Audi A8

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 Audi 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.

Audi A8

Beginning in 1997, The Audi A8 was the first mass-market car with an aluminium chassis, marketed as the Audi Space Frame and co-developed with Alcoa.

First generation (D2, Typ 4D; 1994–2002)
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 Audi 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 Audi 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.

Second generation (D3, Typ 4E; 2002–2009)
The second-generation Audi Audi A8 built on the Volkswagen Group D3 platform was introduced in November 2002 in Europe and in early 2003 in the United States. The model was longer than the previous generation, with room for four or five large adult occupants in the cabin, depending on rear seat configuration.

Audi A8

As with the previous version, two body variants of the second generation Audi A8 are offered, the Audi A8 (standard, or short wheelbase), and the long-wheelbase (LWB) A8L. The A8L adds 120 mm (4.7 inches) to the rear legroom and 11 mm (0.43 in) to the overall height of the car.

Third generation (D4, Typ 4H; 2009–present)
The third-generation Audi A8 (Typ 4H) was introduced in Miami on 30 November 2009 and went on sale in November 2010 as a 2011 model.

It is based on the Volkswagen Group MLB platform, but retains the Audi Space Frame aluminium construction of the previous Audi A8, making it the lightest all-wheel drive car in the full-size luxury segment, while also giving it best-in-class fuel economy.

Initial internal combustion engine options comprise 4.2-litre Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) petrol and Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel V8s, with 273 kilowatts (371 PS; 366 bhp) and 258 kilowatts (351 PS; 346 bhp) respectively. A 3.0-litre V6 TDI with either 184 kilowatts (250 PS; 247 bhp) or 150 kilowatts (204 PS; 201 bhp) will be available later. A 6.3-litre W12 engine will be added in 2010. Most engines will be mated to the new eight-speed ZF 8HP automatic transmission.

Audi A8 photos