Page 1 of 1 There were four priority areas in the development of the new Audi A8: design, lightweight construction, dynamism and electronics. Four areas that are linked by a single idea: the idea of ease. In other words, ease in the sense of design harmony, ease of acceleration, the ease with which it can be handled - the driver of an A8 does not have the impression of handling a large saloon car - and, finally, ease of operation.
Two powerful, spontaneous V8 engines, a 4.2 litre version with an output of 246 kW (335 bhp) and a 3.7 litre version developing 206 kW (280 bhp), will be available at the market launch in autumn 2002. One new feature in the A8 is the 6-speed automatic transmission with tiptronic function, which constantly assures an optimum transition between the various speed stages. As an option, it is also possible to change gear via shift paddles mounted on the steering wheel; the ergonomic advantages of this concept have already been demonstrated on Audi's Le Mans champion model, the R8.
Its predecessor, of which over 100,000 were built, was likewise unquestionably a car meant for drivers: when it was first launched in 1994, the A8 was the first production saloon to have an aluminium body and it came to epitomise a new way of doing things in the luxury class. The low weight of the ASF Audi Space Frame brought a significant gain in operating dynamics, while reversing the upward spiral of body weight. Page 1 of 1
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A8 4.2 Quattro
There were four priority areas in the development of the new Audi A8: design, lightweight construction, dynamism and electronics. Four areas that are linked by a single idea: the idea of ease. In other words, ease in the sense of design harmony, ease of acceleration, the ease with which it can be handled - the driver of an A8 does not have the impression of handling a large saloon car - and, finally, ease of operation.