Audi has revealed its next-generation A8 luxury saloon, which features all sorts of onboard technology including autonomous driving features.
The new A8 will rival the likes of the BMW 7 Series and the Mercedes S-Class and it is the most technologically advanced production car from Audi to date. The Audi will make its public debut this September at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show and go on sale in the same month. First deliveries will follow near the end of this year.
It’s once again available with a standard and long wheelbase and models with the latter are called A8 L. In either form, the wheelbase and overall length of the saloon is longer compared to its predecessor but the car is also slightly narrower.
There are some big changes introduced by the cabin of the new A8. At the front there’s a simpler, less cluttered design featuring a 10.1-inch touchscreen and a separate 8.6-inch touchscreen both built into the centre console. These touchscreens control the majority of the car’s onboard functions like the climate control and heated functions.
The rear of the cabin meanwhile benefits from extra legroom for passengers. In the long wheelbase version of the A8, the left-hand seat in the rear of the cabin can turn into a relaxation seat if customers choose that option. When active, this seat utilises a heated and massaged footrest.
The engine line-up for the new Audi A8 features from launch a 282bhp 3.0-litre V6 diesel and a 3.0-litre V6 turbo petrol with 335bhp. Not long after launch, the new A8 range is also expected to offer a 4.0-litre V8 diesel with 429bhp. A range-topping 6.0-litre W12 for the long wheelbase version of the A8 is also due to be added at a later date.
All engine options in the new A8’s range feature mild-hybrid technology which lets the Audi coast with the combustion engines switched off for up to 40 seconds before it restarts. Also featured is an extended start/stop function and an energy recovery output of up to 12 kW.
Also joining the new A8’s range in the future is the A8 L e-tron, a plug-in hybrid which combines a 3.0-litre petrol and powerful electric motor to deliver more frugal driving including up to 31 miles of electric-only travel.
Driving aids available for the new Audi A8 include various autonomous features. One part of this tech is called traffic jam pilot, and with it the A8 can start, accelerate, steer and brake on major roads where a physical barrier separates the two carriageways at speeds of up to 37mph.
Other parts of the A8’s autonomous tech include parking pilot and garage pilot, which allow the A8 to autonomously steer itself in and out of parking spaces and garages. The driver can activate these parking functions either in the car or outside the car using a smartphone app. The A8’s 360-degree cameras allow the driver to easily monitor the car’s progress parking via the smartphone app.
The A8’s various autonomous driving features will become available on the new Audi saloon during 2018.
