Audi A8 L 55 TFSI quattro	Audi A8 L 50 TDI quattro
Length/width/height/base 5302/1945/1488/3128 mm
Trunk volume (VDA) 505 l
Curb weight
1945 kg	2000 kg
Engine
petrol, V6, 24 valves, 2995 cm³; 250 kW/340 hp at 5000–6400 rpm; 500 Nm at 1370–4500 rpm	diesel, V6, 24 valves, 2967 cm³; 210 kW/286 hp at 3750–4000 rpm; 600 Nm at 1250–3250 rpm
Acceleration time 0–100 km/h
5.7 s	5.9 s
Maximum speed 250 km/h
Fuel/fuel reserve
AI-95/72 l	DT/72 l
Fuel consumption: mixed cycle
7.5 l/100 km	5.6 l/100 km
Transmission four-wheel drive; A8

The laws of the genre require me to tell how the car accelerates and takes turns, which engines are best suited for it, and whether it makes sense to overpay for all-wheel drive. But when it comes to executive sedans, the rules change: it’s not the driver who chooses the car!

Megalomania

That's why I started getting acquainted with the Audi A8 with rear seat. I unfold my seat as far as possible and move the right front seat forward as far as possible. Not bad, but you won’t be able to sleep in this position with complete comfort. And for some reason the rear headrests are manually adjustable.

And, as it turned out, it was in vain that I put on dress socks in the hope of a beautiful photo shoot: the advertised foot massager was not in my car. Well, okay, I’m not Rothschild, seven programs of back massage, ventilation and heating are enough for me in the seat.

The road took us onto serpentines in the vicinity of Valencia, and a colleague sitting behind the wheel pressed the pedal. In the first turn, my smartphone made a long flight from the armrest under the driver's seat. The subsequent acceleration on a short straight sent the comfort system control tablet, which I was holding relaxedly in my hands, into my face. I would fire such a “personnel manager”!

Having got behind the wheel after a short halt, I myself drove faster than usual - the G8 handles decently, it even encourages me. But there is some kind of split “car personality” in this: the Audi A8 is not suitable for such pirouettes. Not by ability - by status. It took about twenty minutes for me to get seasick from behind, and now, I see, my partner’s face has changed. The boss definitely needs to be driven at a different pace - slowly, with dignity.

New world

I was offered a choice of car keys with 3-liter six-cylinder engines - gasoline (340 hp) and diesel (286 hp). The capabilities of both are enough for powerful accelerations - at least in the range of up to 120 km/h (this is the limit allowed on Spanish roads). Acceleration to hundreds is in 5.7 and 5.9 seconds, respectively. Personally, I wouldn’t even look at larger displacement engines. But that's me. And buyers of such cars often do not rack their brains, but order “full stuffing”.

Diesel is, first of all, a draft engine. However, his superiority turned out to be almost imperceptible. And the characteristic diesel rumble during acceleration is somewhat hysterical. However, the diesel engine still has two undeniable advantages: it consumes five less liters in the same driving modes, and for the Russian market it will probably be derated to a tax-efficient 249 hp. (this is already a standard move of the German “Big Three”).

Level 3 autopilot, which allows you to take your hands off the wheel, will appear on the A8 only in mid-2019. The system is ready, but awaits changes in legislation. In the meantime, the car can walk in the middle of the lane and independently adjust the speed in accordance with the established road signs, boundaries settlements and upcoming turns.

On the front panel is the realm of touchscreens. Classic keys and knobs are gone everywhere! Headlights, intensity of airflow from the front deflectors, alarm, climate control - everything is controlled via touch panels. And they didn’t touch the buttons on the steering wheel - so as not to be like Mercedes?

The new style of communicating with a car takes some getting used to. The displays and icons of the virtual keys do not glare even in bright sunshine, the performance is excellent, and the response is clear. But, relaxing my hand on the gearbox joystick, I accidentally changed the climate control settings more than once. The sensitivity threshold in areas not protected from unintentional contact should be made higher. And, of course, it’s very interesting how all this luxury will make friends with Russian winter? Applicants for frost testing are already catching up - in addition to the Audi A8, this is also Range Rover Velar.

Up and down

As a VIP passenger, I was deprived of the foot massage function, and while sitting in driver's seat, was unable to fully evaluate the unique optional air suspension without classic stabilizers lateral stability, which knows how to adapt to unevenness: all the “eights” available for driving turned out to be with conventional “pneumatics”. And only on a specially prepared site I was able to drive a little on the A8 with an advanced chassis.

To demonstrate its capabilities, the Germans built a protruding well hatch and a huge “speed bump” - like those that we often make from asphalt. A stereo camera on the windshield scans the road and detects bumps. When approaching it, the car automatically raises the body by 50 mm, compensating for the upcoming vertical movement, and the suspension handles the unevenness, practically without transmitting the vibrations further: while sitting behind the wheel, you practically don’t feel the “wave”.

However, magic has its limits. The electronics do not have supernatural speed: the “predictive” function only works at speeds up to 60 km/h. Above this limit, the suspension is no longer capable of leveling the terrain. It was not for nothing that we were shown the passage of only smooth and strongly rising irregularities. The “smart pneuma” will not handle road debris and deep holes so skillfully.

This pendant also has other abilities. When threatened side impact it instantly raises the “impact” side of the body by 80 mm, placing a strong threshold under the contact, which increases the level of protection for passengers (usually the main impact energy is absorbed by the central pillar, which is often not strong enough).

Audi switches to new system notation. Now the two-digit index indicates the power range, rather than the engine size (this information has become useless in the era of turbo engines of varying degrees of boost and electrification). For example, the “30” nameplate means an engine with an output of 110–130 hp, and “70” indicates an engine with an output of over 544 hp. The “fifty dollar” at the stern is a sign of a 286‑horsepower diesel engine.

Audi is switching to a new designation system. Now the two-digit index indicates the power range, rather than the engine size (this information has become useless in the era of turbo engines of varying degrees of boost and electrification). For example, the “30” nameplate means an engine with an output of 110–130 hp, and “70” indicates an engine with an output of over 544 hp. The “fifty dollar” at the stern is a sign of a 286‑horsepower diesel engine.

U expensive crossovers There is a “landing” mode in which the air suspension lowers as much as possible, facilitating access to the cabin. On the contrary, the body of the Audi A8 rises by 40 mm in a second when the door is opened. The engineer assigned to the prototype enthusiastically told me how much more convenient it had become to get into the car. I didn’t feel the difference, but out of politeness I didn’t upset the engineer. Older people will certainly welcome this nod to the suspension.

Finally, the air suspension with electromechanical stabilizers more effectively dampens roll when cornering and dive when braking. We'll wait until mid-2018 when they appear. serial cars with a pendant like this. In the meantime, in Ingolstadt it is being brought to perfection. Apparently, not everything went smoothly, since the first “eights” go on sale without the system that the main competitor has.

IN Russian Audi A8 will appear in the first quarter next year(unless the Moscow office reconsiders the plan).

At first, they promise to import only 340-horsepower gasoline cars. They'll arrive later diesel version and top-end A8 with V8 and W12 engines.

Prices will be announced later, but a fairly accurate forecast can be given now. BMW 740Li xDrive with 326 hp they sell for 6.4 million rubles, and the 367-horsepower Mercedes-Benz S 450 4Matic - for 6.5 million. This means that somewhere nearby there will be petrol Audi A8 L TFSI quattro.

Audi A8 (Audi A8) test drive

Test drive Audi A8 (Audi A8)

On the new Audi sedan A8 (Audi A8) will have autopilot. Moreover, it is full-fledged - the so-called third level. This is when you can completely let go of the steering wheel and go about your business. The car must do the rest itself. And this, you see, is a kind of breakthrough not only in the automotive industry, but also in our everyday life. What science fiction writers have been talking about for so long on the pages of their books has finally become a reality.

It is not surprising that as soon as we received the "eight" fourth generation at their disposal, they immediately reached for the treasured autopilot activation button. And... this very button was not found. She's gone! It turned out that for now the autopilot will not be installed on the Audi A8. The Germans claim that current legislation prevents this. So far, the only country where you can entrust the control of a car to level three autopilot is Germany.

In the rest of Europe, as well as in other priority markets for the Audi A8, such driving will be illegal. Naturally, this cannot be allowed under any circumstances. Although something suggests that the autopilot itself Audi yet damp. So there's no rush to German company– neither lobby for changes in legislation, nor install the autopilot itself on their cars.

Although the new Audi A8 is really ready to drive independently in more or less ideal conditions. There are twelve sonars, several cameras, and laser beams scanning the surrounding space. Making it all work in unison is quite a challenge. But how much will the vaunted autopilot really be needed by the future? Audi owners A8 – big question. In our country, for example, a German sedan is most often bought in a long-wheelbase version, which means that its owner spends most of the time not behind the wheel, but in the rear passenger seat.

And behind the wheel is a driver who gets paid for his work. And there seems to be no point in making his work easier by paying extra for a by no means cheap autopilot. And the accidents that self-driving Teslas periodically get into still provide food for thought. And after thinking carefully, you come to the conclusion that it is too early to trust your life to even the most advanced electronics.

Okay, since we haven’t been able to evaluate Audi’s autopilot yet, let’s focus on traditional values. That is, on rear seats, which in the case of sedans executive class by definition must be ideal. This is without exaggeration true for the new Audi A8.

There is enough space in the back, although with the change of generations, if it has become more, then in best case scenario by a couple of centimeters. The seating position itself is impeccable: the seats are moderately soft, their profile is perfectly adjusted, and the head is supported by a soft headrest. Among the innovations are optional removable tablets mounted on the backs of the front seats, with which passengers can control seat ventilation and heating, climate control system and Bang&Olufsen audio system. The latter, as expected, sounds excellent. Interestingly, the German company did not dare to completely abandon the usual buttons. With their help, in the long-wheelbase version of the sedan, passengers customize their seats.

But you have to control, for example, ventilation or massage from a separate small tablet, which is located in center armrest. The operation of the ventilation system at third speed turned out to be unexpectedly noisy. But I liked the massage so much that I didn’t want to leave the passenger seat at all. And if you complement it with relaxing music and a glass of some noble drink... Beauty!

But we were not destined to taste all the delights of spending time in the second row of the Audi A8. Without an assessment of the driver's seat, even if it is occupied by a hired driver, the assessment of the car would be far from complete. Naturally, the Audi A8 cares no less about those behind the wheel than about its passengers. Moreover, the German sedan is now ready to take care of the cyclists and motorcyclists scurrying around. In Europe, with suddenly opening car doors they encounter enviable regularity.

Now, if the sensors detect something approaching on two wheels, smart electronics simply will not allow the driver to open the door. After a second, the locks will automatically unlock, which should be enough for the cyclist to leave the danger zone. Yes, and this one too dangerous area it will be more complete in the form of a door.

Similar electronic systems There are tons of them in the newest Audi A8, designed to save, warn and do God knows what else. We can talk about them endlessly. But is it necessary? Most often, they will do their work unnoticed by the car owner. Something else will be visible - the interior, which, in comparison with that of a sedan previous generation has become an order of magnitude more modern. What is it worth at least steering wheel, stylized as the steering wheel of a Formula 1 car.

And although there is no particular meaning, given the purpose of the Audi A8, in such an imitation, one way or another it all looks very fresh. Although the main salon innovation, naturally, should be considered the appearance of touch panels. Even the ventilation system deflectors on the Audi A8 are now opened and closed using sensors.

Technical characteristics of the Audi A8

In motion, we have so far been able to evaluate only the 3-liter gasoline version with a capacity of 340 Horse power. The engine, its characteristics and coordination with the 8-speed gearbox are so good that you don’t even want to think about more powerful “eights”. I bet that cars with them will be bought solely for image reasons, and not because someone lacks the capabilities of the gasoline “six”.

Although, since we are talking about image (read: show-off), everyone who is asking the price of the Audi A8 should know that the Germans are also working on a version with the W12. A hybrid will also be available, which can be recharged contactlessly. But this is in Europe. In our country, few people think about the environment yet, so the main demand will probably be for the 340-horsepower version.

The “horses” from Ingoldstadt don’t care at all that the body of the Audi A8 is not that light. It turns out that with the change of generations, the percentage of “heavy” steel in the total mass has even increased and now reaches 40 percent. Everything else is mostly aluminum. Of course, nothing prevented Audi engineers from putting the sedan on a diet, but they did not do this on principle. Safety comes first. Suspension designs have not changed fundamentally with the change of generations, but now on all Audi A8s it is exclusively pneumatic.

It’s interesting that the stands themselves are single-chamber, while some competitors have as many as three cameras on each stand. However, Audi engineers are well aware of this and do not express any particular concerns about the conservative solution they have chosen, wittingly or unwittingly. They say that the Audi A8 drives great already.

In general this is true. But there were some notorious “buts”. On gentle waves the car's sway could have been a little less. Moreover, switching to Dynamic mode changes little. Suffering from seasickness long journey may get motion sickness. There is only one way out - to fork out more and choose a G8 with active suspension. I don’t even want to think about how much it will cost to repair it, but the Audi A8 drives better with it. There is less roll, dives during acceleration and braking are not so noticeable, and the ride is smoother good roads better.

The active suspension has only one drawback - it handles medium bumps more harshly. And this does not allow us to unequivocally recommend the “active” Audi A8, since some of our roads consist almost entirely of similar medium-sized irregularities. We'll have to wait until the German sedan reaches our country, and only then check how it will behave in our conditions.

Then you will probably be able to check another declared “trick” that was not on the test sedans. We are talking about a system that, using a video camera, will prepare the suspension for unevenness in advance. Although, again, I wouldn’t be surprised if in our not at all hothouse conditions everything turns out to be far from as great as the Germans imagine in their branded videos. But even if our cars lose all this active-passive-safe “husk,” the Audi A8 still has every chance of capturing the leadership in the class that has eluded it for so long. The German sedan is comfortable, fast, technologically advanced, relevant and modern. He is, after all, simply beautiful.

But I’m afraid that the Audi A8 won’t be able to hold the lead for long. There is no huge leap in comparison with the previous generation sedan, so the new generation is the same Mercedes Benz The S-Class will immediately return everything to normal. The Audi A8 will get a chance to become the “king of the hill” seriously and for a long time only if the promised real autopilot appears on all versions and is available for legal use in all countries where the V8 will be sold. But this seems to be still too far away.

Audi A8 price:

New Audi A8 video test drive:

Quickly jump to sections

The new Audi A8 has received a more faceted design and even more technology. Among the innovations and updates are active suspension, autopilot, as well as a complex body made of aluminum, steel, magnesium and even a small amount of carbon fiber. There have always been technologies that allow the new A8 to compete on equal terms with the BMW “Seven”.

Salon new Audi The A8 looks high-tech, but rather modest, despite all the exhibitions and the abundance of leather. The interior design is glossy black. This is done so that the darkness of the switched off displays is not noticeable.

With conservatives in mind

However, in this respect the new Audi A8 is revolutionary changes. Not at all because the new product wants to attract a younger audience. Times change morals. Today, each of us has a smartphone with a touchscreen in our pocket. Even conservatives no longer use push-button phones.

The range of engines for the new Audi A8

The engine range offered for the new Audi A8 is more than diverse. It starts with a two-liter turbo engine and ends with.

In my own way technical device The new 2018 Audi A8 is a mild hybrid. There is a complex 48-volt system installed here that powers everything on-board systems. This allows you to turn off the engine internal combustion when the car is moving, for example, coasting. Moreover, it can do this in the speed range from 50 to 160 km/h.

On Audi test drive The A8 was provided with a diesel engine that develops 286 hp. and goes “to hundreds” in 5.9 seconds. The car had the L nameplate, which means Audi A8 long, in other words, long wheelbase. It is 130 mm longer than the standard one, but at the same time the control big car on mountain serpentine roads it does not cause any problems.

Chassis of the new Audi A8

The Audi A8 is a very maneuverable car, primarily due to its fully controlled chassis. At speeds up to 60 km/h rear wheels turn in antiphase, which makes the car very maneuverable. Even the standard A8 has a smaller turning radius than the Audi A4. The extended version has, of course, more. At speeds above 60 km/h, the rear wheels turn synchronously with the front wheels, which makes the car more stable. We were convinced of this during a test drive that took place along a mountain serpentine road.

Door closers on the flagship big sedan no one can be surprised today. And the new Audi A8 has peculiar, so to speak, diverters. Once you lightly pull the door handle, the door opens on its own.

Despite the fact that the wheelbase of the new A8 has increased by only 6 mm, the interior has added 3 cm in length. For a B-class car, for example Solaris, this would be a very serious figure. However, for the new Audi A8, with its enormous space inside, this increase turns out to be completely unnoticeable.

Second row of the new Audi A8

Passengers of the second Audi series The A8 has a remote control with fairly large physical buttons. If you don’t really like the buttons, you can use a redundant system, since you can also control it using a small touch tablet.

So, with its help, those sitting behind can turn on “Massage” or forcefully move the seats of the first row. There is another large entertainment tablet in the second row. With its help, you can view various data about the car or display a map on the screen. In addition, this screen has its own browser, which means you can read news or just surf the Internet on the go.

On the waves of the road surface

The new Audi A8 2018 is a rather soft and stable car. Even in Dynamic mode, the movement is not accompanied by tooth-crushing rigidity. In addition, there is traditional system with electric motors that help the car smoothly overcome waves road surface, lifting in right moment one wheel or another. As the engineers of the German company explain, this system is designed to help with the passage of road waves, and for all small things bad road Pneumatic struts are quite enough.

New Audi A8 2018 will appear on Russian market at the beginning of 2018. It is not yet known what configurations and what options will be available to us. However, it is already known that the first engine will be a 3-liter petrol V6 with a power of 340 hp.

New Audi A8 2018 technical specifications

New Audi A8 2018 test drive video

When I picked up the car from Audi, I was afraid that three gasoline liters of engine would not be enough for such a colossus. How wrong I was... Even with that engine, the A8 is damn fast. You just need to not be lazy and turn it on more often sport mode. I will say this: this device drives harder than the eight-cylinder versions of the A8 of the previous generation! At the same time, even if you don’t hesitate with the gas pedal, as I did for almost a week, fuel consumption will not go beyond reasonable limits: 14.7 liters per 100 km - it seems to me that this is a more than adequate figure after all my night rides "

And when the snow melted under the onslaught of the reagents cursed by all the townspeople, the A8 again became just a limousine. Great car For business man. But you and I know what he’s capable of, don’t we?

Competitors

The A8's rivals are one more serious than the other. But if we consider our compatriots, the difference is clearly visible. Mercedes S-Class- softness itself. Last generation The W222 is luxurious to the point of indecentness, but the brand philosophy is always the same: the passenger is in charge. The BMW 7 Series, on the contrary, is more for the driver: the seven is noticeably tougher, and no one hides the fact that it is built around the driver and is designed to indulge him in everything. Audi is truly universal option. It will suit both corporate parks and those who like to drive themselves. Well, I already mentioned the joys of winter.

The whole photo shoot

During the planned modernization, the flagship Audi A8 model changed slightly in appearance and received a number of technical innovations. We tested almost all modifications of the new product

At the presentation of the executive sedan, the only thing missing was its hybrid modification - all other options were put at my disposal. But first I'll tell you about external changes. The car received new bumpers, a more prominent hood and a voluminous radiator grille, as well as new “insides” of the headlights. Slightly modified tail lights, making the “stern” more expressive.

But the main innovation is the aforementioned “internals” of the headlights, offered as an option. They are called Matrix LED (that is, matrix) and are different from all others LED headlights presence of 25 light-emitting modules high beam, allowing you to configure the light beam in the most different options. Each of these 25 elements can work independently, almost completely eliminating the glare of oncoming and passing cars, even if there are several of them on the road. In addition, the headlights work in conjunction with the navigation system to illuminate turns in advance.

Other innovations worth noting head-up display, duplicating the readings of instruments and navigation systems, as well as a noise suppression system, through the speakers of the audio system generating noise in antiphase to the sounds of the engine, incoming air flow and tires. Previously, nothing like this was offered for the A8.

And finally, the engines. Almost all modifications (except hybrid version with a 2-liter turbo engine and an electric motor, which has not changed) have become either more powerful and at the same time more economical, or simply more economical with the same power. Thus, the 3-liter petrol compressor TFSI now develops 310 hp. versus 290 hp A turbodiesel of the same volume increased from 250 to 258 hp. The 4-liter gasoline turbo engine began to develop 435 hp. instead of 420 hp, and the 4.2-liter diesel unit added 35 hp. - up to 385 hp And here sports version The S8 with 4-liter TFSI remained at its 520 hp. The flagship 6.3-liter 12-cylinder modification has not changed in power either - it still develops 500 hp. In Russian salons official dealers For now, only the 435-horsepower gasoline version is available, other engines will appear during 2014.

A couple of touches

At first glance, the interior has not changed at all. Moreover, you can order a car with exactly the same interior as before the restyling. And among the updates - several types of exclusive finishing with expensive varieties of leather and wood, as well as new color solutions. Otherwise, all the same reference ergonomics, excellent quality of finishing materials and big variety textures, which makes the interior look somewhat fractional.

The seating geometry is ideal - the range of movement of the seat and steering column will satisfy riders of various sizes. The same can be said about the shape of the seat. Using a small “ring” on the side of the chair base, you can select the level of lateral support for the hips and back (separately), the height and degree of “bulging” of the lumbar support, change the length of the pillow and “break” the backrest. At the same time, all actions are duplicated on the MMI interface screen with excellent graphics. The seat padding is moderately dense, but the headrest is still too hard.

I’m settling in the second row of the short-wheelbase modification. In principle, there is enough space in all directions, but those who like to drive with a hired driver will certainly prefer the long-wheelbase version. However, more about her later. Even in the short version, the seats with an excellent profile are equipped with many adjustments and allow you to sit even reclining. The only inconvenience, in my opinion, is that when the backrest is tilted, the pillow moves forward and upward, strongly lifting up the front part. That is, you will have to ride reclining with your knees raised. Otherwise, comfort is at the highest level. Of course, there is an individual separate “climate”, heating, ventilation and massage, as well as the ability to move the right front passenger go ahead if suddenly there is not enough legroom.

But in the long-wheelbase modification there is unlikely to be a need to move the front rider, since there is room for legs in a carriage and a small cart. In this parameter, neither the BMW 7 Series nor the new generation Mercedes-Benz S-Class can compare with the Audi A8. And as an option, you can order a right-hand drive that moves forward front seat, from the back of which a footrest folds out. The only thing missing is a pad for the headrest, otherwise it, like the front one, is a bit harsh.

It's all in the settings

The first modification that I tried was equipped with a 4.2-liter turbodiesel engine producing 385 hp. On idle speed There is no sound of a running engine or vibrations. The traction is powerful at any speed, and the sound is noble. Automatic transmission works unnoticed. Acceleration is very smooth and therefore imperceptible. In this regard, you must monitor the speedometer very carefully so as not to lose your license. Fortunately, the Audi A8 now has a display projector Windshield. Moreover, the numbers can be adjusted in height using a simple regulator to the left of the steering wheel, while competitors from BMW have this procedure hidden in the jungle of the menu.

Directional stability on the autobahn - railway. The active steering included in my test unit is high speed“blooms” and almost does not react to small deviations of the steering wheel. And at low speeds, the car, on the contrary, is characterized by quick reactions. But still, the modification with the most powerful turbodiesel in the range is not at all tempting to “ignite” on a winding road. You can feel the heaviness of the front end, and the response to pressing the accelerator pedal is dampened.

Another thing is the petrol 520-horsepower sports modification S8. Bubbling exhaust, instant reactions to the gas and gun-like acceleration. This sedan in its habits is completely different from executive car. It literally begs to be taken on winding roads. Thanks to the active rear differential, which adds traction to the rear outer wheel when cornering, understeer is barely felt, and the car itself seems to shrink in size. And on the autobahn the stability is excellent. Moreover, if the diesel A8 is already turning sour at speeds under 200 km/h, the S8 version continues to confidently pick up the pace right up to the cutoff at 250 km/h.

The smooth ride of the S8, however, is also not quite representative - the chassis rigidly calculates even the few irregularities of German roads. In Russia, I think the situation will get worse. However, the version with a 4.2-liter turbodiesel, although softer, is also harsh for the executive class. And with all the modifications I tested (except for one, which I’ll talk about later), the noise of the incoming air flow and tires is clearly audible.

Petrol version with a 4-liter 435-horsepower TFSI, ride comfort is at the level of 385 horsepower diesel modification. That is, the car drives quite well, but on uneven surfaces it misses hard shocks. But the engine here feels almost as good as the one in the S8 version. Which, in fact, is no wonder, since both modifications have essentially the same motor, only the degree of boost is different. The car accelerates like a cannon, but does not growl as much and turns no worse. In short, this variant delivers almost as much fun on a twisty road as the S8, but is more different. high level comfort.

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Modification with a 3-liter 310-horsepower compressor gasoline engine it doesn't drive so gracefully. Acceleration is good here too, although it’s no longer intoxicating, and the sound of the engine is simpler. And the suspension on this example is tuned even stiffer - almost like the sports S8. Moreover, the wheels and tires have nothing to do with it - all tested copies (with the exception of the version with a 3-liter turbodiesel) were equipped with the same 20-inch wheels and the same tires. But the handling is almost better than that of the aforementioned S8. And all because the 3-liter modification has a very light motor, and this is very noticeable. This A8 dives into turns incredibly easily.

I change to the version with a 3-liter turbodiesel with 258 hp. This car has 19-inch wheels. Maybe he'll ride more smoothly? No matter how it is. The sedan's ride is just as hard as the version with a 3-liter engine. gasoline unit. In general, these modifications are very similar in dynamics, only the sound of a turbodiesel is not particularly impressive. But the handling is at the same level. That is, to enjoy driving, it is best to choose from the 3-liter options, and gasoline or diesel is not so important.

And finally, the flagship version with a 6.3-liter W12 engine. It only comes with a long wheelbase and meets the concept of “executive car” without any reservations. Steering without an active gearbox (although an active steering wheel can be ordered) provides smooth reactions when cornering, and the sound of the engine is barely audible, but at the same time most noble. Reactions to pressing the accelerator pedal naturally aspirated engine ideal - smooth and immediate at the same time. And finally I felt a real smooth ride. Somewhere the hard shocks on bumps disappeared, and the car rolled very softly. Moreover, I drove all modifications on the same roads, and the smoothness of the 12-cylinder version was radically different from all the others.

The same applies to sound insulation - the noise of the incoming air flow and tires comes as if from behind a very thick wall. How is this possible? Maybe the flagship version is equipped with additional noise-absorbing materials? No. It's all about the optional noise reduction system, which does its job superbly. Its speakers, by the way, can be seen in the ceiling above the heads of the riders. This option is also available for other versions, and I think it will not be superfluous.

Updated Audi A8, surprisingly, turned out to be very versatile. It seems to be the same model, but its versions drive completely differently. So the buyer can choose a car for himself based on personal preferences.

Specifications Audi A8 4.0TFSI Quattro
Dimensions, mm	5135x1949x1460
Wheelbase, mm
Track front/rear, mm
Turning diameter, m
Ground clearance, mm	no data
Trunk volume, l
Curb weight, kg
engine's type	petrol V8 turbo
Working volume, cubic meters cm
Max. power, hp/rpm
Max. torque, Nm/rpm
Transmission	automatic 8-speed
	ventilated disc
Max. speed, km/h
Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, s
Fuel consumption (average), l/100 km
Tank volume, l

Author Dmitry Zaitsev, columnist for Avtopanorama magazine Edition Autopanorama No. 1 2014 Photo photo of the manufacturer