Audi A8 Design
Audi A8 is an "upper class" automobile, a luxury one and it`s a successor of Audi V8. The greatest part of its technical units and components can be found in VW Phaeton model.
Audi has embarked on a passage to "higher echelons" already in 1979 having introduced Audi 200, which was a model based on the platform of Audi 100 (43/C2 type). Then followed C3 presented as Audi V8 and only in 1994 Audi introduced A8, that is, an absolutely autonomous luxury model range. This market segment was dominated by S-class Mercedes-Benz and BMW 7-series and therefore Audi offered several technical novelties. However this was done in an attempt to survive not to compete. All-wheel drive "quattro" and a fully aluminium body (Audi was the first to introduce a serial automobile with such a body) were among these special features.
An automobile provided with a 6-cylinder 2.8-liter gasoline powered engine of increased horsepower was introduced some time later. 12-cylinder W12 was another option, although these were extended limos provided with this engine most often. Anyway, the majority of the customers ordered 4.2-liter V8 version, which was the forefather of an expressly sporty S8.
The first A8 provided with a diesel engine (2.5 TDI, 150 hp) turned out to be underpowered therefore it was replaced by a 180-horsepower version in 2000. The first 8-cylinder TDI was introduced the same year. It became the basis for an ongoing rush for luxury capacious diesels.
8 years of production and in November 2002 a new A8 is introduced (2003 model year). The aim was to get rid of comfort disadvantages while preserving certain advantages. Although boasting of an air suspension A8 is not a super-comfortable automobile. Anyway, it`s okay for the customers: in February 2007 it was the second best sold luxury car conceding to S-class Mercedes only.
What is more, D3 engines were considerably restyled. 260-horsepower 6-cylinder 3.2-liter motor is the leading power plant while 8-cylinder 4.2-liter motor gained in capacity and is now boasting of 350 hp. There is also a 12-cylinder 6.0-liter W12 left although most of the buyers go for diesel: in 2006 4.2 TDI was presented as the most capacious diesel engine a serial limo is provided with.
Period of production:
Audi S8 D2: 1994 - 1999
Audi A8 D2: 1999 - 2001
Audi A8 D2 (first design restyling: changed forebody section, front and rear aluminium planks added): 2001 - 2003
Audi A8 D2 (second design restyling: headlamps were slightly changed): 2003 - 2005
Audi A8 D3: 2005 - present days. Audi A8 D3 Facelift is now easily recognized by a distinctive grille called SingleFrame-Grill.
