Test drive Audi A8 D3 2003 - 2005 Sedan

Audi A8L 6.0 Quattro

Very few representatives of the representative class can today provide its owner with a combination of all-wheel drive and a 6-liter W12 motor.
 
The sovereign of rings of rings is often used in relation to Audi cars. And the presence of all -wheel drive allows them to simultaneously become both the rulers of winter roads and the rulers of the hearts of those people who have long appreciated the advantages of high technologies born in Ingolstadt.
 
Like other manufacturers of models of this class, the basis for the new version was the car shown by the public two years ago (see No. 11, 2002). But for sure, the reaction to the rear view in the rear-view mirror with a 6-liter engine will be completely different than the familiar and familiar Mercedes-Benz S-class or the VMW 7th series. The updated front of the car resembles the legendary Auto Union, known for its sports achievements. It was their features that formed the basis of the new corporate design of the front of the Audi models. And in life, thanks to its impressive dimensions, the flagship of the company looks even more expressive than in photographs.
What will His Majesty delight?
 
Let's start with the main one - with a symbiosis of all -wheel drive and a 12 -cylinder engine, which German engineers were the first in the world successfully implemented on the previous model. How did they achieve this, because the dimensions of the 12-cylinder engine did not allow other manufacturers to use all-wheel drive transmission? But it depends on what motor! Volkswagen engineers, inspired by Ferdinand Picho, have long been experimenting with different cylinders arrangements and achieved unique results in this direction. The main of them is the creation of a 12 -cylinder engine of the W -shaped configuration, in which two blocks are located at an angle of 72, and the cylinders of each block are in a checkerboard pattern and at an angle of 15.
 
As a result, the dimensions of the motor are only 513x690 mm. And this is in combination with a differential located between the engine and the automatic transmission hydrotransformer allowed to use the famous full -wheel drive transmission of QUATTRO. Audi engineers managed to increase its power without increasing the volume of a new engine compared to the previous engine by 14%, and torque by 30 Nm. Due to the thinner settings of the length of the intake manifolds, the exhaust system and phases of the gas distribution, the engine produces 450 hp. And 580 nm, and 450 nm manifest themselves at 1000 rpm.
 
Another important feature of this car is its weight. For example, thanks to the use of aluminum and magnesium alloys, a 12-cylinder engine weighs 240 kg, that is, it is only 8 kg heavier than an unmistered 8-cylinder motor from AMG. The designers did not leave their favorite aluminum body unchanged. It turned out, and its mass can be reduced without worsening stiffness. And as a result, the equipped mass of the car is only 1960 kg! And the Audi A8L 6.0 with a 130 mm body weighs 1995 kg, that is, it is easier than the Mercedes -Benz S 600L by 140 kg, and the BMW 760LI is 230 kg. And even if the A8L 6.0 accelerating dynamics may lose his competitors with more powerful engines, then thanks to a smaller mass in the dynamics of braking and when the turns passes, this machine will surely have an advantage. But we will not rush events, try the car in the case, and then we will draw the final conclusions.
 
The kingdom of Quattro
 
Unpredictable weather played into the hands of the test organizers, providing ideal conditions for demonstrating the advantages of a new car. From eight in the morning until two in the afternoon - during the entire time, reserved for the dough, thick snow fell on the clean streets of Salzburg. The disaster for most road users, but, as it turned out, not for A8L 6.0 Quattro. Having dived into the eight salon, I ended up in an atmosphere of comfort and luxury, familiar to me by the first tests presented in 2002 by Audi A8. Against the background of gloomy weather, the salon, trimmed with light skin, attracted with its warmth and comfort. At first glance, there are no special changes in the cabin: the same design, the same multimedia interface and a fingerprint fingerprint recognizer. That's just the design of the steering wheel is different. A couple of minutes, and I, turning on the new adaptive headlights with LED dimensions, already rushed along the proposed route.
 
The voice of the motor does not penetrate the salon at all, only at the highest revolutions its pleasant sound is heard. Leaving behind boring city streets, I get out on the snowstock covered with snow and ice. Cars are weaved in the front row at a speed of about 70 km/h. Air temperature -1C, the road has not yet been cleaned and did not sprinkle with anything, so there are no people who want to risk. Do you probably think that I am in a new eight with all -wheel drive, unlike most other road users from the very first minutes, everything was nothing? You are mistaken. I went to the extreme left row, and the speedometer hand was instantly at the mark of 100. But on the highway there were a lot of deep puddles with snow and ice, and when the car flew into these little lakes, it seemed to me that, I would not hold the steering wheel, it would break out I have from my hands! It turned out that the whole thing is the adjustment of the air suspension, which was configured for the most comfortable mode of operation. Perhaps, in such conditions, more stringent settings are better suited. Indeed, it was enough to transfer the suspension into a tougher Dynamic mode, and the 6 -band box in the semi -automatic mode, as I stopped catching the car and began to enjoy the advantages of high technologies.
 
The right row already seemed to me standing, and the cars walking in front barely had time to give way. After a couple of minutes, it became almost indifferent to me that under the wheels - asphalt or wet snow and ice. The work of the transmission and A8 suspension gives the driver such confidence that everything seems to him in advance, and the new motor amazes with its traction. At 1000 rpm in the program, the engine intensively accelerates the machine from 50 to 200 km/h (it is possible more, but the situation did not allow: thick fog hung over the road). In the II transmission, the car accelerates to 110 km/h, and on the 3rd program at 6200 rpm - up to 160 km/h. The most cheerful is the IV transmission - it provides the driver with a lot of positive emotions and allows you to enjoy the dynamics A8L 6.0 Quattro in any speed mode. It is not surprising, because the engine gives 95% of the torque in the range of 2300-5300 rpm, and one horse accounts for less than kilograms than Porsche 911 Carrera! The maximum speed is limited by electronics at 250 km/h, and to achieve it, the car needs only 30 s.
 
Having left the motorway under the sensitive leadership of the navigation system, I ended up on the winding rural roads, where I continued to enjoy 450 stallions provided at my disposal. Of course, the comfortable steering of information content does not indulge, but there are no complaints about the brakes. No matter what mood the driver got behind the wheel of this car, he simply cannot but please the behavior of the car on a slippery road surface. A great impression makes acceleration or, if you like, the start from the place. On the road - well -rolled snow, in some places covered with ice. But, despite this, the car demonstrates such an acceleration that it seems that the time of overclocking to a hundred, which is 5.2 s, does not depend on the condition of the roadway. After that, I want to get out of the car and see: are there 6 mm racing spikes on the tires? You can advise the dealers to purchase one-class carrier of competing brands and offer potential customers A8L 6.0 Quattro compare the dynamics of models, and it is better on a slippery road. Even if the client does not buy a car, he will have impressions for life.
 
Another pleasant surprise was that in combat mode the car showed a moderate appetite - 20 liters per 100 km. With calm driving along the same suburban roads, the average consumption decreases to 16 liters by a hundred. On the highway you can use an economical VI program, and then, according to the manufacturer, the consumption will be 9.9 liters per 100 km. Perhaps, but not in winter and not in the weather conditions in which the test took place. In general, the car left good impressions, but for sure it is not all its advantages, just in one day everything is impossible to find out about this car.
Can I call A8L 6.0 Quattro the new king among the representatives of the representative class? Full -wheel drive is an undeniable advantage, and if you estimate how many days a year are slippery on our roads, then you can draw the appropriate conclusions. In any case, when you see the silhouette of the new Audi A8 in the rear of the rear view in the winter, do not be nervous, give way, the resistance is almost useless.
 
Audi dealers in Russia are already accepting orders for A8L 6.0 Quattro. There is almost the same car as competitors - 161 thousand, not euros, but American dollars, and this is another plus in favor of the Lord of the Rings.
 
Some technical characteristics Audi A8L 6.0 Quattro
(manufacturer data)
 
Dimensions, mm: 5192x1894x1455
Base, mm: 3074
Front/behind, mm: 1619/1605
Diameter of the turn, m: 12.7
Equipped mass, kg: 1995
Engine type: gasoline w12 48-valve
Working volume, cubic meter. See: 5998
Max. Power, L.S./rpm: 450/6200
Max. moment, nm/rpm: 580/4000-4700
Transmission: Automatic 6-band Tiptronic
Tires: 255/45 R18
Max. Speed, km/h: 250
Acceleration time 0-100 km, s: 5.2
Fuel consumption (average), l/100 km: 13.8
Top volume, l: 90
* With fully folded seats.
 
Vadim Ovsyankin
 
 
 
 
 
   
 

Source: Avtopanorama magazine