The Audi A8 / A8 L and High-security version of the Audi A8
- High-security version of the Audi A8
- Audi A8 L Security meets strictest security guidelines
- Roughly 450 hours of work go into the making of the armored luxury sedan
- Fuel consumption reduced by three liters compared with predecessor
- Audi A8 with broadband Internet connection
Audi is introducing a new, exclusive model – the 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 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 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.
The 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 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 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 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 A8 L Security is the lightest vehicle among its peers.
High-security features
For 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 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 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 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 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 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 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. 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.
Audi A8 with broadband Internet connection
Audi presents the A8 with new LTE mobile communications technology
Audi unveils an A8 wired for broadband with LTE technology. Developed in collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent, the car’s mobile broadband connection can transfer data faster than conventional 3G-technology and modern DSL connections.
During the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, announced that LTE technology would be used in cars by early 2011. Just some weeks later, Audi and its development partner, Alcatel-Lucent, present a fully functional prototype. The Audi A8 L with LTE technology contains the mobile communications technology of the future: LTE is considered the successor to the current 3G transmission technology, which also includes the UMTS mobile communications standard. LTE offers very high data transfer rates that can reach up to 100 Mbit per second. In comparison, a fast 3G connection offers about 14,4 Mbit per second.
With its short transfer rates, LTE mobile communications allow significantly faster access to Internet content and allow large amounts of data to be exchanged. For demonstration the technicians used the LTE connection for transmitting high-definition videos live to the vehicle.
” We will use LTE technology to extend our advantage in automotive networking and further consolidate the Audi connect strategy,” says Michael Dick, Audi Board Member for Technical Development, during the presentation of the prototype.
The Audi A8 and the A8 L
Fascinating sportiness, innovative technology and superior comfort: The new A8 and the long-wheelbase A8 L are at the front of the luxury class. The Audi flagship demonstrates the brand’s Vorsprung durch Technik with its light aluminum body, its powerful and highly efficient engines, the latest version of the MMI operating system and an elegant interior.
Body and interior
With its sporty and progressive nature, the new luxury sedan is a technical work of art. The elegant and distinctive body is an aluminum Audi Space Frame (ASF). It is roughly 40 percent lighter than a comparable steel body while also impressing with high rigidity.
Another high-end solution is the new LED headlights, which use light emitting diodes for all light functions. They give the Audi flagship an unmistakable appearance in daylight and even more so after the fall of darkness. The revolutionary optics used in these headlights mean a departure from the tubular light modules commonly used today. The optional LED headlights herald a new chapter in the history of lighting technology.
The interior enchants with new, light lines, craftsman-like fit and finish, and extraordinary attention to the smallest of details. Comfort on board is first class – from the premium ambient lighting with its numerous color LED spots to the four-zone automatic air conditioning system.
The Audi A8 L, which is being rolled out now, is 13 centimeters (5.12 in) longer than the standard version in both wheelbase and overall length (5.27 meters [17.29 ft]). All of this added length is to the benefit of the rear seat passengers. Audi offers them the option of two power-adjustable and heated individual rear seats, which can be paired with the optional continuous, elegantly-styled center console with large storage compartments.
The individual seats can also be equipped with optional ventilation and massage functions, and features such as a folding table and a cool box make the passengers’ stay even more enjoyable. The top version is the relaxation seat with power footrest. It comes complete with every available luxury option, including a rear seat entertainment system.
Drivetrain
The new A8 is available with four direct-injection V6 and V8 engines: two gasoline units and two diesels. The output and torque of all engines have increased versus the previous model, while fuel consumption has decreased considerably: as much as 22 percent thanks to intelligent technologies such as the recuperation system, innovative thermal management for both the engine and transmission plus vastly reduced internal friction.
The entry-level engine in the A8 lineup is the supercharged 3.0 TFSI V6 with 213 kW (290 hp) The 3.0 TDI with 184 kW (250 hp) has been redeveloped from the ground up and works with a start-stop system. A second variant of the three-liter diesel will follow at a later date. It provides 150 kW (204 hp) of power, drives the front wheels and consumes only 6.0 liters per 100 km (39.20 US mpg) in the EU driving cycle. Its 159 grams CO2 per km (255.89 g/mile) is a sensational emissions value for the luxury class.
A five engine is available exclusively for the A8 L – the W12 is a supremely powerful and refined gasoline engine. The W layout of its four cylinder rows makes the direct injected, normally aspirated engine extraordinarily short and light. The 6.3-liter unit produces 368 kW (500 hp) and 625 Nm (460.98 lb-ft) of torque and powers the large A8 L like a supercar. The sprint from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) takes 4.7 seconds; the electronically limited top speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph) is just a formality.
The engines:
- 3.0 TFSI quattro with 213 kW (290 hp)
- 4.2 FSI quattro with 273 kW (372 hp)
- W12 quattro with 368 kW (500 hp)
- 3.0 TDI quattro with 184 kW (250 hp)
- 4.2 TDI quattro with 258 kW (350 hp)
The standard transmission also plays a large role in the amazing efficiency of the A8 model series. The extremely convenient 8-speed tiptronic finely graduates its gears while achieving a large overall spread. Its control system is purely electronic, operated with an elegant selector level and rocker switches at the steering wheel. The quattro permanent all-wheel drive has a distinctly sporty and rear-biased character. The optional sport differential dynamically distributes the forces between the rear wheels; this feature is standard with the 4.2-liter TDI.
Chassis
The new A8 and the A8 L offer both luxurious ride comfort and sporty handling. Their wheel control arms – a five-link construction up front and a trapezoidal-link rear suspension – are made of aluminum. The brake discs measure up to 400 millimeters (15.75 in) in diameter, depending on the engine. The adaptive air suspension with controlled damping is standard equipment and is integrated into the Audi drive select dynamics system, which is particularly versatile here. Complementing it here is the optional dynamic steering with its variable steering ratio.
Equipment and trim
The Audi A8 and the A8 L combine a new level of technical intelligence with exemplary and easy operation. Their multimedia interface (MMI) includes a pioneering innovation: In conjunction with the optional navigation system, it includes a touchpad. The MMI touch 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 networked in a novel fashion with the advanced driver assistance and safety systems. It reads the road ahead and provides the data to the control units for the automatic transmission, the headlights with adaptive light function and the advanced adaptive cruise control with stop & go function.
With their increased intelligence, these systems can recognize complex scenarios and predictively support the driver. The radar-based ACC stop & go, for instance, helps the luxury sedan to glide through traffic with the fluidity of an accomplished driver, even in the city.
New in the A8 model series are a night vision assistant that highlights detected pedestrians and a speed limit display. Rounding out the list are Audi side assist and Audi lane assist.
The new Audi pre sense safety system can reduce the severity of accidents and their consequences in many situations. It is available in a number of different versions. If necessary, it brakes the A8 and the A8 L autonomously in the event of an impending rear-end collision, even applying maximum braking in the last half second. Audi pre sense shave up to 40 km/h (24.85 mph) off of the speed before the crash occurs.
Audi also offers many attractive multimedia modules. One of these is the Advanced Sound System from Bang & Olufsen, which boasts 1,400 watts of power and 19 speakers. The luxury sedan leads the competition when it comes to Internet connectivity. The Audi A8 and A8 L can draw on services from Google for navigation. These are also the first automobiles in the world to be available from the factory with an integrated WLAN hotspot. A UMTS module provides the connection to the Internet. The passengers can surf and send and receive e-mail with up to eight mobile devices, from the iPhone to the iPad.