Test drive Audi A8 D3 2003 - 2005 Sedan
One day of the millionaire
The arsenal, which is endowed with a large Audi, makes it one of the most outstanding representatives of the representative class. Limousine to the ladder
A small 16-seater Firedo-Dornye was smoothly reduced. Everything went as usual. The pilot confidently planted the car and carefully chopped down to one of the hangars. But after a minute, there was no trace of the late measured life at the provincial airport of Salzburg. It was necessary to see the eyes of the pilot when the sixteen Russians gave 8 expensive limousines directly to the ramp!
The pretty long -legged Austrians fluttered from the cars immediately and invited each of the arrivals to take places in luxurious salons. With such pomp, it is customary to meet politicians and millionaires. For a short while, only for a day, this life had to try on myself and me.
The latitudinal leather seat of the first class of the aircraft, which delivered me to the homeland of Mozart, was adjusted along the corner of inclination of the back and pillow, easily moved in the longitudinal and transverse directions. In Audi, the seats were even more comfortable. Expensive dressing, very soft skin. In addition to the abundance of electric drives, each of the four separate seats is equipped with a multi -stage heating and ventilation system. But, perhaps, the main thing is how spacious here! Our eight could boast of the most powerful Audi gamut with a 12-cylinder engine, and the letter L on the trunk lid meant that this A8 has an increased 130 mm (up to 3074) base. Behind the driver, who was above my 180 cm, I sat, almost completely stretching my legs.
He sat and looked not at the snow -covered landscapes outside the window, but the TV. 6.5-inch monitors pleased the saturation of paints and the clarity of the image, a dozen speakers gave out excellent stereo sound. How have you already arrived? I just decided to deal with the DVD installation, I wanted to use the refrigerator built into the back of the seat, oh well. We will postpone the car for tomorrow.
On the snowy Austria I don’t clap the door on purpose. Let the electropneumatic closer show himself, sucking it tightly into the opening. The four-zone climate control instantly warms the salon. Touch, chef!
The neck muscles are in vain trying to save the back of the head from the shock on the headrest. The body is pressed into a leather chair, and the car was ejected to the next traffic light. I would have fired such a driver! And a colleague at the wheel, apparently, did not expect a similar effect. 3.8 s to 80 km/h, 5.2 to hundreds! Right, why so sharply. During yesterday's short trip, a personal driver-professional driver drove us much more carefully.
Let the reins, colleague. Gently ongoing snow covered the roads with a layer of wet porridge, slightly touching the gas pedal, a mine traffic light behind a traffic light. I leave the city. Somehow very quickly Audi allows you to forget about the bad weather and the slippery track. I would ride like that. How much, say, to Munich? And to Budapest?
After a couple of minutes, I catch up with a snow removal man on an autobahn. Barely rides, the poor fellow, collecting a dozen cars that were humbly weaving behind him. But, looking at the speedometer, I do not believe my eyes: the four -wheeled janitor, diligently cleaning and at the same time pouring the road with an anti -oscillator, is actually rushing 90 km/h!
For most, the snow row snow porridge has become an insurmountable obstacle. But not for my audi. Without the slightest wagging and derivals towards A8, it cuts it with wheels like a knife oil. 120140 km/h, and the dull procession remains far behind. I slightly discard the speed with a neat touch of the brake: 18-inch low-profile Danlopes surprisingly tenaciously hold the road. True, neither excellent, moderately, a sharp steering wheel, nor a perfectly configured suspension can now reveal all its potential. And all because the tires clearly do not have time to squeeze the snow, and I risk losing control. But what if you try the sporting suspension mode? Indeed, in A8 there is pneumatics that can, by the will of the driver, change not only the clearance, but also the rigidity of the shock absorbers. I have time to praise the simplicity of communication with the joystick of adjustment again to myself. Well, another matter is now the slightest hint of aquaplaning.
As by order, a long straight line is ahead. Right pedal to the floor. They say that the machine reaches 200 km/h in 17 and a little seconds. I willingly believe. 450 l. p., Full -wheel drive with such an arsenal, this all -weather express can cover huge distances without any tension.
The question of philosophy Updating the W-shaped motor, technologies were widely used in Ingolstadt, which was first used on the 600-horsepower engine-Continental-GT engine. We were able to not only achieve an increase of 30 liters. With. and 30 N.M, but also significantly improve the traction of the engine in the most running range of 23005300 rpm. In addition, the motor goes 20% faster at maximum turnover, says Matias Bach, one of the developers of the new W12. Like Bentley, the Germans used valves with increased heat resistance, a lightweight chain drive and a crankshaft with a record small for serial 12-cylinder machines weighing 21.2 kg.
Of course, those who will buy these machines hardly think about such technical delights. I am like it to him and I. Enjoying the huge potential hidden under a long hood, we imposingly sail 130 km/h on the most permitted and because of the weather such an inaccessible speed for most cars. They see the car from afar and hurry to step back.
Anfas our eight is striking on the huge trapezoidal jaw of the radiator grille. For me, perhaps, too arrogant, but certainly you won’t confuse with anyone. Another detail works well for recognition: at dusk, a 12-cylinder audi can be immediately distinguished by a dozen LEDs mounted in the lenses of the gamarit lights.
I drive up to my marina in Salzburg Hotel Castellani and cannot overcome embarrassment. It is difficult to get used to the fact that the Swiss is in a hurry to open the car door. Needless to say, to be able to live, as befits an aristocrat, it was necessary to study since childhood. Protection, lodges for special guests in the theater, Patek Philip, platinum cufflinks, however, you quickly get used to good.
What kind of 12-cylinder machine to choose today the question of philosophy, the words of Bjern Krole, responsible for marketing A8, turned in the head when I was waiting for a departure to Vienna late in the evening. That's right, swim in the luxury of the salon, enjoy comfort, dynamics, and feel safe, indeed, today any of the large sedans of the highest class.
I would love to choose the color of wooden panels in the interior decoration, the texture of the skin, I would order a bouquet of all kinds of multimedia equipment, even philosophically reacted to the prices of the Mercedes-S600-Biturbo from 154,800 euros, BMW-760il from 164,500 euros or audios A8L-6.0 from $ 163,642. But the day that the fate has taken to live the life of a millionaire ended. I was waiting for an economy class of ordinary airbus. To the attention of passengers flying a flight to Vienna. Your departure is delayed. The phrase of the dispatcher was not a surprise. Cars are always barely crawling in bad weather and planes do not fly. Now would be in A8 again. On the snowy three hundred kilometers from Salzburg to Vienna, he would not have equal.
There is no limit to perfection
Very generous basic equipment of the eight can be significantly expanded. For example, a single package for $ 11,932 includes separate rear chairs with an electric drive, an elongated medium console, an armrest, expanded finish by the skin of the central console, the lower part of the instrument panel, the door cladding, individual climate control, the rear-view mirrors with electric vehicle, heating, and , memory. And for $ 12,242, you can order a DVD/CD chamber for 6 discs, two 6.5-inch monitors in the headrests, TV resort, headphones and remote control.
Audi A8 L6.0 (A8 6.0)
common data
Length x width x height, mm
5192 (5062) x1894x1445
Base, mm
3074 (2944)
Own mass, kg
1995 (1960)
Complete mass, kg
2545 (2510)
Trunk volume, l
500
Radius of turning, m
6.35 (6.05)
Speed, km/h
250
Acceleration time 0-100 km/h, with
5.2 (5.1)
Fuel consumption, l/100 km city/highway
20.5/9.9 (21.4/10.8)
The price is in Russia
$ 163 642
Engine
Working volume, SMZ
5998
Power, L.S. at rpm
450/6200
Torque, kgsm at rpm
59,1/4000
Alexey Sergeev, photo of the author and audi
Source: Magazine "Limousine" [04-04]
