The base model's 333-hp, 3.0-liter supercharged V-6 will carry over, as will the diesel-powered A8 L TDI and its 3.0-liter turbodiesel making 240 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque.
The extreme end of the powertrain spectrum is still occupied by two 500-plus-hp beasts. First is the range-topping, 12-cylinder, 500-hp A8 L W12. The other is the lightning-quick S8 and its twin-turbo 4.0-liter eight-cylinder that will still be advertised at 520 hp and 481 lb-ft. With the S8's 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds, Audi's flagship remains one of the quickest cars.
The A8 L W12 Exclusive will be built in a limited run of 50 units, starting from March 2014, and all of these are likely earmarked for the European market.
The A8 features Audi's first application of its Matrix LED lighting system, an optional item that constantly adjusts illumination intensity and direction. Each headlamp unit contains 25 LEDs and is controlled by an intelligent cornering light system. The system will also make adjustments based on route information gathered from the navigation unit. In addition to the advanced lighting system, the 2015 A8 gains a new active lane system that will make steering adjustments. The night-vision system has been updated to recognize large animals in addition to pedestrians. And parking assistance joins the lineup. Finally, customers can also opt for a new head-up display that projects essential data on the windshield. The new A8 places Audi among the innovation leaders in the luxury segment. One great strength of the big sedan is its lightweight construction. The Audi A8 3.0 TFSI with the normal wheelbase has a curb weight of just 1,830 kilograms (4,034.46 lb) – best-in-class for models with all-wheel drive. The body is made almost entirely of aluminum; an Audi Space Frame (ASF) design, it weighs just 231 kilograms (509.27 lb).
Audi connect including car phone is available as a supplement to MMI navigation plus. It uses an integrated UMTS module to connect the new A8 to the Internet. Passengers can surf and e-mail freely via a WLAN hotspot. For the driver, the system delivers the tailored online services from Audi connect to the car, such as online traffic information, Google Earth, Google Street View and online news. The multimedia highlight is the Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System. The Rear Seat Entertainment system includes two displays, Bluetooth headphones and a DVD player.
Pictures/Data credit: Autoblog; autoguide,Motortrend
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