With its all-aluminum space-frame construction, sophisticated Quattro all-wheel-drive system, adaptive air suspension and available W12 engine, Audi's A8 is all about high technology. And keeping the A8 on the technological cutting edge is critical for Audi.
Entering its fifth year of production, the second-generation A8 gets a slew of refinements for 2008, but retains its essential design and all-around competence. Will that be enough to keep the A8 fresh in the minds of buyers who crave the most advanced automobile available? Let's take a look.
The Substance of Style
The A8 has never been the most extroverted sedan in its class. It's a handsome, broad-shouldered machine but lacks the aggressiveness of the Mercedes S-Class or the sheer extravagance of the Maserati Quattroporte. Instead it relies on buyers seeing below the tautly tailored surface to the conceptually daring structure and steadfast drivetrain. Any surface changes Audi makes to the A8 — plus its brothers, the longer-wheelbase A8 L and A8 L W12 — won't change that aspect of its appeal.
Nevertheless, the designers have burnished some of the A8's aesthetic edges. There are new wheels, new sideview mirrors with integrated turn signals and taillights made up of a series of LED clusters. A slightly updated version of the "single-frame" grille that's become a part of every Audi design is present and accounted for in the A8, with the high-end W12 model's grille featuring prominent vertical strakes reminiscent of the grilles on classic Horch models of the '20s and '30s. (Horch became part of Audi back in 1932.)
It will take an educated, slightly obsessive eye to tell a 2008 A8 from the 2007 edition. But the A8 is exactly the sort of car that attracts the educated and slightly obsessive.
Refined Suspension, Not Rethought
In North America, the A8 will continue to be offered in A8 and A8 L models powered by Audi's 4.2-liter, direct-inject FSI V8 making 350 horsepower. That engine comes lashed to a six-speed Tiptronic transmission that in turn feeds the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The A8 L W12 replaces the V8 with a 6.0-liter W12 rated at 450 hp, but has an otherwise similar drivetrain.
The significant mechanical changes for 2008 are made to the steering and suspension. The variable-ratio and speed-sensitive power-assist rack-and-pinion steering has, says Audi, been "optimized and engineered for a more direct feel." How exactly they've done that, they're not telling anyone.
Meanwhile Audi was also busy retuning the suspension by fitting it with revised electronically controlled variable dampers, supports and software. Once again Audi is light on the specifics of what it has done, but it promises that the A8 "absorbs expansion joint grooves with supple ease and without even the hint of vibration."
The A8 was already one of the world's most secure and comfortable-riding luxury cars. That Audi now promises it's even better is tantalizing.
Quieter and Safer
Revisions to the A8's soundproofing materials produces, says Audi, an even quieter vehicle than before. This is a mighty achievement considering how nearly silent the A8 has proven to be. And Audi claims to have achieved this using "innovative materials" that don't increase the car's mass.
With the A8 already overstuffed with most every imaginable safety system — including dual-stage and dual-threshold front airbags, front knee protection airbags, side airbags and side curtain airbags — Audi had to think up another for the 2008 A8.
The new Audi side assist uses radar technology to make lane changes safer. When the driver turns on the turn signal to announce a maneuver, an LED display housed in the exterior sideview mirror lights up if another vehicle is detected in the critical area where the A8 is headed. And those LEDs become brighter and flash in shorter intervals if the computer determines the situation is growing more critical.
Audi is also fitting the A8 with what it calls "lane assist." A small video camera positioned above the rearview mirror watches the road ahead, feeding its signal to a computer that monitors the lane marking lines painted on the road. If the car wanders toward one of those lines without the driver first signaling, the computer will vibrate the steering wheel slightly to alert the driver.
That sounds kind of spooky.
Is There More To Come?
Naturally, all the changes to the 2008 A8s also include the usual array of paint and trim variations expected of an annual model evolution. But there's also the hope of much more to come.
Audi has committed itself to expanding its offerings of clean-burning TDI turbodiesel engines and already offers the A8 with both 3.0-liter V6 and 4.2-liter V8 TDI diesel engines in Europe. Does this mean that a TDI-powered A8 is on the way? Not quite, but until an all-new model arrives in 2010 there isn't much left to improve upon. — John Pearley Huffman, Contributor
Entering its fifth year of production, the second-generation A8 gets a slew of refinements for 2008, but retains its essential design and all-around competence. Will that be enough to keep the A8 fresh in the minds of buyers who crave the most advanced automobile available? Let's take a look.
The Substance of Style
The A8 has never been the most extroverted sedan in its class. It's a handsome, broad-shouldered machine but lacks the aggressiveness of the Mercedes S-Class or the sheer extravagance of the Maserati Quattroporte. Instead it relies on buyers seeing below the tautly tailored surface to the conceptually daring structure and steadfast drivetrain. Any surface changes Audi makes to the A8 — plus its brothers, the longer-wheelbase A8 L and A8 L W12 — won't change that aspect of its appeal.
Nevertheless, the designers have burnished some of the A8's aesthetic edges. There are new wheels, new sideview mirrors with integrated turn signals and taillights made up of a series of LED clusters. A slightly updated version of the "single-frame" grille that's become a part of every Audi design is present and accounted for in the A8, with the high-end W12 model's grille featuring prominent vertical strakes reminiscent of the grilles on classic Horch models of the '20s and '30s. (Horch became part of Audi back in 1932.)
It will take an educated, slightly obsessive eye to tell a 2008 A8 from the 2007 edition. But the A8 is exactly the sort of car that attracts the educated and slightly obsessive.
Refined Suspension, Not Rethought
In North America, the A8 will continue to be offered in A8 and A8 L models powered by Audi's 4.2-liter, direct-inject FSI V8 making 350 horsepower. That engine comes lashed to a six-speed Tiptronic transmission that in turn feeds the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. The A8 L W12 replaces the V8 with a 6.0-liter W12 rated at 450 hp, but has an otherwise similar drivetrain.
The significant mechanical changes for 2008 are made to the steering and suspension. The variable-ratio and speed-sensitive power-assist rack-and-pinion steering has, says Audi, been "optimized and engineered for a more direct feel." How exactly they've done that, they're not telling anyone.
Meanwhile Audi was also busy retuning the suspension by fitting it with revised electronically controlled variable dampers, supports and software. Once again Audi is light on the specifics of what it has done, but it promises that the A8 "absorbs expansion joint grooves with supple ease and without even the hint of vibration."
The A8 was already one of the world's most secure and comfortable-riding luxury cars. That Audi now promises it's even better is tantalizing.
Quieter and Safer
Revisions to the A8's soundproofing materials produces, says Audi, an even quieter vehicle than before. This is a mighty achievement considering how nearly silent the A8 has proven to be. And Audi claims to have achieved this using "innovative materials" that don't increase the car's mass.
With the A8 already overstuffed with most every imaginable safety system — including dual-stage and dual-threshold front airbags, front knee protection airbags, side airbags and side curtain airbags — Audi had to think up another for the 2008 A8.
The new Audi side assist uses radar technology to make lane changes safer. When the driver turns on the turn signal to announce a maneuver, an LED display housed in the exterior sideview mirror lights up if another vehicle is detected in the critical area where the A8 is headed. And those LEDs become brighter and flash in shorter intervals if the computer determines the situation is growing more critical.
Audi is also fitting the A8 with what it calls "lane assist." A small video camera positioned above the rearview mirror watches the road ahead, feeding its signal to a computer that monitors the lane marking lines painted on the road. If the car wanders toward one of those lines without the driver first signaling, the computer will vibrate the steering wheel slightly to alert the driver.
That sounds kind of spooky.
Is There More To Come?
Naturally, all the changes to the 2008 A8s also include the usual array of paint and trim variations expected of an annual model evolution. But there's also the hope of much more to come.
Audi has committed itself to expanding its offerings of clean-burning TDI turbodiesel engines and already offers the A8 with both 3.0-liter V6 and 4.2-liter V8 TDI diesel engines in Europe. Does this mean that a TDI-powered A8 is on the way? Not quite, but until an all-new model arrives in 2010 there isn't much left to improve upon. — John Pearley Huffman, Contributor
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