The iconic look of 2018 Audi A8 needs no introduction. Or maybe some do need the introduction to the tech savvy car, which Audi claims to be its flagship sedan and the most tech advanced car of its class.
Well, that’s one big claim, and coming from one of the best automobile manufacturer, shouldn’t be taken lightly. The thing to ponder over is that, what it is in the flagship beauty which sets it apart from Tesla Model S, BMW 7-series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Jaguar XJ, the Lexus LS, and up-level versions of the surprisingly competent Cadillac CT6. A little sneak peek to what the company holds in store;
Exterior
What grabs the attention is the huge wide grille at the front; however the bold Singleframe® grille is accompanied by dazzling LED headlights. And the captivating 21-inch wheels make the exterior look classy yet low-risk. It looks more sophisticated than its rectilinear predecessor, with much more emphasis on tech in the interior.
The rear of the car supports a horizontal light bar; all these things combined add the captivating details that are at the heart of the world’s greatest designs.
Interior
This is by far the most exciting part in the car, housing several cutting-edge tech features. There is so much tech inside the car that it’s hard to pinpoint where to start.
Hitting the dashboard, you come face to face with three screens; a touchscreen in the center for the Audi MMI infotainment system, one for the instrument collection in front of the driver and another for the climate details which can also be used as a touchpad to write with your fingers. And let’s not forget the heads-up display.
“Crossing assistant” is another leading-edge feature, which automatically applies brakes if a vehicle passes dangerously in front. The detachable Audi Tablet allows automatic parallel parking while the user is inside at the same time it can self-park in congested spaces.
Around the vehicle you find a considerable number of sensors; long-range radar, four mid-range radars, 360-degree cameras, up to 12 ultrasound cameras and, for the first time in a production car, LIDAR. All the data collected from this is sent to “zFAS”, driver assistance controller.
The cruise control, another feature, decelerates the vehicle on freeway, keeping it back from the vehicles in the slow lane. Upon changing to the passing lane, the control speeds up the vehicle, safely following the vehicles.
Under the Hood
The car will come with a great range of engine options, including a 3.0-liter V6 with 340 horsepower, a 4.0-liter, 460-horsepower V8 and finally, the rather crazy 586-horsepower W12. Both are paired with an eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission and quattro® all-wheel drive to create an incredibly dynamic driving experience every time out.
Select models pack an all-new “Audi AI active suspension,” an electronic chassis powered by a 48-volt system. That gives you dynamic all-wheel steering and a fully active electromechanical suspension that can do some interesting tricks.
All this and the 0-60mph in about 5.5 seconds make it all the more worth waiting for. With 40 or so driver assist options it incorporates the Level 3 traffic jam pilot, a construction zone assist and other features. It keeps the A8 within a desired speed range and separated from traffic, while applying steering torque to keep you in the lane.
All this and much more will hit the US market in mid-2018 as the 2019 model, starting at $82,500. Therefore all these features are a must try and it’s worth the wait. Audi sure has given its competitors some tough marks to cover in terms of technology. We hope the users aren’t too much overwhelmed with a flood of tech bombarding them!