[sidindica]

Audi A8 L (2011) with pictures and wallpapers

Press release:

The new Audi A8 is a concentrated high-tech package that confirms the Audi claim to technical leadership - "Vorsprung durch Technik". And now the brand is introducing the top version of its flagship model. The Audi A8 L W12 quattro, with a long wheelbase and a twelve-cylinder engine, sets new standards of luxury, dynamism and efficiency in the top automobile manufacturing league. The Audi A8 L is being launched with a twelve-cylinder engine, but by the end of the year will be available with all the engines currently offered for the A8.
What's fascinating about the Audi A8 L is its supremely powerful presence; its design is clearly derived from the brand's genes and yet has undergone further refinement. The long wheelbase does not disturb its taut outlines, which remain as athletic as they are elegant.
With an overall length of 5,267 millimeters (17.28 ft), the new Audi A8 L is 130 mm (0.43 ft) longer than the regular version. The wheelbase has grown by the same amount, to 3,122 mm (10.24 ft). The width remains unchanged at 1,949 mm (6.39 ft); the height has increased by 2 mm (0.08 in) to 1,462 mm (4.8 ft). Audi's new top model is both longer and wider than its main long-wheelbase competitors.
The Audi A8 L has a body built from aluminum using the Audi Space Frame (ASF) principle and therefore weighing about 40 percent less than a comparable steel body. The ASF body structure is built up from cast elements, extruded sections and sheet aluminum, with integral B-posts made from form-hardened ultra-high strength steel. This body's tremendous rigidity is the key to the car's precise handling, low interior noise levels and high passive safety for the occupants in the event of an accident.


Among the high-end technologies featured on the A8 model line are the optional LED headlight units (standard on the Audi A8 L W12 quattro) with all lighting functions performed by LEDs. With this bright, high-efficiency light, Audi opens a new chapter in the history of automobile lighting technology.
Subtle visual details distinguish the Audi A8 L W12 quattro from the other cars in this model line. The single-frame radiator grille with integral grid structure has a high-gloss black paint finish and special chromed horizontal bars. There are also chromed inserts of new design in the air inlets, and chromed applications on the exterior mirrors. W12 badges are displayed on the single-frame grille and at the rear of the car. The exhaust system has two trapezoidal-pattern tailpipe trims neatly integrated into the rear bumper.


Abundant space: Rear-seat area
The full extra length of this sedan benefits rear-seat passengers. The back doors are longer, for even more convenient entry, and the space available inside can only be described as opulent. Rear passenger comfort can be enhanced even more if two separate power-adjustable seats are ordered. These can be heated, ventilated and adjusted in a variety of ways: forward and back, seat cushion depth and seat back angle with top section adjustable separately. There is also a fully adjustable lumbar support. The front passenger's seat can also be moved from the rear if extra space is needed.
Between the individual rear seats that are standard equipment in the Audi A8 L W12 quattro a full-length console can be ordered as an optional extra; it extends back from the center tunnel to the rear shelf, and can be specified with integral items such as a folding table or a refrigerator. Separate controls for the rear air conditioning are also standard. The luxury four-zone automatic air conditioning is controlled by no fewer than 25 adjusting motors.
Another high-end feature of the long-wheelbase Audi A8 is the reclining seat behind the front passenger's seat. The angle of the seat cushion can also be adjusted. The occupant can be massaged by ten air-filled compartments; four programs can be selected at a remote control. The feet rest on a power-adjustable support at the base of the front passenger seat back. Heating, ventilation and the luxury head restraint are integral features of the reclining seat. A folding table, additional wood and leather trim, a refrigerator and a Rear Seat Entertainment system with two 10.2-inch screens are among the features that promote relaxed travel or alternatively concentrated work in this mobile lounge.


Fine materials: Interior design
The quality of workmanship in the Audi A8 L is simply first-class - from the restrained ambient lighting through the accurately fitted switches with their precise click action. Fascinating aspects of the car's interior are the slim, clear outlines and the stylish materials with their modern look.
Audi design selection brass beige carefully combines well-matched colors with individual materials and comfort-oriented equipment items. The roof-mounted grab handles and rear console have additional fine wood trim.
Valonea leather is tanned exclusively with plant extracts and is especially soft and able to "breathe" actively. Audi also supplies a loose cushion for rear-seat passengers' use. Like the head restraints and the selector lever for the eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission, it is trimmed with buckskin that is exceptionally soft and supple but also hard-wearing.
Another optional extra, the panoramic glass roof, has two glass panels that allow plenty of light to reach the car's interior. Both sections can be tilted up and the front one also opened extra-wide. Sun blinds are provided for both panels to keep out direct sunlight.


The Audi A8 L W12 quattro: Splendor and efficiency
Twelve cylinders are the ultimate engine configuration, a tradition that still applies in the large luxury car class. The first-generation A8 was available with an engine of this type from 2001 on, and a developed version could be obtained from 2004 on in the following model. Audi's engineers have now thoroughly revised the W12. Its displacement has been increased, and gasoline direct injection boosts its output and its efficiency.
The 6.3 FSI engine has an output of 368 kW (500 hp) and delivers its peak torque of 625 Nm (460.98 lb-ft) at engine speeds at 3,250 rpm. It gives the long-wheelbase Audi A8 the kind of performance normally expected of a sports car: it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in only 4.9 seconds and effortlessly reaches its governed top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph).
A fascinating flow of power is available in every situation, but the fuel consumption too sets new standards: the EU cycle test result is only 12.0 liters per 100 kilometers (19.6 US mpg), a figure well below that of competitors' cars with V12 engines. The previous 6.0-liter engine, which had a power output of 331 kW (450 hp), recorded a fuel consumption of 13.6 l/100 km (17.3 US mpg) - the difference of 1.6 l/100 km is equivalent to a 12 percent improvement.
The engine is known as the W12 because of its unusual layout: it has four rows of three cylinders with a 15-degree included angle between the two offset rows of cylinders in each broad cylinder block. The V angle between the two blocks is 72 degrees. This layout makes the W12 engine exceptionally compact: only just over 50 centimeters (19.69 in) long and therefore distinctly shorter than a V8. Height and width are both in the region of 70 centimeters (27.56 in).
The W12, in its latest form with a displacement of 6,299 cc, is an undersquare design. Its bore and stroke are 86.0 and 90.4 millimeters (3.39 x 3.56 in) respectively. Compared with the previous version the engineers have enlarged the cylinder bore. The forged crankshaft has a 12-degree angle of crankpin offset, so that the mixture in the 12 cylinders is ignited at the ideal interval of 60 degrees. The engine therefore runs exceptionally smoothly, and the car's occupants are unlikely to sense any of this supreme power at work unless it is at high engine speeds and severe loads.
The W12 engine weighs only 247 kilograms (545 lb), an impressive value to which the crankcase makes a major contribution. This is a lightweight, high-strength aluminum-silicon alloy casting with a gray cast iron lower cross-member into which the bearing pedestals are embedded. The pistons are forged from a high-strength light alloy and have angled crowns because of their V position in the cylinder blocks.
Each of the W12 engine's aluminum cylinder heads contains two camshafts; these can be repositioned hydraulically by an amount equivalent to 52 degrees of crankshaft rotation. Altogether, the four camshafts operate 48 valves by way of low-friction roller cam followers, and are themselves driven by chains from an intermediate shaft.
For use in the long-wheelbase A8, Audi's engineers have converted the W12 engine to FSI gasoline direct injection. This involved considerable modifications to the cylinder heads. Fuel is injected into the combustion chambers at a pressure of up to 130 bar. A high 11.8:1 compression ratio boosts power output and efficiency. The inlet ports are specially shaped to impart swirl to the incoming airflow and make combustion more efficient.
The W12 engine's low fuel consumption compared with its competitors is to a large extent due to Audi's modular efficiency platform. These are used in the entire A8 model line. The crankshaft and timing chains have been intensively optimized to reduce friction, and a recuperation system recovers energy that would otherwise be wasted when the car is braked. The innovative thermal management system shuts down the coolant circuit for a time after the cold engine has been started. This warms up the engine oil more rapidly and shortens the operating period in which friction is still high.


Safe and sporty: Transmission
The transmission makes a major contribution to ensuring the high efficiency of the Audi A8 L. The eight-speed tiptronic shifts smoothly and quickly, with the individual gears closely spaced but with a generous overall spread from low to high. Gear shifts are performed electronically ("shift by wire") from an elegant yacht-style selector lever or at steering wheel paddles.
The center differential, the main component in the quattro permanent all-wheel drive train, divides the torque flow from the engine in a sporty manner, with 60 percent to the rear axle and 40 percent to the front in regular driving conditions. But if the situation changes, up to 60 percent of the torque can be sent to the front, or 80 percent to the rear. An optional sport differential splits the torque input actively between the left and right rear wheels.


Maximum precision: Chassis
Thanks to its advanced chassis design, the long-wheelbase Audi A8 brings together the silky, refined smoothness of a true luxury car and the handling of a sport sedan. The wheel control arms are made of aluminum. The front suspension uses five locating arms at each wheel; the controlled-track wishbone rear suspension ensures a supremely comfortable ride. The servotronic power steering system has a direct operating ratio and operates at high efficiency.
The adaptive air suspension with controlled damping is standard equipment and is integrated into the Audi drive select dynamics system. With this system the driver can choose between four different operating settings of the engine, the eight-speed tiptronic transmission, the servotronic power steering, the optional sport differential and the Audi pre sense basic safety system. An additional module is the dynamic steering system, which varies its gear ratio steplessly according to road speed.
The Audi A8 L W12 quattro runs on 19-inch alloy wheels with a 15-spoke design reserved for this model, and size 255/45 tires. As an optional extra 20-inch wheels can be chosen, and even 21-inch wheels can be obtained from quattro GmbH.
The Audi A8 L W12 quattro, the new top model, naturally has a high-performance brake system, with ventilated disks at all four wheels. The front disks are 400 mm (15.75 in) in diameter, with 356 mm (14.02 in) disks at the rear. To dissipate heat and reduce weight, stainless steel pins connect the steel friction rings with the aluminum disk centers. The calipers have a matt black paint finish.


Dynamic intelligence: Communication and assistance systems
This large sedan features an exemplary control concept. Although there are so many functions available, they can be selected in an easily understood, ergonomically correct way. Two large monitor screens, one on the instrument panel and one on the center console, acts as control centers and display their information as high-resolution 3D graphics.
The A8 has a pioneering innovation on board: the optional MMI navigation plus, which operates with the aid of a high-capacity hard disk, has a touch-sensitive control panel known as MMI touch. The driver inputs his or her navigation destination or a telephone number simply by writing the letters or numerals on the pad with a finger. Acoustic feedback makes this possible without taking one's eyes of the road.
The high-end navigation system cooperates with the assistance and safety systems in an innovative way. It registers the topography of the road in advance and makes this data available to the control units for the automatic transmission, headlights and adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function. Thanks to their advanced intelligence, these systems can identify complex scenarios and offer the driver support in good time.
The adaptive cruise control system operates at any speed up to 250 km/h (155.34 mph) and responds even more flexibly and smoothly than before.
The Audi side assist system, which helps the driver to change lanes, and Audi lane assist which detects any departure from the chosen lane, also have new and additional performance features.
The night view assistant uses a thermal imaging camera to identify persons on the road ahead of the car. If it considers the situation to be potentially dangerous, the image of the person on the road is shown in red and a warning signal is heard. The Audi pre sense safety system is also closely linked to the assistance systems. It is available in several stages: the full version brakes the car automatically in order to minimize the consequences of a nose-to-tail collision.
In the multimedia area, Audi can also supply many attractive modules. These include a Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System with an output rating of more than 1,400 Watts and 19 speakers, and the Rear Seat Entertainment system. This has an MMI control panel on the console between the rear seats and provides access to all the infotainment functions on board this large luxury sedan.
The new Online services in cooperation with Google use the car phone to capture news and current information on the weather or points of interest (POI) from the Internet. Later this year an UMTS module will be available: this fast data link can supply images and information from Google Earth to the monitor screen and combine them with the navigation route. The driver can use all these services with his or her cell-phone contract.

[Nitronium]

With those interiors, why would you even look at an S or 7. No, seriously. Why?

[extreme_torque]

I dont like the exterior looks but the interiors are gorgeous.

[AyAn!]

The German luxo-barge to buy.Mindbogglingly classy!

[Scorcher]

This is the only Audi I love other than the R8 and Q7. Not even the Pre-Gen one. This one just blown me away when I saw the First pics. Being a proper BMWian, Still couldn't resist saying "This will sure give the 7er and S a serious run for their dough"

[ishotmydog]

the exteriors are ordinary, but the interiors more than just makes up for it! wow!

[vinaydas]

wow me likes the new 8 , probably more than the 7.
The interiors!! Sheer class
But the Fridge seems a bit cramped , a car like this defintiely needs a fridge that can hold and fit Cristal at all times .

[sujaylahiri]

Audi at its best. But what's with the weird shaped gear lever?

[prateekm]

Originally Posted by sujaylahiri

Audi at its best. But what's with the weird shaped gear lever?

I guess they have adapted the shape for better grip and comfort. Love this car. Dashboard doesn't look that great in that colour of wood though. Would have even looked better in black interiors and the brushed aluminium look offered in some cars

[Sahil]

My reactions:
pic 1-boring
pic 2-boooring
pic 3-booooooring
pic 4-boooooooooooring
pic 5- WOW !!!

[sidindica]

some more interior pics

[Jayabusa]

^^The wood finish in the first pic is barf-worthy. Otherwise this is an excellent limousine from the looks of it.

[funkydevil]

2011 Audi A8L Security Launched

So the armored version of the all new A8 is finally here. Can't wait to see this in the next transporter movie










"Audi is introducing a new, exclusive model - the Audi A8 L Security. The long-wheelbase high-security version of the A8 meets the strictest guidelines in force for civilian vehicles, with a host of special security features available in addition to its heavy armoring. At sales launch Audi will offer the W12 engine, with another unit to follow in 2012. Both engines combine superior power with high efficiency.

Body

At 5.27 meters (17.29 ft) in length, the Audi A8 L Security is a large, representative luxury sedan, hardly distinguishable to the eye from the production version. The LED headlights, which use light-emitting diodes for all functions, lend a striking expression to its front. They are part of the standard package in the Audi A8 L Security W12.

When developing the basic design for the A8 model line, Audi engineers already had the high-security version in mind from the very outset. The result is a totally integrated concept far superior to any retrofit solution currently available on the market. All of the major components were analyzed with regard to their deformation properties, giving the Audi A8 L Security an excellent crash performance that is also mindful of the other party involved.

The armored sedan's custom security modifications are performed by hand in a small, well-guarded workshop - on a production floor with specially secured doors, where the use of cellular phones is strictly prohibited. The basis for the high-security car is a previously modified aluminum production body constructed at the Neckarsulm plant as per the Audi Space Frame (ASF) principle. Specially trained technicians put in roughly 450 hours of work to incorporate the security features - in the uncompromisingly high quality Audi is known for. When this stage of the process is complete, the car returns to the factory for final assembly.

he Audi A8 L Security has been officially certified by a German-government ballistics testing facility in Munich for compliance with the class VR 7 ballistic protection standard (tested as per BRV 2009 guidelines). The abbreviation BRV stands for Bullet Resistant Vehicles. The car's resistance to explosions was tested as per ERV 2010 guidelines (ERV = Explosion Resistant Vehicles). Class VR 7 ballistic protection imposes the strictest standards on civilian high-security sedans. The sheet metal and glazing in the passenger cell must withstand firing with NATO hard-core ammunition. In certain areas, the armoring on the Audi A8 L Security even complies with the criteria for class VR 9 and VR 10.

Integrated as a unitized component of the body, the high-security sedan's safety cell features a convergence of extremely tough, resistant materials - hot-formed armored steel, aramide fabric, ceramics, special alloyed aluminum and multilayer glass. Overlapping protective materials at the joints provide the utmost level of security throughout the occupant cell. The interior armoring weighs approximately 720 kilograms (1,587.33 lb).

The aluminum side sills have solid steel sections built in. These provide increased protection against explosive weapons - an area that has seen a marked stiffening of requirements in recent years. Made of an innovative aluminum alloy, the car's armored floor serves the same purpose. The Audi A8 L Security is capable of withstanding an attack with a military hand grenade.

Even an explosive charge defined from the test program does not pose a lethal threat to passengers, as demonstrated by measurements taken during testing on dummies.

The side windows, windshield and rear window are all made of special glass with a polycarbonate coating in the inside to prevent spalling. Optional electromechanical window openers operate the side windows, allowing them to be lowered nearly all the way. The excess weight of the windows amounts to just over 300 kilograms (661.39 lb). A closing assist feature comes standard for the doors - which weigh an additional 360 kilograms (793.66 lb) altogether. A door-stop function holds each door open in any desired position.

A key area in the Audi A8 L Security is the "communication box" in the luggage compartment. In addition to the control units for the vehicle and communications electronics, it holds the optional components that further enhance the passengers' safety, along with the additional battery. The heavily armored communication box is novel in another way: It has comparatively light ceramic doors, and its frames are made of aluminum. Customers can also request special protection for the battery and the fuel tank.

A standard two-way communication system allows passengers in the Audi A8 L Security to communicate with the outside world when the windows are closed. The system makes use of a speaker in the single-frame grille as well as microphones for the cabin and exterior.

Despite the high level of security it offers, the Audi A8 L Security is a relatively light armored car. As is always the case in an Audi, the lightweight design plays a central role here. Outfitted with the W12 engine, the Audi A8 L Security is the lightest vehicle among its peers.

High-security features

For Audi A8 L Security customers, a multitude of special options are available for enhanced security. Among these is the emergency exit system, a technology patented by Audi. When the driver or rear passenger presses a tamperproof switch and pulls one of the inside door handles, pyrotechnical separating screws in the hinges detach the door from the body. The door can then be knocked out with a slight push.

Another security feature is the fire extinguisher system, which is activated via heat sensors or by pushing a button. The extinguishing agent flows from two canisters installed in the luggage compartment through two tubes running along the underfloor. Nozzles spray the agent into the wheel arches, onto the underfloor, onto the tank, and into the engine compartment.

The emergency fresh-air system operates with two oxygen cartridges housed in the protected area. At the push of a button, the system supplies fresh breathing air to the interior via vents in the roof lining. The supply lasts long enough for the car to pass through a danger zone or get out of a danger zone it is currently in. The system works by generating positive pressure in the vehicle interior to prevent toxic gases from penetrating the cabin. Yet another option is what Audi calls security start - a feature that allows the driver to start the engine remotely via a radio signal.

Numerous additional solutions round out the offering: a smoke extractor for the passenger compartment, an LED signaling system for convoy travel, flashing lights, a siren, a preparation for professional mobile radio systems, a flag holder, a permanently installed telephone, an accident data recorder, an additional rearview camera and a heated windshield plus partially heated side windows. Going beyond all of this, Audi will also ensure customers' special requests are taken care of an individual basis.

Interior

The interior of the Audi A8 L Security is captivating, with its spacious design and workmanship on a craftsman's level. The comfort on board is first class - the standard package includes a four-zone climate control system with an ionizer to freshen the air, electric rear blinds, the sonorous Bose surround sound system and a TV tuner. In the rear are two individual, seats with power adjustment. Also featuring a versatile adjustment range, the front comfort seats offer heating as well as optional massage and ventilation functions. In addition, the Audi A8 L W12 Security comes with a standard full-leather package.

On request Audi will install the "relaxation seat" - a widely adjustable right-hand rear seat with a power-adjustable footrest, heating and massage. Also available is a full-length center console with large storage compartments, complemented by the rear seat entertainment system with two 10.2-inch displays. Optional features such as a folding table, a refrigerator and a parking heater make the time spent in the car even more pleasant.

Assistance and multimedia systems

For the high-security version of the A8 L, Audi offers virtually the entire gamut of advanced technologies available for the production version. The standard MMI Navigation plus system works with a large hard disk, a high-resolution eight-inch monitor and a fast 3D graphics processor. Its groundbreaking feature, however, is the touchpad - the MMI touch. It gives the driver intuitive control of many functions. The navigation destination, for example, can be entered by tracing the letters on the pad with a finger.

MMI navigation plus is tightly integrated with the assistance and safety systems in the Audi A8 L Security. It reads the road ahead and provides the data to the control units for the automatic transmission, the headlights and the optional adaptive cruise control with stop & go function. With their increased intelligence, these systems can recognize complex scenarios and predictively support the driver.

The Audi pre sense safety system can reduce the severity of accidents and their consequences in many cases. The Audi A8 L Security comes equipped with the pre sense basic version of the system, combined with the pre sense rear feature, which is coupled with the Audi side assist lane-changing system. Other optional systems enhance safety and comfort even further. These include Audi pre sense front as a component of ACC stop & go, night vision assistant with highlighting of detected pedestrians and Audi lane assist, which detects boundary lines on the roadway.

A standard high-end feature is park assistance plus with Audi Top View - a system consisting of four cameras mounted on the car to monitor its surroundings. A computer compiles images from the cameras and presents them in various views on the onboard monitor. The Cornerview function gives the driver a glimpse of traffic crossing in front of the sedan - a practical aid when maneuvering through narrow exits, for example.

Audi also offers many attractive multimedia modules. The Audi A8 L Security is outfitted with the Bluetooth car phone online as standard.

A complete, fast connection to the Internet is established via an integrated UMTS module, and a partnership with Google endows the car with innovative, intelligent functions. Passengers can connect their mobile terminal devices to a WLAN hotspot. For discreet telephoning, separate telephone handsets are available as an option.

Drivetrain

Audi is launching the new Audi A8 L Security with a superb engine - the W12. The direct-injected gasoline engine owes its name to the W-shaped layout of its cylinders - four rows of three cylinders each, merged into two banks. From a displacement of 6.3 liters, the compact, lightweight W12 pumps out 368 kW (500 hp) of power and 625 Nm (460.98 lb-ft) of torque, with the latter readily available at 4,750 rpm.

The W12 is captivating, with its smooth running performance, its subtle, musical sound and its power. It accelerates the Audi A8 L Security from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 7.3 seconds. In consideration of the tires, top speed is limited to 210 km/h (130.49 mph). The high-security sedan consumes just 13.5 liters of fuel on average per 100 km (17.42 US mpg) - by far the lowest figure among its direct competitors (performance and consumption figures are preliminary). Compared with the predecessor model generating 331 kW (450 hp), fuel consumption has dropped by 3.0 liters per 100 kilometers - that's an improvement of 18 percent.

In the coming year, Audi will offer a second engine version, which will combine outstanding pulling power with surprising efficiency. Its average consumption of 10 to 11 liters per 100 km (23.52 to 21.38 US mpg) will earn it a best-in-class ranking in terms of fuel efficiency.

In both engine variants, power is transmitted via an eight-speed tiptronic featuring a large overall gear spread. Its control system is electronic, operated with an elegant selector lever or rocker switches at the steering wheel. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive system conducts the power from the engine to all four wheels. In the standard configuration, the sporty drive is emphasized at the rear; if the situation calls for it, the drive system redirects a majority of the torque input to the axle with the better traction.

Chassis

The Audi A8 L Security provides luxurious ride comfort. Audi developed its chassis, brake system and electronic control systems specifically for the increased weight; in the wheel control arms, for example, the tensile strengths, materials and wall thickness have all been recalibrated. The adaptive air suspension with controlled damping is integrated in the Audi drive select system, which enables fine-tuning of a number of parameters. The optional dynamic steering rounds out the range on offer.

The high-security sedan is fitted with standard 19-inch forged wheels featuring a semipolished, two-tone finish. The specially sized 255/720 tires have a high load index of 117. Synthetic rings on the rims allow the vehicle to continue traveling at speeds up to 80 km/h (49.71 mph) even after a malfunction has occurred.

A tire pressure monitoring system that continuously checks the settings is also part of the standard equipment. Audi offers a full-size spare tire as an option.

The Audi A8 L Security W12 will be ready for delivery in late summer of 2011. An additional engine will follow in 2012. Audi supports its customers with an extensive range of services and a special training course for drivers and owners. "

Source - netcarshow.com