The luxury flagship of the Audi range, the new A8 sedan, has arrived in Australia. Unmatched levels of comfort, refinement and sophisticated luxury are hallmarks of the Audi A8 range. This new model takes the philosophy a step further, adding more standard equipment and advanced features than ever before.
“This new Audi A8 is the result of the most comprehensive mid-cycle model improvement in its history,” said Audi Australia’s Managing Director, Andrew Doyle.
“The striking A8 exterior has been thoroughly redesigned to give it a more sporty presence on the road. Inside, it benefits from an unprecedented level of new technology, like the innovative Matrix LED headlights, and a remarkable increase in standard features that makes it an even more compelling proposition in the high-end luxury class,” said Mr Doyle.
The A8 highlights Audi’s credentials as an innovation leader in the high-end luxury segment. One outstanding strength of the sedan is its lightweight construction. The advanced Audi Space Frame (ASF) body is made almost entirely of aluminium and it weighs just 231 kilograms. The standard-wheelbase A8 3.0 TDI quattro has a kerb weight of just 1,880 kilograms and is the only vehicle in its segment to offer the security of all-wheel drive.
The dynamic design of the Audi A8 has been completely revised and is now more expressive. The bonnet, the Singleframe grille and the front bumper have more pronounced contours.
The headlights have been redesigned and are now flatter in shape and are available with innovative Matrix LED technology. With these headlights, the high-beam comprises 25 small, individual light-emitting diodes per unit that can be dimmed individually as needed. This enables the headlight system to react to oncoming or preceding vehicles and blank out light with great precision while continuing to fully illuminate the rest of the road. The LED lights at the rear of the car have also been revised.
In both engine variants, the exhaust system terminates in two large, trapezoidal tailpipes on each side of the rear end.
The 520-litre boot in both short- and long-wheelbase variants has been reconfigured to make it even easier to load. Thanks to new noise damping measures, the already low interior noise level has been reduced even further.
In the interior of the Audi flagship, the elegant lines and generous space stand out. Extensive high-quality materials and finishes all exhibit uncompromisingly precise workmanship. Every detail demonstrates the hand-built character of the new Audi A8.
For the first time, the new Audi features electromechanical steering which saves up to 0.3L/100km in fuel consumption.
The short-wheelbase Audi A8 is available with a choice of powerful and efficient 3.0 TDI or 4.2 TDI engines, with the A8L long-wheelbase model available only with the smaller capacity unit.
The 3.0 TDI V6 engine is a highly efficient unit that sips only 5.9 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, emitting just 155 grams CO2 per kilometre. It produces 190 kW (+ 6 kW) and generates 580 Nm of torque between 1,750 and 2,500 rpm. The standard sprint takes 5.9 seconds with the A8 and two-tenths of a second longer with the A8 L. Consumption and emissions figures for the A8 L are 6.0 L/100km and 158 grams respectively.
The 3.0 TDI engine has seen a series of weight reduction measures applied which now see the unit under 200 kg. It also now features a sophisticated thermal management system. The crankcase and cylinder heads have separate coolant loops. Coolant is not circulated in the block after a cold start to assist with a rapid warmup phase.
The 4.2 TDI V8 is the most powerful diesel engine in Australia, and no other engine offers more torque. The V8 displaces 4,134 cc and produces 850 Nm of torque between 2,000 and 2,750 rpm. Its output has increased by 25 kW to 283 kW, delivering impressive performance.
The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes just 4.7 seconds, making the A8 4.2 TDI the fastest-accelerating diesel vehicle in Australia. It consumes just 7.4 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres, corresponding to CO2 emissions of 194 g/km.
The technical updates applied to the 4.2 TDI include changes to the valve drive, the pistons and the turbocharger. Audi¡¦s engineers have been able to dramatically reduce the engine speed of the V8 diesel to 800 rpm for improved fuel efficiency.
The Audi A8 features a generous list of standard specification and advanced features, including new added highlights such as:
3.0 TDI
19-inch alloy wheels in 10-spoke Y design
LED headlights including high-beam assist
Adaptive air suspension
Active lane, side assist and park assist systems
Adaptive cruise control with stop and go function including Audi pre sense plus
Power assisted door closure
BOSE surround sound system
Audi connect
DAB+ digital radio reception
Heated and ventilated front seats
Power assisted door closure
Electric opening and closing boot lid
Ambient interior lighting
4.2 TDI (in addition to the above)
20-inch alloy wheels in 10 parallel-spoke design
Matrix beam LED headlights
Head-up display
Digital TV reception
Massage function for front seats
quattro sport differential
+Audi A8 pricing (Manufacturer List Pricing (MLP) – excludes dealer delivery and statutory charges)
Audi A8
Audi A8 3.0 TDI quattro tiptronic 190kW 580Nm $195,000
Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro tiptronic 283kW 850Nm $249,900
Audi A8 L (LWB)
Audi A8 L 3.0 TDI quattro tiptronic 190kW 580Nm $206,900
Fuel consumption of the models named above:
Audi A8:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 5.9 – 7.4;
Combined CO2-emissions in g/km: 155 – 174
