Bulletin_Audi A8_jan10

Bulletin ALL THE AUTOMOTIVE NEWS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE THIS MONTH

Perfection Personified Audi rolls out the luxurious new A8 during the Miami Art week with the golden beaches as the backdrop

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CAR India january 2010

THIS MONTH 20 Aston’s Black editions

28 SAIC buys 50% of GM India

30 Aston’s smallest luxury car

32 FIAT diesel drive ends

Get pampered with the fully integrated rear seat entertainment system and brilliant interiors - the ultimate in rear seat luxury

The Ingolstadt firm unveiled the brand new A8 in Miami, USA and on first look it left us mighty impressed. A perfect engineering marvel crafted out of steel and glass, the new Audi is undoubtedly one of the world’s best cars.

But it’s not just about the beautiful lines of the car.

Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG aptly described it as, “The sportiest sedan in its segment.” He added that the luxury car combines numerous functions in a new and intelligent way.

The styling is understated, yet the coupe like roof line lets the silhouette flow.

Overall, it conveys subtlety and prestige. You can’t miss the full LED headlights that give the big sedan an unmistakable appearance in the daylight and even more so after dark. The new A8 is generously dimensioned with 5137mm in length, 1949mm in width and 1460mm in

height and a 2992mm wheelbase. The A8 has grown in size but has become lighter in weight and at the same time manages to looks sleek and sporty.

Audi will offer three engine options - two TDI oil burners and a petrol mill. The 4.2 FSI petrol V8 develops 372bhp and 445Nm of torque and zips from 0 to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds. The diesel isn’t far behind as the 4.2 TDI can produce 350bhp with a massive torque of 800Nm. And yes it is quicker, naught to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds flat! The two V8 engines will be joined by a six-cylinder 3.0 TDI diesel that churns out 250bhp and draws 550Nm. Thanks to efficient technologies like the recuperation system and innovative thermal management, the fuel consumption has dropped by 13 to 22 percent. There is the recuperation system for all three units and the start-

The lightweight yet ultra strong aluminum body with the space frame design makes it almost 100kg lighter than its predecessor

CAR India january 2010

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stop system on the 3.0 TDI. As for power transmissions, the sedan sports the electronically controlled eight-speed tiptronic coupled with Audi’s flagship Quattro permanent all-wheel drive and the optional sport differential, which comes as standard only with the 4.2 TDI. The German giant understands the importance and needs of developing countries like ours. If we look around, most luxury cars like the A8, which would cost around Rs 75 lakh plus, are chauffeur driven.

The owners spend quality time

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CAR India january 2010

cuddled in the rear seats browsing through a pink daily or fiddling with their Blackberry. The new A8 has a fully integrated rear seat entertainment system and top quality fit-finish. The materials used and the colour co-ordination of the cabin make the experience more pleasurable on the back seat.

The new A8 also comes packed with hi-end navigation and infotainment systems. The state-ofthe-art GPRS module uses Google to retrieve current news and weather information from the Web and aids

MMI system Switch on the MMI system and the monitor slides up elegantly. Just tap or scribble on the touchpad, located near the gear shift, to control the system without taking your eyes off the road Engine The 4.2 FSI petrol V8 develops 372bhp and 445Nm of torque, zipping from 0 to 100km/h in 5.7 seconds

travel planning. The car has three options for the sound system including the topnotch Bang & Olufsen system. The big sedan is one of the safest in the market with a high stability body, adaptive restraint systems and the new Audi pre sense system. The German firm claims that it drives typically like an Audi - agile and easy to maneuver. We expect to see the new A8, with an extended wheelbase, on Indian shores in the second half of 2010. The CAR India team is eagerly waiting to get a first hand experience of the stunning A8.