What Is It?
2004 Audi A8
What's Special About It?
This is a big year for super luxury sedans. Jaguar has introduced a new XJ, Mercedes has updated its S-Class, Volkswagen has its new Phaeton and BMW came out with a new 7 Series last year. Not wanting to be caught behind the curve, Audi has remade its A8 luxury sedan, and the car debuted at the 2002 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile.
Like previous A8s (which were first introduced in 1997), the new A8 is constructed out of aluminum. The main advantage of aluminum is its lighter weight as compared to steel, and reduced weight pays dividends when it comes to performance and fuel economy. For the '04 A8, improvements have been made in the manufacturing process so that the frame has less components (thereby reducing cost). It's also 60 percent more rigid than the previous ASF frame.
In terms of size and weight, the 2004 A8 is about the same as the old one. The wheelbase has been extended, however, which we suspect has improved rear-seat legroom. For power, Audi will offer two engines: a 3.7-liter V8 and a 4.2-liter V8. The smaller one is rated at 280 horsepower while the larger boasts 335 hp. Quattro is standard, as is a six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic.
Not seen on the old car but here on the new one is an adaptive air suspension system. Featuring air springs and electronically adjusted dampers, Audi says this setup solves the classic conflict of aims between good handling properties and ride comfort. Though the air suspension is automatically controlled, there are three additional modes — dynamic, comfort and lift — that the driver can select for specific driving circumstances.
New features on the 2004 A8 include an electronically controlled parking brake (with a special hill-holding function), a tire-pressure monitoring system, optional run-flat tires and a new driver Multi Media Interface (MMI) to control the car's various systems.
Why Should You Care?
Unlike the BMW 7 Series, which changed quite radically for 2002, the new A8 has mostly stayed the course with subtle improvements across the board. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on what your thoughts were about the previous car. — Brent Romans
2004 Audi A8
What's Special About It?
This is a big year for super luxury sedans. Jaguar has introduced a new XJ, Mercedes has updated its S-Class, Volkswagen has its new Phaeton and BMW came out with a new 7 Series last year. Not wanting to be caught behind the curve, Audi has remade its A8 luxury sedan, and the car debuted at the 2002 Paris Mondial de l'Automobile.
Like previous A8s (which were first introduced in 1997), the new A8 is constructed out of aluminum. The main advantage of aluminum is its lighter weight as compared to steel, and reduced weight pays dividends when it comes to performance and fuel economy. For the '04 A8, improvements have been made in the manufacturing process so that the frame has less components (thereby reducing cost). It's also 60 percent more rigid than the previous ASF frame.
In terms of size and weight, the 2004 A8 is about the same as the old one. The wheelbase has been extended, however, which we suspect has improved rear-seat legroom. For power, Audi will offer two engines: a 3.7-liter V8 and a 4.2-liter V8. The smaller one is rated at 280 horsepower while the larger boasts 335 hp. Quattro is standard, as is a six-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic.
Not seen on the old car but here on the new one is an adaptive air suspension system. Featuring air springs and electronically adjusted dampers, Audi says this setup solves the classic conflict of aims between good handling properties and ride comfort. Though the air suspension is automatically controlled, there are three additional modes — dynamic, comfort and lift — that the driver can select for specific driving circumstances.
New features on the 2004 A8 include an electronically controlled parking brake (with a special hill-holding function), a tire-pressure monitoring system, optional run-flat tires and a new driver Multi Media Interface (MMI) to control the car's various systems.
Why Should You Care?
Unlike the BMW 7 Series, which changed quite radically for 2002, the new A8 has mostly stayed the course with subtle improvements across the board. This could be a good or bad thing, depending on what your thoughts were about the previous car. — Brent Romans
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