Audi A8 and S8

2000 September 28, Paris Motor Show: Audi presented the new A8 L 6.0 Quattro. The `L' indicates long wheel base and Quattro, of course, four wheel drive. The car is powered by a VW/Audi 6-litre W12 engine (309kW, 550Nm), that has been seen before in studies and motor show specials by VW. There is a family of such engines formed by joing two of VW's narrow angle V engines together at 72° - hence 2x2 banks of cylinders and, if prepared to stretch a point, W. The result is a compact engine, 513mm long and 690mm wide for the W12. The family includes a W10 and even a W16.

The A8 L is aimed at the top Mercedes and BMW saloons, and 4wd.sofcom.com --> having the W12 engine in production gives a sign that seeing it in production Bentleys and Bugattis may be coming nearer. The A8's engine has dry sump lubrication - usually reserved for performance cars.

The new car has a five-speed tiptronic gearbox (which will probably be used by a chauffeur), a transmission that can be operated automatically, or manually through a shift gate or through buttons on the steering wheel. Extensive use is made of aluminium in the body and suspension to keep 4wd.sofcom.com --> weight down.

Creature comforts are what defines this market segment with good leg room (thanks to that `L'), leather trim standard, twin-pane glass for sound and heat insulation, and BOSE sound system. A high tech "office package" is available to kit out the rear with fax machine and TV/video LCD monitor. Safety is also important. Front seat occupants have front and side airbags and there are side airbags for the outboard rear passengers. In addition, Sideguard head airbags extend front and rear. Tyre pressures are monitored continuously and ABS and ESP are standard.

1999 November: The Audi S8 was launched in Australia, at au$228,000, deliveries to begin in April 2000. The 4.2-litre, 40-valve, V8 delivers 265kW at 7000rpm and 430Nm at 3400rpm.

Safety features include Sideguard head curtain air-bags for front and rear occupants. A navigation system, integrated TV reception, CD stacker, tiptronic sports steeing wheel, and acoustic parking system (not park by crunch / feel!) are amongst the gadgets.

Manufacturer's figures, Audi S8 1999...

• sedan, 5-seats, 4-doors, multiple airbags, ABS
• loa: 5035mm, width: 1880mm, height: 1435mm
• wheelbase: 2880mm track: xxx/xxx, grnd clearance: xxx -->
• turning radius: 6.15m
• weight: 1750kg (unladen)
• 4172cc, petrol, 8-cyls, mpfi, 5-valves/cyl, dohc LI bore: xxx, stroke: xxx, c.r.: xxx -->
• power: 265kW at 7000rpm, torque: 430Nm at 3400rpm
• transmission: 5a (and 6m in Europe)
• suspension: indep / indep, brakes: disc / disc, ABS
• tyres: 245/45x18, fuel-tank: 90L
• warranty: 3 years, unlimited km
• $228,000 ($au 11/1999)
• Rivals: BMW M5, Mercedes Benz E55

1999, Aug': A long wheelbase Audi A8 "limousine" has been released. The new car has 130mm inserted between the B and C pillars to give 70mm more leg-room in the rear seats (where the boss sits while the chauffer 4wd.sofcom.com --> is up-front). Standard features include "front and rear seat heaters, leather upholstery [and trim], and climate-control air-conditioning". Front occupants have front and side airbags; rear passengers have side airbags. The extensive use of aluminium is claimed to save 100+kg compared to steel construction. The LWB A8 has the 4.2L 40-valve V8 (228kW) and quattro all-wheel drive.

Manufacturer's data: Loa 5164mm, width 1880mm (body), height 1438, wheelbase 3010mm, track 1595mm/1586mm, weight 1790kg empty, GVM 2390kg,
engine 4172cc, V8, petrol 98/95 RON, bore 84.5mm, stroke 93mm, c.r. 11.0:1, mpfi, 5-valves/cyl, dohc, 228kW at 6200rpm, 410Nm at 3000rpm - 4000rpm,
5-speed tiptronic gearbox, full time 4WD with Torsen centre diff', ESP, suspension idep'/ indep', brakes disc/disc ABS, tyres 225/60R16 on 7.5Jx16 wheels, fuel consumption 19.6L/100km city, 9.2L/100km highway, price $206,000 ($au 11/2000).

1998: The Audi A8 is Audi's flaship to compete with the likes of BMW 7-series, Jaguar XJR, Lexus V8, Mercedes. Its bodywork is all aluminium but it still weighs in at 1750kg. A 4.2 litre V8 propels it through a 5-speed automatic gearbox with tiptronic "manual" controls. A six speed manual gearbox is available at home in Germany.

This is a serious luxury car; it should be at prices of up to $220K for the top S model.

4wd.sofcom.com/Audi/Audi.html Audi S8

It has traction control, ABS, and ESP - anti skid controls that apply brakes and/or power to save drivers from themselves. The quattro, four wheel drive, system is standard on the A8 S.

Audi A8 S 1998.

• sedan, 5 seats, 4 doors, air-bags, ABS, ESP (anti-skid system)
• loa: 5035mm, width: 1880mm, height: 1435mm
• wheelbase: 2880mm
• turning radius: 6.15m
• weight: 1750kg
• 4172cc, petrol, V8, mpfi, 4-valves/cyl, dohc
• power: 250kW at 6600rpm, torque: 410Nm at 3500rpm
• transmission: 6m/5a (tiptronic), Quattro (4x4) on top models
• suspension: indep/indep, brakes: disc/disc (ABS, ESP)
• tyres: 265/45 R18 (on S), fuel tank 90L
• variants: A8, A8 quattro, S ($220K au) 11/1998 -->

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