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Manufacturer Brochure - 1998 Audi A8
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| AUDI'S REVOLUTIONARY A8 SEDAN--CALLED THE FIRST LUXURY CAR OF THE 21st CENTURY |
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| Updated |
Jun 3, 2004 17:14:35 |
| Rating |
 405 ( -50 -12.34% ) |
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Description:
It is rare and wonderful when, in its first year on sale in North America, a car is described as being the "first luxury car of the 21st century" and "simply the best car in the world," but that is precisely what has happened since the Fall of 1996 when Audi brought the Audi A8Äits all-aluminum luxury flagship--to North America.
It promises what has always seemed impossible in a premium German automobile excellence without excess, elegance without arrogance, and class without mass. The ground-breaking Audi A8 employs a revolutionary aluminum space frame body technology that delivers extraordinary weight savings with best-in-class safety, performance and comfort.
Available in two V8 equipped versions, a front-drive A8 3.7 and an all-wheel drive A8 4.2 quattro, ibis the first vehicle in the world to come with six airbag supplemental restraints, including side airbags for both front and rear outboard occupants. New, for 1998, the A8 includes next generation front airbags as part of its safety offering (with November 1997 production).
Continuous Improvement
Buyers in the premium class can be a demanding sort. That is why the 1998 Audi A8s incorporate a host of additions that push this class of automobiles into new territory. Leading the way is the new five-speed automatic transmission with Tiptronic that gives the driver more control. This transmission can be used like a normal transmission or moved into its special brushed aluminum shift gate where the driver can upshift and downshift manually without a clutch.
As part of the warm weather package on the original A8, a special glass was designed to help reduce heat and noise effects. Using an infrared light-reflecting metal sandwiched between layers of safety glass, this innovation not only filters noise but also blocks 99 percent of W radiation and 30 percent of total radiation energy. While this package cavities through for 1998, elements of this technology have been adapted for use on all A8s. A new dual pane laminated "Acoustic" glass is now standard equipment on all windows for this sedan, not just the front and the back. A glass sunroof with a sunshade now replaces the aluminum panel sunroof as standard equipment.
Elegance Without Arrogance
The Audi As, first and foremost, is a supremely appointed luxury car with a style all its own. Even stationary, the A8Äwin flowing profile, low-hood line, 1 6-inch alloy wheels and bold Audi front-end styling--conveys an impression of agility and energy.
The A8 is among the most streamlined cars in any size category, with a ground-breaking 0.29 drag coefficient. While these class-leading aerodynamics contribute to the nearly silent ride found inside the A8, both the 3.7 and 4.2 V8 powerplants in the A8 were developed with comprehensive acoustic refinements, including specially designed engine mounts. Audi also used a sound-absorbing multiple-compound rubber to install the suspension, heating, cooling and exhaust systems, dampening their acoustic effect.
Luxury in a car begins with interior room and the A8 provides it in abundance. The A8 offers 100 cubic feet of interior room, 79.7 inches of total legroom and the best cargo area in its class at 18 cubic feet. In comparison, the A8 luggage space is significantly larger than that found in the BMW 7-Series (13 cu.ft.), Mercedes S-Class (16 cu.ft.) or any Jaguar.
With its new aluminum door sill moldings, the A8 telegraphs its unique character from the moment one opens the door. Inside the A8, the driver and passengers are privy to classic automotive elegance. Burled walnut abounds, to be enjoyed up front and throughout the cabin. Seating in the A8 is strictly first-class. Audi developed a new organically tanned Nappa leather for the A8 that was designed for a smooth, supple feel with a breathable open-pore structure. And both the driver and front passenger seats come with 14-way adjustable power seats, including power lumbar, power headrest height and power safety belt shoulder heights. Up front, two separate, height-adjustable center armrests are also offered.
The A8's red backlit instrumentation--remotely reminiscent of a sophisticated jet Aircraft--includes tachometer, oil temperature gauge, voltmeter and service reminder. Also displayed is a Driver Information System with a complete trip computer, Audi's Auto Check system to monitor vital functions, ambient temperature, radio frequency reminder and, new for 1998, a pictogram which shows the status of doors and trunks.
The A8's power adjustable steering wheel, which features a new design, telescopes and adjusts for height; it automatically motors up and away when the key is removed for ease of exit.
The sophisticated radio-controlled remote locking system has been augmented for 1998 with its integrated folding ignition key. This new remote not only serves as your key for the car, but it activates four driver's seat memory settings, as well as a remote trunk function and panic feature for added security. With the memory function--which can be activated inside the cockpit as well--the driver can also set the power steering wheel position, rearview mirrors, and seat belt height, as well as the seat position.
Rear seat comfort is critical in a full-size luxury car and it is assured in the A8. Rear-seat features include: new footwell lights, height adjustments for the outboard safety belts, separate rear ventilation controls, and optional power seat adjustments for lumbar support and headrests.
For added listening pleasure and ease of use, Audi has introduced a new Concert radio with improved controls. To meet and exceed the exacting standards expected at the absolute premium end of the market, the standard stereo system in the A8 4.2 was developed by Bose Corporation exclusively for this model. Designed to work specifically with the A8's acoustic properties and space, the Bose Music System delivers acoustically accurate music reproduction at each seating position through the strategic placement of eight high-quality loudspeakers via a 200 watt, five-channel amplifier. The result is concert-hall sound quality throughout the cabin.
The A8 3.7's standard stereo system also provides a dynamic entertainment system using eight speakers with active rear speakers, automatic volume adjustment, visual display of station format and call letters, rear window antenna, and pre-wiring for a six-disc CD changer.
Both A8 versions come equipped with a fully automatic dual-zone climate control system that offers independent temperature settings for the left and right sides, and employs two sunlight sensors for complete accuracy. On very cold days, this system also provides a rest function, in which it automatically circulates the residual heat of the vehicle to keep the interior warm while the car is parked.
Other standard comfort and convenience features, to name a few, include power windows with the front windows featuring Audi's innovative one-touch up/one-touch down control with pinch protection, a power glass sunroof with a preset function, power mirrors with defog, remote frequency central-locking system, a convenience key close and open for power windows and sunroof, retained accessory power, electronic cruise control, a remote power trunk release, and pre-wiring (including speaker and microphone) for a voice-activated Motorola hands-free telephone. And since the little things really do count in a vehicle of this nature, the windshield wiper control switch has been modified for 1998 to incorporate a four-position interval adjustment.
Audi's signature all-weather package makes the interior of the As even more inviting in cold weather with treatable front and rear seats, a treatable steering wheel and an expandable ski/storage sack.
The optional warm weather package, an Audi-exclusive, includes special dual-pane glass to help reduce heat and noise effects, an electric sunshade for rear windows, manual sunshades for rear side windows, and a solar sunroof that generates its own electricity and operates fresh air ventilation when the car is parked in warm climates.
For 1998, there is also an optional "Electronics" package with auto-dimming outside mirrors, rear seat head restraint and lumbar adjustment for outer seat positions, and Xenon headlights.
Other stand-alone options include 17-inch, 5-spoke forged alloy wheels with 225/55 R 17 H-speed rated all-season tires, a 6-disc CD changer and Pearl White pearlescent paint.
The Audi Space Frame
The Audi Space Frame (ASF) took 10 years to develop, employing 40 new patents, seven new aircraft-grade aluminum alloys, and numerous new designs, production techniques, and super computer programs.
As its name implies, ASF is a frame structure in which all elements contribute to its load-bearing integrity. More akin to aerospace design than automotive, it consists of various types of extruded aluminum sections, vacuum die cast components and aluminum sheets in a range of thicknesses. Straight and curved extruded sections are connected by complex aluminum die casting (nodes) at the highly stressed corners and joints. Advances in the science of metallurgy were critical to its success, as special high-strength aluminum alloys were created for the sheet metal, extrusions and castings. New fastening methods were developed to join the body parts together.
The result is a cell-type structure that is 40 percent lighter than competitive steel body assemblies. Just as importantly, the ASF has far fewer parts than traditional steel structures and offers superior structural rigidity (40 percent more than conventional steel unibody structures) that translates into improved handling and responsiveness, and a dampening of ride vibrations and noise under varying driving conditions. The aluminum-alloy outer panels are even more dent resistant than steel.
In short, the ASP is the cornerstone from which the A8's brilliance is built. Its exceptional strength and energy absorbing qualities translate into unmatched crashworthiness. Its lack of mass gives the A8 exceptional responsiveness with very favorable power-to-weight ratios. Its high rigidity provides an ideal basis for suspension settings with an emphasis on comfort. And with its weight savings, the A8 affords a luxuriously spacious interior without abandoning the sound principles of ecology and economy.
Excellence Without Excess
With the rock solid, lightweight platform provided by the ASP body shell, Audi chassis engineers were given an ideal starting point from which to work. The A8's outstanding torsional rigidity allows suspension settings to emphasize ride comfort, handling and dynamic control.
With the A8, Audi is the first manufacturer to offer the proven advantages of FrontTrak front-wheel drive or quattro full-time, all-wheel drive in the premier car segment.
The A8 is the vehicle for which Audi's highly praised four-link suspension was originally developed. With this revolutionary technology, Audi's goal was nothing less than the perfection of the front-drive system it helped pioneer in production vehicles more than 60 years ago. This leap forward is accomplished by the four-link suspension's geometry, which creates a virtual center steering axis in order to nullify the driveline effects on the front wheels. The benefits of this system are numerous: torque steer--a condition in which a car pulls during hard acceleration or braking--is virtually eliminated, steering control is instantaneous and precise with a neutral behavior that progresses to a slight, forgiving understeer; and ride comfort is enhanced through the use of large, relatively soft rubber bushings.
Both A8 models also employ a Filly independent rear suspension consisting of one trapezoidal arm in combination with one wishbone and one track rod per wheel. On the track-controlled trapezoidal-link rear suspension, additional track and coupling rods have a specific effect on the rear-wheel steering movements. This passive steering action has a stabilizing effect on handling at all speeds.
The A8's precise chassis also benefits from Audi's latest ABS system, dubbed ABS 5.3. The integrated capabilities of ABS 5.3 enable the A8's standard Electronic Differential Locking to provide low-speed traction enhancement when starting off on very slippery surfaces. In the front-wheel drive A8 3.7, Audi couples the EDL system with a highly advanced Anti-slip Regulation (ASR), a full-time traction control system that modulates engine power throughout the operating range. ASR helps assure that the A8 3.7 uses all available traction, by eliminating wheel spin and delivering power to the wheel with optimal traction.
The Drivetrain
Both versions of Audi's new luxury flagship model benefit from highly efficient, muscular V8 engines and the dramatic strength and lightness of the Audi Space Frame. The result is an outstanding power-to-weight ratio, a true measure of a car's might.
In both the A8 4.2 and A8 3.7, Audi has developed exceptionally flexible and smooth-running V8 powerplants designed to deliver vigorous power over a wide rpm range.
Audi's 4.2 liter, DOHC aluminum alloy, 32-valve V8 engine produces 300 horsepower at 6000 revolutions per minute. Use of a variable intake manifold helps give the 4.2 V8 exceptional pulling strength at all speeds, creating 295 foot pounds of torque at just 3300 rpm. From a standing start, this advanced engine propels the A8 to 60 miles per hour in just 6.9 seconds.
The 3.7 liter V8 also benefits from the variable intake manifold with rotary-disc valve. This DOHC aluminum alloy, 32-valve produces 230 horsepower at 5500 rpm, and, like the 4.2, provides a broad torque range throughout its rpm range. Maximum torque of 235 foot pounds comes at just 2700 rpm.
Safety
Although the Audi A8 provides an unrivaled list of passive safety, its most treasured safety feature is something no other manufacturer can catalog: the exceptional strength of the Audi Space Frame. By its very design--and the uniquely strong properties of aluminum alloy castings, extrusions and body panels--the ASP has proven that it is capable of meeting and exceeding the world's toughest safety standards.
Acting as a safety cell, the ASF's aluminum alloy structural members absorb energy better in relation to their weight than steel. Less weight also translates into lower kinetic energy levels, so a collision in an Audi A8 would in theory involve less deformation travel. Under collision loads, the long members in the front and rear are designed to crumple in accordion-like fashion, absorbing tremendous energy, and sparing the remaining central structure the full force and deceleration of the impact.
In an independent crash test conducted by the Technical Inspection Authority of Bavaria/Saxony, the A8 performed exceedingly well. The test car was propelled against a concrete block at 50 percent offset at a speed of 34 mph. The conclusion from the test said: "The overall injury risk is low, deformation only slight and the doors on the driver's side can easily be opened...its bodyshell offers maximum survival space and minimizes deformation impact which could cause injury."
Side impact protection is also exceptional in the A8, thanks in part to side impact beams that use a hollow form structure and incorporate a cellular crush space within the confines of the door. This is supplemented with specially designed and shaped foam inserts in the door that additionally absorb energy. The beams, which interlock with the lower door sill, overlap the front and rear door pillars, with the intent of spreading the impact load.
In addition to this structural protection, the A8 is the world's first car with six airbags: two next generation airbags for driver and front passenger supplemental protection in the event of a frontal impact, two airbags for the driver and front passenger for side-impact protection, and two more side-impact airbags for the rear outboard seat occupants.
And unlike manufacturers with door-mounted side airbags, the A8's are incorporated into the seats. In this way, Audi has assured that no matter how passengers have positioned their seats, the airbags will remain in the most useful position.
In addition, Audi provides a sophisticated safety belt system in the A8: all outboard three-point belts can be adjusted for height, all front and rear three-point belts use a pyrotechnic tensioning system that tightens them within 12 milliseconds of a severe frontal collision, and automatic child-seat locking is provided for in the safety belt system.
Safety is also augmented through increased visibility. That's why the A8 comes equipped with high pressure headlight washers, heated windshield washer nozzles, electrically adjustable and heated outside mirrors, and a rear fog light for extreme situations. For emergencies, there is also a standard warning triangle located in the trunk.
Warranty
Throughout the 1990s, in survey after survey, Audi has moved to the top of the automotive world in quality and customer satisfaction. On the new As, Audi continues to provide one of the most comprehensive customer care plans in the industry including:
Three-year/50,000 mile no charge scheduled maintenance.
Three-year/50,000 mile limited new vehicle warranty.
Ten-year limited warranty against corrosion perforation.
24-hour Roadside Assistance for three years (services provided by the Professional Dispatch Group). |
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