The all-new Audi A8: Heading into a new era
THE FOURTH generation of the Audi A8 provides the benchmark for Vorsprung durch Technik — with a new design language, an innovative touchscreen operating concept and a systematically electrified drive. Named the “World Luxury Car 2018” by the World Car Awards, the Audi A8 is stylistically defining as it signals the dawning of a new design era for the entire brand. The front end with the wide, upright singleframe grille and the fluid, muscular body symbolize sporty elegance, sophistication and progressive status.
SPACE FRAME WITH A UNIQUE MIX OF MATERIALS
Audi is writing a new chapter in its lightweight design success story by consistently applying new material technologies and designs. Comprising an intelligent mix of four materials that are being used for the first time, the Audi A8 is once again claiming its role as an innovation driver in automotive lightweight design with its low weight and impressive rigidity, offering greater performance, efficiency and safety.
MILD HYBRID: THE DRIVES
The all-new A8 initially comes out with an extensively reengineered V6 TFSI (Turbo Fuel Stratified Injection) gasoline engine. This engine operates in conjunction with a belt alternator starter (BAS), which is the nerve center of the 48-volt electrical system. This mild hybrid technology (MHEV, mild hybrid electric vehicle) enables the car to coast with the engine switched off, and to restart smoothly. It also has an extended start/ stop function and an energy recovery output of up to 12 kW. The combined effect of these measures is to bring down the fuel consumption of the already efficient engines even further — by as much as 0.7 liter per 100 kilometers in real driving conditions.
INTERIOR, CONTROLS AND INFOTAINMENT
The A8 resembles a lavish, spacious lounge. A minimalist design was chosen for the interior with the instrument panel largely devoid of buttons and switches and a 10.1-inch touchscreen display in the center that features new, concise graphics.
The main driver controls for the infotainment system are located on the large display while a second touchscreen display on the center tunnel console can be used to access the air conditioning and comfort functions as well as to enter text. The combination of acoustic and tactile feedback, along with the use of common touch gestures, make the new MMI touch response especially safe, intuitive and quick to use.
On top of that, the new, natural speech control turns the A8 into an intelligent conversationalist. The clever dialogue manager asks questions, if necessary, allows corrections, offers choices and also accepts being interrupted. The new, extensively optimized navigation is selflearning and provides the driver with intelligent search suggestions while the map also incorporates highly detailed 3D models for a more realistic representation.
The latest version of the Modular Infotainment Platform, the MIB 2+, serves as the control hub for all these functions.
And the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System delivers a new spatial experience by bringing its fascinating 3D sound to the rear seats for the first time. It is matched by a new standard of telephony in the A8 thanks to Audi phone box and Voice over LTE
The classiest seat in the Audi flagship model is in the rear right — the optional relaxation seat in the A8 L that comes with four different adjustment options and a footrest with a massage function incorporated into the back of the front-passenger seat. The rear seat remote, with its OLED display as large as a smartphone, is a removable unit housed in the center armrest. This controls an array of functions such as ambient lighting, the new HD Matrix reading lights and seat massage, plus make private phone calls, via a separate operating unit.
The all-new Audi A8 is set to arrive in the Philippines later this year. For more information, contact Audi Philippines at 727-0381 to 85 or visit any Audi showroom in Alabang, Global City, Greenhills and SM Seaside City Cebu.