Pricing announced for flagship A8

The arrival of a new Audi A8 is always cause for great excitement in automotive circles, given that this flagship of the brand has always raised the bar in every conceivable area. The fourth-generation Audi A8 is no exception, the very embodiment of ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ (or ‘progress through technology’) and a tour de force of automotive technology – this new Audi A8 elevates the model to new heights.

With a starting price of $192,000 the A8 offers an extraordinary level of equipment, performance and refinement, adding more than $36,000 more equipment than its predecessor (depending on the model and package chosen).

It’s no accident that the new A8 has already been acknowledged as ‘World Luxury Car of the Year 2018’, the extraordinary appointment, levels of equipment, performance and finish put it squarely in a class of its own. The arrival of the Marc Lichte-designed A8 will also see a wealth of new automotive technology employed for the first time. Impressively, the new A8 is the first production model in the world to be developed with future capability for Level 3 autonomous driving, the A8 will soon be available with other piloted functions, such as parking pilot and garage pilot.

Built on the latest incarnation of the Audi Space Frame (ASF), using a combination of aluminium and carbon fibre, the new A8 is 10 percent lighter, yet 24 percent more rigid than its predecessor. Its styling is familiar and yet takes the Audi design language in a new direction, its face dominated by a wider, more aggressive Singleframe grille, flanked by distinctive HD Matrix LED headlights.

Inside too, the architecture has been completely reimagined, with the clean sweeping lines of the exterior mirrored in a sleek, minimalist design concept. Dual touchscreen panels (10.1- and 8.6-inch) have been seamlessly integrated to form part of the interior design as well as enabling the use of a completely new operating system, MMI touch response (including handwriting recognition), complete with haptic and acoustic feedback. This complete absence of clutter creates a feeling of tremendous space and calm, and yet still places myriad functions at the driver’s fingertips. 

The list of equipment and technology is extraordinary. Natural language voice control gives new flexibility to the driver, along with the Audi virtual cockpit and heads-up display to allow easy monitoring of the numerous systems at work within the car.

This is a luxury car without peer, whether it be the seamless ride and comfort, or the whisper quiet cabin, every aspect of the design and execution has been painstakingly refined to be perfect.

From the Bang & Olufsen 3D sound system which is available in the backseats for the first time, to the unique ‘relaxation seat’ available in the long wheelbase model, the A8 L, which provides extensive adjustment options and back massage, as well as a unique footrest with heating and a full massage function for the soles of the feet.

Indeed, equipment is impressive and extensive across the board, including: MMI Navigation plus with MMI touch response 10.1” and 8.6” touch screens, with haptic and acoustic feedback; Audi music interface with x2 front and x2 rear USB outlets; Audi smartphone interface with phone box light; Audi connect and DAB+ Digital Radio; Rear seat remote control and a panoramic glass sunroof. In addition to the standard equipment, a range of high-value packages will be offered to customers to allow even greater flexibility in tailoring the cars to their individual tastes and requirements.

Both the new A8 and A8 L will be available with a choice of two 3.0-litre V6 drivetrains: the 50 TDI quattro with 210kW of power and 600Nm of torque and the 55 TFSI quattro with 250kW and 500Nm of torque. For the first time, each engine features new mild-hybrid technology, employing a belt alternator starter (BAS) and a compact lithium-ion battery with a 10 Ah electrical capacity, allowing the A8 to coast at speeds between 55 and 160km/h with the engine off.

This new 48-volt system functions as the A8’s main electrical system and allows power recuperation of up to 12kW plus start-stop operation from 22km/h, for fuel savings of up to 0.7 litres per 100km. transmission is an eight-speed tiptronic, feeding power to all four wheels through Audi quattro all-wheel drive with self-locking centre differential as standard or the optional sport differential for even more dynamic handling.

Adaptive air suspension with electronically-controlled dampers are standard equipment for the A8, offering four ride height options and delivering extraordinary ride quality. The optional Audi AI active suspension is planned for introduction in 2019. Progressive steering too forms part of the standard equipment, with the optional dynamic all-wheel steering ensuring the A8 is even more agile and manoeuvrable. Safety and driver assistance systems also reach new highs in the A8, including: Adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go and traffic jam assist; Audi pre-sense front and pre-sense rear; Audi active lane assist; Audi side assist with cross traffic assist; exit warning; collision avoidance assist and turn assist; intersection assist and efficiency assist.

The all-new Audi A8

A8 50 TDI quattro tiptronic 210kW $192,000

A8 55 TFSI quattro tiptronic 250kW $195,000

A8 L 50 TDI quattro tiptronic 210kW $207,000

A8 L 55 TFSI quattro tiptronic 250kW $210,000

(Manufacturer List Pricing [MLP] – excludes dealer delivery and government statutory charges)