The
Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8, the A8 has been offered with front wheel drive or permanent four-wheel drive, with multitronic or tiptronic automatic transmissions — and in short and long wheelbase variants. Previous generations employed the Volkswagen Group D platform with the current generation using the D4 platform.
Beginning in 1997, The A8 was the first mass-market car with an aluminum chassis, marketed as the
Audi Space Frame and co-developed with Alcoa.
The Audi A8 (
Typ 4D) debuted in Europe in 1994, with factory production commencing June 1994
, although it was not until the 1997 model year that it became available in North America. Unlike its predecessor, the Audi V8 model, which was built on an existing steel platform, the A8 debuted on the then-new Volkswagen Group D2 platform, an all aluminium monocoque, marketed as the
"Audi Space Frame" (ASF), which helped to reduce weight and preserve structural rigidity. The saloon/sedan was offered in both the A8 (standard wheelbase), and the A8L extended or long-wheelbase (LWB) version. The A8L adds 5 inches (127 mm) of rear legroom. Updates to the car in 1997 included the addition of six interior airbags, making the A8 the first vehicle to be so equipped.
For 1997, the new A8 was available with either front-wheel drive (FWD), or the Torsen-based quattro permanent four-wheel drive. The FWD models are powered by a 2.8 litre V6 engine, producing 142 kilowatts (193 PS; 190 bhp), and 3.7 litre V8 engine producing 171.5 kilowatts (233 PS; 230 bhp), while the quattro received a 4.2 litre V8 producing 220 kilowatts (299 PS; 295 bhp).
The A8 is available with standard luxury amenities, including dual-zone climate control, wood and leather interior trim, 14-way power and heated seats, and an enhanced Bose audio system.
In 1999, Audi's flagship received new colours, and restructuring of option packages. The North American "warm weather package" added a solar sunroof which allows the interior ventilation fans to run, keeping the interior cool whilst the car is parked with the engine turned off. Changes to all models included a larger passenger-side mirror, and a first aid kit located in the rear centre armrest.
The 2000 model year saw a minor front-end restyle, with new, larger, clear headlights, a revised grille, and lower front valance with standard projection fog lamps. On the interior, the seats received a new, horizontal stitch pattern. Also, the 3.7 litre V8 FWD model was dropped, leaving the 2.8 V6 model and the long-wheelbase and short-wheelbase 4.2 litre quattro. These restyled cars also featured revised external door handles and an integrated radio antenna. For 2000, the North American A8 lineup was expanded to include the A8L.
For 2001, A8 received minimal changes, the biggest being the added "SIDEGUARD" curtain airbags. In 2001, Audi introduced its new W12 engine, a compact 6.0 litre unit developed by effectively mating two VR6 engines together at the crankshaft. The engine quickly became available in the A8, though only to European and Asian customers. From its introduction through its discontinuation in 2003, only 750 of the D2 "W12" models were produced. 2001 also marked the debut of the high-performance S8 variant in North American markets.
In 2002, the A8L received standard xenon high-intensity discharge lamp (HID) headlights, and a heated steering wheel. A tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), an updated Symphony II stereo, and new exterior colours were also added. For 2002, all A8 variants received a trunk/boot interior release lever to facilitate escape in the event an individual became trapped within.
Factory production of this generation ceased in September 2002
Audi A8 Best Ever Car Wallpapers
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