If only one tyre is affected, the position of the tyre is indicated. A warning is also given in the event of diffusion pressure losses, which lead to increased rolling resistance and thus higher fuel consumption.

This is possible because the tyre pressure monitor not only compares the speeds of the four wheels as measured by the ABS sensors, it also monitors changes in tyre vibration caused by stimuli from the road. In the event of a loss of pressure, the amplitude and eigen frequency of the tyre changes significantly, from which a change in pressure can be deduced.

Safety
 
The Audi A8 protects its passengers in new, highly intelligent ways: with a high-strength body, adaptive restraint systems and the new Audi pre sense safety system. It is available in a standard version and in three expanded levels.
 
In the standard variant, Audi pre sense basic, the system utilizes the information from the ESP sensors. When they signal a critical situation, such as skidding or maximum braking, the control unit intervenes. Depending on the situation, it activates the hazard warning lights and closes the side windows and the sunroof; it also partly or fully tensions the front seat belts. Small electric motors trigger this process, which is reversible – if the situation is averted without an accident, the belts are released again. Audi pre sense tensions the front belts ever so slightly every time the car.
 
The expanded levels of the new safety system are called Audi pre sense front, Audi pre sense plus and Audi pre sense rear. They are networked in a pioneering manner with the optional assistance systems Audi adaptive cruise control with stop & go function and Audi side assist. This makes their actions more differentiated and powerful than those of competing systems.
 
In finely tuned interplay with ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) stop & go, Audi pre sense front affords additional protection against rear-end collisions with moving vehicles, and supports the driver in three stages. If the luxury sedan is approaching a slower moving car ahead, a warning gong sounds while a red signal lights up on the dashboard.

Parallel to this, the brake system is prefilled and the air strut/damper suspension is set to hard. The warning – and that is the Audi philosophy – is intended to persuade the driver to brake himself or to make an avoidance manoeuvre, which is often the better strategy. At this point there is still plenty of time to do so. 

If the person at the wheel remains passive, the acute warning is issued in stage 2 – a warning jolt produced by the rapid generation of pressure in the brake system and lasting approximately 0.5 seconds. The seatbelts are lightly tensioned at the same time. If the driver now depresses the pedal, the hydraulic brake assist system provides more powerful braking relative to the preceding vehicle. The fact that the system is already prefilled saves between 0.1 to 0.2 seconds, or more than seven metres at a speed of 130 km/h.

Should the driver also ignore the warning jolt, the third stage is activated – autonomous partial braking that initially slows the Audi A8 at a rate of 3 m/s². At this stage it closes the windows and sunroof and activates the hazard warning lights.

Rear-impact protection: head restraint system

The structural design of the seats and headrests is an important element of safety design, especially in the case of a rear-end collision. These types of accidents frequently occur at traffic lights, usually with impact speeds between 15 and 50 km/h.

In such collisions, the seatback is accelerated to between 7 and 25 km/h within a tenth of a second. The integral head restraint system from Audi acts here to counter the risk of whiplash injuries. 

Four side airbags in the backrests of the front seats and the outside rear seats stand at the ready to catch pelvic area and chest of the occupants in the event of a side-impact collision. The head airbag system protects the head. Stretching from the A-pillar to the C-pillar, it opens like a curtain from the roof frame to the door sill and is filled extremely quickly by the gas generator. 

The Audi A8 has three-point automatic seatbelts with tension limiters at all five seats. The rear seats are equipped with Isofix fixtures for installing child seats. Large beams in the rear protect the passenger cell; the rear wheels are braced against the side sills in the event of a collision. 

The spare wheel well, which contains technical components like the battery or the compressor for the air struts, is very robust thanks to its high percentage of fibreglass and the voids in its plastic structure. A wide strip of embedded aluminium makes it even stronger. 

The front and rear sensors remain undamaged in the event of a low-speed parking crash because they are cleverly integrated into the deformable covering of the bumpers. The radar sensors for the ACC stop & go function and the camera for the night vision assistant are deep inside their cavities. 

Driver assistance systems

The Audi A8 also demonstrates the innovative power of Audi in its assistance systems, offering a wide, newly echeloned range of high-tech systems. These systems regulate the distance to the car ahead, help the driver to change lanes and stay in the lane, and assist with parking. They recognize speed limit signs and see far ahead into the night. Compared with the competition, the systems in the Audi A8 are considerably more powerful and intelligent, thanks to their pioneering new networking. 

The radar-aided automatic proximity control system, adaptive cruise control with stop & go, is a major advancement over its predecessor. It regulates the speed and the distance to the vehicle ahead by accelerating and braking in a speed range from 0 to 250 km/h, and brakes automatically within certain limits. Because the ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) stop & go function works together with the navigation system, it knows the course of the route in advance.

The system, which Audi has subjected to more than 600,000 kilometres of field testing, is particularly convenient in stop & go traffic. It brings the Audi A8 to a stop roughly four metres behind the vehicle ahead with no intervention on the part of the driver.

If the stop is brief, the sedan automatically resumes moving again; after a longer stop the driver must tap the accelerator or the cruise control lever. The driver can also anticipate and do this while the Audi A8 is still stopped. The car is then ready to depart for the next 15 seconds and follows the vehicle ahead as soon as it begins rolling.

The two radar sensors play a major role in the performance of the system. They are installed in the air inlets at the front of the car and are automatically heated when it is cold. They transmit radar waves at a frequency of 76.5 gigahertz covering a 40 degree wedge-shaped field measuring 250 metres in length. A computer uses this to analyze the traffic situation in front of the vehicle and detect the preceding vehicles.

The driver can influence the function of the ACC stop & go; the interval to the vehicle ahead is adjustable in four steps and the three levels of control system dynamics have been defined. Acceleration and braking is comfortable.

Deceleration is limited to 4 m/s² – a good third of the maximum and subjectively equivalent to stepping on the brake pedal with medium force. The six-piston pump at the heart of the brake system generates the pressure very smoothly and harmoniously.

Audi side assist

Audi side assist activates at speeds above 30 km/h. Two 24-gigahertz radar systems in the rear observe what is happening behind the Audi A8 to a distance of 70 metres. Their data are analyzed by a computer. If another vehicle moves into the critical zone – if it is riding in the blind spot or approaching rapidly from the rear – the so-called information stage is activated. A yellow LED indicator illuminates in the casing of the driver’s side mirror; the driver sees it only when looking directly into the mirror. 

If drivers activate their turn signal to change lanes in spite of the warning, the indicator become brighter and flashes at a high frequency. This signal – the warning stage – can hardly be overlooked. The display is such that in practice it is only visible to the driver. Its brightness adapts to ambient light conditions and can also be adjusted via the MMI control terminal.

Audi lane assist

At speeds above roughly 65 km/h, Audi lane assist warns the driver when he or she is about to leave the lane inadvertently. A camera mounted in front of the rear-view mirror observes the road to a distance of 60 metres and a coverage angle of 40 degrees. It delivers 25 high-definition images per second. Sophisticated software processes the images, identifies the lane markings and the course the new Audi A8 is following between them.

If the driver allows the car to wander in the direction of a lane marking but has not indicated that he or she intends to make a turn, Audi lane assist warns the driver by vibrating the steering wheel. The vibration is generated by a vibration motor in one of the spokes; its intensity can be adjusted in three stages using the MMI. When this warning is given is also selectable – before the wheel touches the line, when crossing the line or at the discretion of the system. 

Compared to the previous version, Audi lane assist has become much more powerful. For instance, the colour camera can differentiate between the yellow line in construction zones and the white ones. It meets its limits under particularly unfavourable conditions; such as if the road surface is very dirty. It informs the driver when this is the case. 

The Audi lane assist camera serves a number of important functions in addition to this primary function. It provides important imagery for the ACC stop & go – it can detect vehicles on the road ahead and recognize when they signal. Its data also go into the start-up function in stop & go traffic. The camera’s images also play an important role in emergency braking initiated by Audi pre sense front and for the continuous headlight range control. 

Speed assistant: speed limit display

The camera in the base of the mirror is also used by an entirely new assistance system – the speed limit display that will be available from late-2010. It detects the signs on the side of the road and their supplemental panels referring to wet conditions or times of day, for example. It shows the signs with the supplemental panels as graphics on the instrument cluster display, so that the driver can see the current speed limit at a glance.

Night vision assistant
 
Also debuting in the Audi A8 is the night vision assistant, which is activated via a button at the light switch. At the heart of this system is a thermal imaging camera mounted behind the outer left of the four rings at the front of the car. It has a wide, 24-degree angle of view, and its protective window is cleaned when dirty and heated when cold. 
  
As a far infrared system (FIR), the camera reacts to the heat radiated by objects. A computer transforms the information from the camera into black-and-white images and displays them on the central display located between the instruments. The view continuously tracks the road and the course of the Audi A8.
 The far infrared system technology has significant strengths, particularly when compared to the competing near infrared systems. Independent of driving speed, it can look as far as 300 metres ahead, far beyond the range of the high beams, and therefore is not blinded by headlights and similar light sources. Most importantly, it concentrates on the essentials: animals and people. Regardless of whether they appear bright or dark to the human eye, they are conspicuously bright in the image due the heat they give off, whereas the cooler road appears dark.

The image processing software can detect persons at a range of 100 metres for even greater safety. When analyzing the data, it specifically seeks out human contours and objects that are bright and round – their heads, in other words. Traffic lights, tail lights, and similar light sources are subtracted out. Detected persons are highlighted with yellow markings on the display. If the control unit assumes a hazard because a person is walking on the road close to the car, for example, the person is highlighted in red and a warning gong sounds. 

The marking, the gong, and image contrast can be configured via the MMI. Like every assistance system, the night vision assistant also works within certain, very liberal system limitations. Pedestrian highlighting is switched off at temperatures above 28 degrees Celsius, for example. 

Infotainment systems

Audi has also set the bar significantly higher with regard to multimedia technology with the Audi A8. The standard new MMI navigation plus system provides its data to other technology modules, making the entire car highly intelligent. Its radically new operating concept with the MMI touch touchpad is another pioneering solution. The Audi A8 also leads the competition with respect to telephony and infotainment features.

The new MMI navigation plus is pure high-tech. All functions, including the DVD drive, are integrated in the main unit – the central computer in the centre console.  Audi A8 owners can use a third of the 60 GB hard drive as a jukebox holding up to 4,000 songs. The hard drive also stores the navigation data. Two processors ensure that all applications such as navigation, voice control, telephony and audio remain fast and fluid when used simultaneously.

A dedicated 3D graphics processor generates the three-dimensional images in high resolution and high quality.  If desired, an automated zoom feature always shows the most relevant section of the map, and route guidance now offers the choice between the classic arrow and a new, animated display with a lot of detailed information.

The functions of the tuner and sound system are consolidated in a second block, the radio unit. A central interface connects both units to the vehicle network. All the components have been developed according to strict Audi specifications. The Audi quality standards were as uncompromising as ever because the electronics used in a car have to be able to withstand extreme temperatures and vibrations. 

In-depth information in advance: MMI navigation plus

The new MMI navigation plus is networked in a pioneering fashion with the driver assistance and safety systems. The navigation system analyzes these data predictively, reading the current course of the sedan but always thinking a bit ahead.

The predictive route data flow along the data bus that forms the electronic central nervous system of the Audi A8. It uses a protocol developed by Audi to provide the data to the computers that manage the Audi adaptive cruise control with stop & go, the headlights and the eight-speed Tiptronic. This enables these systems to precisely adapt their function to conditions in advance. 

Sparkling brilliance: Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System

Standard on the vehicle is the BOSE sound system. At the top of the line is the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System. It is impressive for its sparkling brilliance, detailed resolution and broad, finely differentiated frequency range; in conjunction with MMI navigation plus it also includes a surround sound function.

The heart of the Advanced Sound System is formed by two amplifiers with over 1,400 watts of total output. Like most of the infotainment components in the Audi A8, they are integrated into the rear seatback.

Entertainment: rear seat entertainment

Audi has developed the rear seat entertainment system for the Audi A8 passengers large and small who frequently ride in the back seat. Two 10.2-inch displays – a record-setting 16 millimetres thin – are integrated in the backrests of the driver and front passenger seats. They can be tilted 10 degrees and they can separately display different content. Sound is supplied via wired or Bluetooth headphones. 

The rear seat entertainment system includes a separate single DVD drive, a hard drive jukebox, two slots for SD memory cards, and its own Audi music interface. The system also has full access to the radio, the TV tuner – whose picture can also be seen in the back while underway – the DVD changer, the telephone and the navigation system. A separate large MMI controller in the rear centre armrest controls the system – another instance of first-class convenience.
 
Deluxe communication: telephone and online services

Audi offers a Bluetooth hands-free system for stress-free phone calls. Drivers can leave their mobile phone in their jacket pocket; the car phone borrows the data from the SIM card and phone storage via Bluetooth. It uses the vehicle antenna for optimal reception and a digital voice processor ensures excellent hands-free speech quality. The sound system transmits voice signals; the radio volume control regulates the sound level.

Another option is the GPRS module for data transmission. It delivers news and weather information from the Internet to the Audi A8 and is used to find destinations when planning trips. The search function is very versatile and can find terms such as “restaurant” or “shoe store”.  

Equipment:
 
Audi A8 V8 4.2 FSI has the following standard equipment:
 
Exterior:

• Adaptive air suspension incorporating Audi Drive Select
•  Xenon Plus headlights with LED daytime running lights
•  Tail lights with LED lighting 
•  Park Distance Control, front and rear
•  Electric glass sunroof
•  Power closing doors
•  Electronic tailgate
•  Exterior mirrors electric with auto dimming function
•  Metallic paint
•  19” alloy wheels in 10 spoke Y design with size 255/45 tyres
•  Tyre pressure monitor

 
Interior:

• MMI Navigation with hard disk, Bluetooth, Voice control
•  Audi Music Interface
•  DVD changer
•  Bose sound system
•  Electric sunshade for rear window
•  Climatronic air conditioner, 4 zone
•  Keyless entry
•  Multifunction steering wheel 3 spoke with shift paddles
•  Isofix mounting on front passenger seat, airbag de-activation
•  Valcona leather
•  Front seats with heating and ventilation
•  Comfort front centre armrest
•  Interior lighting package with LED technology
•  Full size spare wheel at no cost.
•  Comfort front seats with memory function and 22 way adjustment
•  Audi Dynamic steering
•  Burr walnut inlays
•  Electrically adjustable steering column
•  Ventilated glove box

 
Optional Equipment:
 

• Night Vision Assist
•  Speed Limit Display
•  Pre sense front integrated into Adaptive Cruise Control
•  Pre sense rear integrated into Audi Side Assist
•  Rear seat entertainment
•  Full LED Headlights
•  20” alloy wheels and tyres
•  Audi Parking System Plus
•  Sports Differential
•  Sport Adaptive Air Suspension
•  Audi Dynamic Steering
•  Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System
•  Electronic solar sunroof
•  Electric towing bracket
•  TV reception