(continued from above)
Definitive design elements drawn from the Audi pedigree characterize the A8
in the bold lines of an amalgam of luxury and performance. Inside, world-class
materials welcome passengers, while an adjustable cabin lighting system sets the
mood. The driver's experience in this realm captures the essence of Audi.
The Design
Audi delivers a new brand icon in the 2011 A8.
Paramount in the design process was creating a visage of sporty progressiveness
that opens new territory while remaining grounded in a clear and logical
progression of the A8. In comparison to its predecessor, increasingly muscular
wheel arches speak to the enthusiast driver, while further refinement of running
lines that flow to a subtly arched trunk lend the all-new A8 an air of elegance.
Technological innovation shines brilliantly via industry-first full-LED front
headlamps with both high and low beam function.
Full LED lighting extends
through the daytime running lights, cornering lights, turn signals, and
taillights, allowing a design and shape impossible with xenon bulbs.
The
new A8 builds upon Audi's leadership in aluminum design and manufacturing via
its latest generation ASF. This latest iteration features 25 percent more static
torsional rigidity, while new welding technologies contribute to reduced weight,
producing greater fuel efficiency, benchmarklevels of passive safety, and
improved handling. The ASF now weighs some 40 percent less than a comparable
steel structure. Though such innovation, the 2011 A8 gains no weight over the
previous car, despite the new model's growth of 3-inches fore and aft and
2-inches in width.
Open, Innovative, and Easy to Use Interior Features
Exemplifying a constant drive for perfection, Audi engineers took full
advantage of the opportunity to make the perfect luxury-performance sedan. Fine
materials paired with optimized solutions create driver and passenger
experiences unrivaled by the competition. Key to this theme is the 2011 A8's "Koenigsfuge,"
or "King's Joint," the juncture between door and dashboard. At this point, no
less than four different materials and design lines intersect, melding deep wood
inlays, aluminum accents, leather dashboard covering, and plastics in a hallmark
of ingenuity. No compromise was made in the Koenigsfuge design vision for
manufacturing efficiency. Rather, designers were free to draft the A8's
environmental lines with a focus purely on creating a flow around the
passengers.
Such 'skyliner' elements develop an ambiance of spaciousness,
comfort, and luxury within the cabin. Roominess is accented by driver-selectable
LED lighting themes including ivory, polar, and ruby modes, creating a
connection between driver and passengers and an overall feeling of lightness
within the interior surrounding the floating center console. During the day,
natural light floods the cabin though a pair of skylights.
The driver is
not neglected in such design considerations. As the center of power and control,
the driver has access to innumerable options at his or her fingertips. Audi
drive select now arrives as standard equipment, presenting the driver with
options that span both sport and comfort (Dynamic, Comfort, Auto, Individual).
The shift-by-wire gearshift lever is inspired by the throttles found on board
yachts and serves as an ergonomic hand rest for operating the MMI touch
interface. Because such considerations mean nothing if they intrude on the
overall theme of elegance that the A8 embodies, all interior elements - such as
the foldaway MMI screen - were designed to occupy as little space as possible.
Audi A8: Review (2/2)