ABT Tweaks the New Audi A8 with 385 hp diesel

Though not as an Audi S8 substitute that was expected of ABT, the diesel powered AS8 yet appears to be a promising start for ABT. The 2011 A8 has a 4.2-liter V8 TDI engine. ABT Sportsline used this as the based and tweaked the turbo diesel engine boost the performance output. Because of this performance improvement exercise, the power levels have gained from 350HP to 385HP whereas the torque levels have increased to 880Nm or 649 lb-ft at its peak.

The new Audi comes with styling upgrades. The New Audi A8 comes bundled with a body kit consisting of a front spoiler, side skirt, a somewhat discreet boot lid spoiler, a new rear apron housing a diffuser and the new quad tail pipes. The customer may opt between a 20” or a 21” ABT CR alloy wheels wrapped in sport tires. The A8 also includes a black foil matte.

Audi A8 review

Audi A8

Audi A8

The Audi A8 is the flagship for the brand and while sales of the car itself will be dwarfed by the A4, A3 and, soon, the A1, it plays a crucial role in convincing car-buyers Audi is the right choice for them, whichever model they choose.

Plus the new technologies introduced in the A8 will soon surface elsewhere with the new A1 already earmarked for some of the premier car’s kit.
But for those who are actually looking to buy an A8 rather than bathe in the reflected glory, we can report the new car has undergone some significant improvements to make it an even more compelling choice.

The new A8 will be available in normal and long wheelbase form with a choice of two new petrol and two new diesel engines. They bring increases of between 15 and 22 per cent, reduced CO2 emissions of between 15 and 22 per cent, and improved fuel economy.

Audi A8

A8 3.0 TDI quattro

• This V6 is expected to account for 85 per cent of all cars sold. More powerful than the outgoing model, it has been boosted from 230bhp to 247bhp. CO2 emissions have been reduced from 224g/km to a class-leading 174g/km. Fuel economy is improved from 33.6mpg to a class-leading 42.8mpg. Start-stop technology is now fitted as standard.

A8 4.2 TDI quattro

• It too is more powerful than the outgoing model, its output being increased from 322bhp to a class-leading 345bhp while, CO2 emissions have been reduced from 249g/km to 199g/km. Fuel economy is improved from 30.1mpg to 37.2mpg. It covers 0-62 mph in 5.5 seconds.

Audi A8

A8 4.2 FSI quattro

• Again more powerful than the outgoing model it has been taken from 345bhp to 367bhp while CO2 emissions are down from 259g/km to a class-leading 219g/km. Fuel economy is improved from 25.9mpg to a class-leading 29.7mpg.

A8 3.0 TFSI

• This supercharged version will come with 286bhp, a 0-62mph time of 6.1 seconds, 31mpg and 213g/km of CO2.

All models are mated with a new eight speed Tiptronic transmission.

The two normal wheelbase 4.2-litre models go on sale this month with the 3.0-litre models and long wheelbase versions following later in the year.

We had the opportunity to put the 4.2-litre TDI version through its paces at the launch of its UK spec right-hand drive versions in Le Castellet, in the south of France.

(Follow the link to read Deputy Editor Stuart Milne’s first impressions of the car from the Audi A8 international launch when he had the opportunity to drive the left hand drive versions of the car.)

With prices that range from £54,835 to £66,450 and an options range which can make the final price tag a six figure sum, Audi appreciates its customers can afford the best but don’t necessarily want to put that wealth on show too much.

And for a car which is now wider and longer than luxury saloon rivals; the BMW 7 Series, the Mercedes Benz S-Class and the Jaguar XJ, it manages to conceal its bulk within a very elegant exterior.

The combination of conservative styling and cutting-edge technology, including all LED highlights, is pure Audi.

The new interior follows that theme inside with the new Multi Media Interface integrated discreetly into the dash with the controls sitting just in front of a new gearstick design (described as “yacht style” by Audi, think upside-down golfing wood) which feels very natural to use.

This is where a lot of Audi’s latest batch of the clever stuff comes into play.

Driving smart

The MMI-housed Navigation system works with the transmission and headlights.

This means the gearbox “knows” if there’re a series of corners coming up, the headlights “know” what kind of road you’re on and will vary to suit the location e.g. junction lights at a crossroads, even continental set-up lights when you cross the channel, bringing a new meaning to automatic lights.

And there was indeed a different response depending on whether I was on the winding mountain roads or the motorway. Spooky at first, but if you’ve got the money, something you could soon get used to.

The satnav can also link up with online services including weather reports and Google points of interest. Later this year the technology should be in place to make the car itself a mobile hotspot allowing complete access to the Internet, including Google earth for integration into the mapping.

All models benefit from Audi’s quattro four wheel drive system but the 4.2-litre TDI, which is due to take a smaller but significant proportion of diesel sales than the 3.0-litre, also benefits from the quattro sports differential, previously featured in the S4 quattro, as standard.

In essence it sees pulling power directed to the outer wheel when cornering which increases stability and the potential for quicker acceleration out of bends.

Despite its all-aluminium lighter and stiffer frame, the Audi A8 is still a lot of car and though this feature may not be required for motorway cruisers it certainly made a difference on our twisting route.

As for ride comfort, the standard 4 corner adaptive air suspension helps ensure the comfort levels you’d expect from a luxury saloon with full double glazing and leather keeping occupants comfortable and cosseted.

Safety

The new A8 also comes with a new raft of safety devices under the banner of its pre-sense systems, some available as standard but with the option to add further features.

These include improved adaptive cruise control (now with two radars rather than just one), as well as night vision thermal imaging (the camera is concealed within one of the rings of the Audi badge) which can pick out pedestrians ahead and display them on the screen.

This is also a feature in the BMW 7 Series launched and updated to include the 740d last year.

Available in SE and SE Executive trim, the new Audi A8 is the supremely competent car one would expect from the super-efficient German manufacturer’s flagship model.

Its abilities on road, refinement and newly-improved CO2 emissions and fuel economy should put it on any luxury saloon buyer’s shortlist.
At which point it might just come down to brand, and whether Audi has convinced you it is the one for you.

Key facts:

Model tested: A8 4.2 TDI Quattro
On the road price: £63,900
Price range: £54,835 to £66,450
Date tested: May 2010
Road tester: Adrian Higgins

Audi's A8 a step up in performance

Audi's flagship sedan, the A8, will arrive this fall in its newest generation, again offering its signature combination of performance and elegance — with a heavy dose of excellent German automotive engineering.

Also as before, the A8 will come in two sizes, standard length and long wheelbase, with the latter being the kind of vehicle that pampers the rear-seat occupants in luxury and comfort while a chauffer handles the driving duties up front.

The standard-length model will be 202 inches long, while the expanded one will be 207.4 inches long. The extra length shows up in the back seat, mostly in extra legroom.

Audi, the luxury subsidiary of Volkswagen, says the new A8 will introduce “a new era in progressive excellence” and will combine “dynamic exterior and luxurious interior design with sporty driving characteristics, while providing the highest level of comfort and convenience equipment in the segment.”

Audi A8 to Debut In Miami In Under Two Weeks

Audi’s centennial celebrations will come to a fever pitch Monday, when the car maker will unveil its all-new 2010 A8 flagship during the Design Miami art fair in Florida.

In order to showcase the new A8, Audi built its own pavilion on Miami Beach that also doubles as a museum. The reveal of the A8 will coincide with the opening of “The Art of Progress” exhibit at Design Miami, which Audi claims is inspired by both the new A8 and its own corporate philosophy.

“Since our inception, Audi has embraced progress in the quest to create groundbreaking technologies and deliver new ideas to the road,” said Rupert Stadler, chairman of Audi’s board of management. “Just as artists make it a mission to work for the untold future, so does Audi design to be relevant not just today, but for many years to come.

“The new Audi A8 embodies everything Audi stands for: fascinating innovation, uncompromising perfection, consummate craftsmanship, iconic design, and new ways of thinking. This is why we chose to present this car in this progressive environment while continuing our commitment to fostering design culture and the arts.”

Audi is really pushing the new design of the A8, so expect to see a radical departure from the

Next-Gen Audi A8 Includes Handwriting Recognition

There's comes a time in every technology's life when the envelope gets pushed just for the sake of getting pushed. For Audi's already complex MMI, this is it. Right around this time last year, we were drooling quite profusely over the A8's next-generation Multi Media Interface (which is basically a snazzy name for an in-dash NAV system), but this year, we're wondering who exactly will take advantage of the R8's next system. Aside from getting a much needed UI makeover, Autobild is reporting that said platform will include support for handwriting recognition. So far as we can tell, you simply pencil in your next address with your greasy digits and tag the correct word that pops up there on the right. We're still waiting to hear why this is preferred over a decent voice recognition system, but hey, so long as James Bond approves, who are we to argue?

2011 Audi A8: First Teaser Image Revealed

DESPITE THE EXPECTED absence of the 2011 Audi A8 at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show in September, Audi has released the first teaser image of its next-generation A8 saloon.

Resting beneath a black sheet that gives away little, the specifics of the A8’s design are well hidden. A hint of shape to the headlights is revealed courtesy of the LED daytime running lights glowing through the black sheet, while the outline of the grille is vaguely apparently as well.

Very little else has been seen of the next generation A8, and even the test mules spotted on the roads of Europe have worn the panels of the current generation D3 A8 as a disguise, albeit with widened flares and a stretched wheelbase.

Little is known about the A8’s styling, although the rendering below puts some visuals to the speculation that has followed the car since its announcement, and the new preview image adds some credence to the concept below.

A single-frame grille is expected, with the almost trademark daytime running lights running along the re-styled headlights. A coupe-like profile is also expected, inspired by the recently revealed A5 Sportback.

“The first generation was very dogmatic and product-design-like. With the second generation, the theme was ‘elegance’—softer, flowing lines. The upcoming third generation will be stronger, sharper, and more precise,” Audi’s chief designer Stefan Sielaff said of the next generation A8.

Sielaff said that the A8 will be “the first of a new styling language at Audi,” and this is most evident in the dramatic new headlight design.

The aluminium spaceframe body technology of the current A8 will carry over to the new model, which is expected to save some 150kg compared to a steel body and leading to a final kerb weight of between 1650-1900kg.

Power is expected to come from a number of engine options, including a 186kW 3.0 V6 TDI, a 216kW 3.0 litre V6 FSI, a 253 4.2 litre V8 TDI, a 277kW 4.2 litre V8 FSI, and 5.0 litre 462kW V10 FSI for the range-topping S8 model.

Audi reveals A5 Sportback

Audi has released details on its new BMW 5 Series GT rival, the A5 Sportback; unveiled today as part of the brands 100th anniversary celebrations.

The coupe-come-hatchback retains the low-slung ride height and width of the A5 coupe but is 6mm shorter than the A4 saloon. Audi admits that the A5 Sportback is slightly compromised on space, but should run rivals and the standard A4 close for rear head and legroom.

The A5 Sportback's engine line up is will consist of two TFSI engines: the 2.0-litre TFSI with 208bhp and the 3.2-litre V6 FSI with 263bhp. There'll also be two diesels, a 2.0 litre TDI and 3.0-litre TDI, offering 168bhp and 237bhp respectively. Both petrol engines and the larger diesel units will come equipped with Audi's S-Tronic seven-speed automatic transmission, while the 2.0 TDI will come with a six-speed manual transmission as standard.

Additional engines and Quattro models will be added to the range steadily throughout the rest of the year. An S5 version of the Sportback is also likely to join the range in the future, developing over 300bhp, and Audi isn't ruling a hardcore RS5 version of the car.

Deliveries of the A5 Sportback will begin in October with prices starting from £25,440 for the 2.0-litre TDI manual and rising to £36,220 for the range-topping 3.0 TDI S Line with S Tronic transmission.