Audi A8 - A8L History
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The Audi A8 is a four-door sedan offered by Audi since the 1997 model year in the U.S. Preceded in sales by an eight-cylinder version of the A6 sedan called the V8, the Audi A8 came into being when Audi created an aluminum space-frame construction. A third generation version in the works will replace today's car with a sleeker, more luxurious A8 for the 2011 model year.
The first generation was sold from the 1998 to the 2003 model year. This car was Audi's first mass-production aluminum space frame vehicle. Both short- and long-wheelbase A8L versions were offered, and the A8 was the first Audi to sport six airbags. While other countries were offered six-cylinder versions and a unique 12-cylinder model with cylinders arranged in a "W" pattern, the U.S. A8 came only with a V-8 engine and quattro all-wheel drive for much of this first production run. The U.S. market did get an S8 version at the end of this cycle.
In its second generation, the 2004-2010 Audi A8 brought with it the usual 4.2-liter V-8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission, with all-wheel drive. Both short- and long-wheelbase versions were offered to American buyers, and the 450-horsepower, 6.0-liter W-12 engine was offered to a very few select customers. This generation was marked mainly by the large grille that had become Audi's corporate hallmark. At the end of its model run in the 2010 model year, the A8 was back to the V-8 powertrain only, though both body styles were offered as it faced tough competition from new versions of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series and the Lexus LS.
In its third generation, the Audi A8 promises even more sex appeal, though it won't be quite as dramatic-looking as the upcoming 2011 Jaguar XJ--the other aluminum-bodied vehicle in the class. The new A8 was introduced in November 2009, with an on-sale date of late 2010 in the U.S. promised. The 4.2-liter engines is rated at 372 horsepower, and Audi promises that it will push the A8 to 60
mph in 5.7 seconds, to a top speed of 155 mph (limited electronically).
For future editions, Audi plans hybrid and diesel powertrains--and the U.S. market is expected to get at least the hybrid model, to compete with the likes of the Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid, the BMW ActiveHybrid 7-Series and the Lexus LS 600h.
The A8 will be the first Audi
to use a new interface that allows drivers to use their fingertips to
direct the Multi-Media Interface that controls audio, climate and navigation--in a fashion like the Apple iPhone. The new MMI system recognizes alphabets from English
to Mandarin to Cyrillic.
