Audi's A8 flagship gets enhanced, with an exclusive version for China

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Audi’s A8 flagship gets enhanced, with an exclusive version for China

The Audi A8 is one of the German carmaker’s older models with a history going back to 1994. Asa a flagship model, it typically introduced pioneering technology and the first A8 was built with a significant innovation – an aluminium monocoque structure called the Audi Space Frame (ASF) which brought weight down without losing structural strength. The weight savings were of great value to a large limousine like the A8.

Since then, the model has had four generations, the current one having been introduced in 2017. An update has therefore been due and the enhanced A8 makes it debut this week. Noticeable exterior changes are the new advanced headlights and taillights, new elements which give a sharper design, while also adding presence and authority.

Advanced headlight systems
Comparable with video projectors, the Digital Matrix LED headlights use DMD (digital micromirror device) technology. Each headlight has approximately 1.3 million micromirrors, which disperse the light in tiny pixels and precisely control them.

One new function is lane and orientation lights for highways. The new A8 comes with Digital OLED rear lights (OLED = organic light emitting diode) as a standard feature. When ordering the car, there are two rear light signatures to choose from – three with the S8. In conjunction with the assistance systems, the digital OLED rear lights have a proximity indication feature.

Beyond the basic exterior, Audi is offering its customers a chrome exterior package and, for the first time in the A8, the new S line exterior package. The look is even more defined with the additional black appearance package.

Reduction as a design medium
The architecture of the interior is strictly horizontally oriented to emphasize the car’s width. In the dark, the ambient light package plus stages the interior and the reading lights in the rear use Matrix LED technology.

The range of seats and seat equipment is varied;– especially for the back seats, many options are available. The relaxation seat in the A8 L is the most luxurious with numerous adjustment options and a footrest on the back of the passenger seat. Passengers can use it to have the bottoms of their feet warmed and massaged to various degrees.

Navigation and Audi connect
MMI Navigation plus is standard and supported by the third generation modular infotainment toolkit (MIB 3). The likewise standard online and Car-2-X services from Audi connect augment the navigation system. They are divided into two packages: Audi connect Navigation & Infotainment and Audi connect Safety & Service with Audi connect Remote & Control.

Customers can also choose various infotainment hardware. The new screens in the back are tailored to the usage needs of today’s rear-seat passengers. That means two 10.1-inch displays with full HD resolution and full connectivity options.

Three different driver assistance systems
There are about 40 driver assistance systems available for the enhanced Audi A8. Some of them – including the Audi pre sense basic and Audi pre sense front safety systems – are standard. The options are clustered into the ‘Park’, ‘City’, and ‘Tour’ packages. The assistance package plus consolidates the packages. Features like the night vision assistant and surround view cameras are available separately.

Engine range
For this generation, there are three powertrain options. Apart from the 3.0 TFSI as a V6 engine, the 4.0 TFSI, which is available for the A8 and the S8 in various output levels, distributes its 4 litres of displacement to 8 cylinders with cylinder on demand technology. The A8 is also available with a turbodiesel engine and a plug-in hybrid model will follow.

All engines use an 8-step Tiptronic and with an electric oil pump, the automatic transmission can change gears even when the combustion engine is not running. The constant all-wheel drive quattro with the self-locking centre differential is also standard, and can be optionally supplemented with the sport differential (standard in the S8 ). It actively distributes torque between the rear wheels during fast cornering and thereby makes the handling even sportier and more stable. The adaptive air suspension with controlled damping is standard. Progressive steering is another standard feature but dynamic all-wheel steering is an option.

As for the S8 S8 TSFI quattro – the sporty top version of the flagship family – the biturbo V8 generates 571 ps/800 Nm and has mild hybrid technology. This uses the A8’s 48-volt main electrical system. Only in the S8 comes with predictive active suspension, sport differential, and dynamic all-wheel steering built.

A8 L Horch for China
Exclusively for the Chinese market is the A8 L Horch. This is 5.45 metres long, which is 13 cm longer than the standard A8 L. Inside, the expanded diamond quilting, logo embossing in the cushions, and deep-pile floor mats in the back emphasize the exclusivity of this version for the largest car market in the world. On the exterior, there is a specially designed Singleframe with vertical braces as well as the Horch badge and the ‘H’ crown. For the first time in the D segment, customers in China will be able to order their car with a 2-color finish.