In terms of sales, the Audi A8 lags considerably behind its deadly competitors: the BMW 7-series and Mercedes S-class. In the past three years, both have fluctuated around 150 to 200 copies sold per year in the Netherlands. The A8 has difficulty reaching 50 units. Could this extensive facelift change that?
The new Audi A8 is immediately recognizable by its wider grille, extra chrome accents and differently stylized headlights. At the rear, the layout of the light units has changed (customers can choose from two light signatures, or even three if they order an S8). The headlamps use Digital Matrix LED technology, with each lamp consisting of approximately 1.3 million micro-mirrors, which can distribute the light with extreme precision.
Audi A8 as plug-in hybrid and sporty S8
In the Netherlands, Audi supplies the A8 in only two variants. The Audi A8 60 TFSI e is a plug-in hybrid with a six-cylinder engine and 449 hp / 700 Nm. Previously, the battery was 14.1 kWh, now it is 17.9 kWh. Audi does not report what the electric range of the plug-in A8 is. In the previous model it was about 50 kilometers away. Above the A8 60 TFSI e is the new S8, which with its biturbo V8 produces 571 hp and 800 Nm of torque. It goes from standstill to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds.
Predictive Active Suspension standard on Audi S8
The S8 comes standard with a sport differential, four-wheel steering and Predictive Active Suspension. The latter can individually control the dampers on all four wheels. A camera scans the road surface for unevenness, so that the chassis can adjust itself accordingly in advance. In Dynamic mode, the active suspension prevents the new S8 from rolling and diving in corners and under braking.
HD screens for movie watching rear passengers
Furthermore, Audi has added a number of body colors and alloy wheels and tinkered with the equipment. The MMI Navigation Plus system is standard. In the back, the A8 now gets two 10.1-inch screens on which rear passengers can, for example, stream movies and series or use their telephone. Also new is Remote Park Assist Plus, which automatically drives the A8 in and out of parallel or perpendicular parking spaces, if desired without the driver sitting in the car.