Test drive Audi A8 D3 2003 - 2005 Sedan

For the first time in the arena

From Audi you always expect curious new products, beautiful constructive and technological solutions. Presentation in Munich was no exception
On the territory of the stadium, the Alliance Arena, built for the 2006 World Cup in football, several Audi-A8 with new units and systems awaited us.
ONE GATE PLAY
Under the hood of the flagship of the lineup, two new, very different engines appeared. First of all, a 4.2 liter diesel is the most powerful not only in the line of such motors in Audi, but also among all cars. Another gasoline six 3.2 liters: the most flexible engine for a representative class sedan, previously tested on younger models A3 and TT to 4.2 TDI.
Of course, you can’t confuse diesel sound with anything, but in the cabin it is barely audible, and you don’t feel vibrations. No wonder the developers talked about a very hard block of cylinders and good sound insulation of the engine compartment.
I take the Testronics selector, and the car, peacefully breaking, leaves the parking lot. Diesel reacts good -naturedly to the pedal. If you do not sink it by more than a third, the motor spaces leisurely, the machine smoothly passes to the highest steps quiet and grace.
So the entrance to the autobahn under the hood comes to life of a scrap force and presses into a chair. I remembered yesterday take -off, only there was much more noise. The speedometer arrow quietly approached 200 km/h, the engine began to remind of itself with a quiet bass, but in the cabin you can still talk without raising your voice. The take -off of the road is canceled.
I give the keys. And when the supermotor appears in Russia and how much will it cost? Audi specialist guiltily shrugs his hands, they don’t plan to supply you to you yet, but in the near future such cars are sure that they will still come to the Russian market.
So rushed behind the wheel that he did not immediately pay attention to the new faces of the test Audi-A8. The trapezoidal grille of the Singleframe radiator (a single frame) crings the nasal parts of all eights from March (previously only the most powerful, with the W12 engine).
I’m making a screaming now cheap excuse me, the most affordable option with a gasoline 3.2-liter engine and a multitronic variator. Hand on the selector, after a super -powerful diesel, this six seems calm. Of course, 260 horses are confidently pulling an almost two -ton wagon, but the power supply is not at all redundant. But the gasoline engine is noticeably more delicate on the ears even for 5,000 revolutions, the sound is quiet and unobtrusive.
The magazine told about this unit and variator not so long ago (ZR, 2004, No. 10). The main program is completed, but the organizers have prepared something interesting.
ADDITIONAL TIME
The alliance of the arena is already accustomed to loud prime ministers. On one of the eights, the capabilities of a high-class audio system released in conjunction with the Danish company Bang & Olufsen were demonstrated by a well-known manufacturer of the Hi-Fi class. Experts carefully examined the acoustic features of the salon volume, form, materials used. Of course, the system monitors the speed of the car so that the favorite melody does not drown out aerodynamic noises and rustle tires.
The sound on the driver and passengers pours from the active 14 speakers. Each has its own amplifier (by the way, their total power is more than 1000 watts). Protective lattices are made of anodized aluminum, like the A8 body itself. You turn on the installation from the instrument panel two high -frequency speakers with acoustic lenses, evenly distributing the sound through the cabin. This concert hall on wheels is a real masterpiece.
The cost of the B&O ADVANCED SOUND SYSTEM audio system has not yet been announced, it will be demonstrated to the public this year at the Frankfurt car dealership, and such music boxes will appear closer to 2006 on sale.
On the extreme line
In the neighborhood, brake discs from composite ceramics for Audi A8 with the W12 engine were shown. The material borrowed from aviators is based on the hard and wear -resistant silicon carbide (its crystalline lattice is similar to diamond), reinforced with high -strength carbon fibers.
In such brakes, experts assured several important advantages over ordinary ones. The steel disk is almost double the ceramic. In evidence, the testimony of two scales of their dials showed 17.3 kg and 8.5. In addition, the novelty works more efficiently, including at high temperatures. But unlike sports carbon fiber brakes, these do not require warming up and provide excellent slowdown at the first press presses.
When the article comes out, cars with new brakes will already appear on sale, at least in Europe. At first they will be offered as an option. There will be demand into serial production.
Audi A8 and I were one of the first visitors to the Arena Alliance. A year later, the main event of the World Cup will be held here. Fans will wait for an exciting game, sharp flanking passages, beautiful heads in nine. And some by this time will try to take places in the honorary eighth row of the Audi brand.

The eighth miracle of technology
The eight-cylinder Audi diesel, developing 240 kW/326 hp, belongs (together with 2.7 and 3.0 TDI) to the new family of V-shaped engines with chain drive of camshafts and hinged units. The design is very compact total motor length only 520 mm. And a light block, cast from high -strength cast iron, weighs only 62 kg. The grooves on the working surfaces of the cylinders are applied by an ultraviolet laser. This will help reduce the oil consumption and the formation of soot with its combustion (ZR, 2004, No. 12).
The engine characteristic confirms the motorists have worked for fame. Already at 1600 rpm, the new 4.2 TDI gives the maximum torque and holds it up to more than three thousand comfortable shelf. The last generation Common Rail develops the injection pressure up to 1600 atmospheres (250 more than that of the predecessor), and nozzles with piezoelectric elements are dosed than traditional, with electromagnetic valves.
Two turbochargers with a variable geometry of turbines can spin up to 226,000 rpm. They lower the temperature of the air supplied to the combustion chambers, two radiators at Audi A8 for better cooling are located under the headlights. In addition, at low speeds, electronics cover the shutters in the intake pipeline form a whirlwind that improves the combustion process. With increased loads, the channel is open to fully fill the cylinders.
 

Maxim Sachkov

Source: The magazine "Driving"