Test drive Audi A8 D2 1994 - 2002 Sedan

The second generation "Audi-A8". The struggle of minds

In the representative of representative cars, a large three German manufacturers (Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi) traditionally occupied prizes, and the United States naturally became the main market of such machines.
Despite all the successes of the Japanese, German cars still make up half of imports there. Conservatism of buyers is only an illusion: after all, many of the current customers of expensive cars barely crossed the forty -year -old milestone and are well versed in the novelties of technology. High prices only stimulate the use of the latest solutions, and the struggle for the favor of customers is becoming more and more gambling every year.
From the basics
If you plunge deep enough in the history of the brand, then the ferret-8, type 303 of the 1926 model, will be the first. A solid limousine with an in -line eight with a volume of 3.2 liters is the first relatively massive similar engine in Germany. The modern location of the cylinders - in two rows at an angle - appeared on the Horkh -930v car in 1938. Since then, until 1988, Audi has not tried to make a car with a claim to world leadership.
It was then that the Audi V8 made their debut, created on the basis of the Audi 200. But despite the obvious advantages of the motor and advanced technical solutions, that car was noticeably inferior to the rivals from the Mercedes Benz and BMW. When at the Tokyo Motor Show in 1993 they showed a unique audi-ASF with a completely aluminum body and W-shaped 12-cylinder engine, it became clear that under the Audi brand the most prestigious cars would produce. And a year later, the world was seen by the aluminum serial Audi A8, which gained well -deserved popularity in Europe, in America, and in Russia. Eight years have passed since then, and the time has come for the new Audi A8.


OPTICAL ILLUSION
The revolution did not take place - there were no noisy disputes and design experiments. The new Audi A8 looks quite modern and at the same time conservative. So much so that not very well -knowledgeable fashion can consider it further modernization of the previous machine. But this is not so - he has completely new body, suspension and transmission - more than enough to consider fresh Audi A8 independent. Similar lines of roof and hood will not deceive the experimental look - the car has completely different proportions. In short, overhangs became, the salon increased. Although the car almost did not grow (in fact, is it possible to consider a significant addition of 16 mm in length, 14 - in width and 4 in height?), The wheelbase increased by 62 mm, and the track - by 32 mm. In other words, becoming more spacious inside, the new Audi A8 did not significantly larger outside - a commendable exception to the current trends of universal obesity of machines. Given the higher characteristics of passive safety and increased body rigidity, a slight increase in mass (less than 50 kg compared with the previous model) is completely compensated by more powerful engines and perfect transmission.
So far, Audi A8 is equipped with only two gasoline engines - V -shaped eights with a working volume of 3.7 and 4.2 liters, in which the head of the block with five valves per cylinder, an alternating inlet collector and variable intake phases, as well as an automatic six -speed gearbox. The famous W12 engine and a super -powerful diesel, the parameters of which are not yet declared, will appear later, like a more affordable six -cylinder machine with drive only on the front wheels. A long -drawn modification that provides maximum comfort to passengers of the rear seats, and sports S8, which will receive two turbocompressers will receive maximum comfort to the eight, will be released.
By the way, the assumption that under the larva of Audi A8 hides Volkswagen Phaeton with other nameplates is incorrect. They have a lot of similar ones in the chassis and transmission, but the body is completely different. Volkswagen is traditionally steel, Audi is equally traditionally aluminum - the difference in the mass of the bodies is almost two -time!



MMI formula
The number of electronic devices in the car is only growing over the years, and therefore the need to control them according to a single algorithm is obvious - otherwise the driver will have to understand for too long. However, this is still half -worn - it is much worse to do this instead of looking at the road.
The solution to the problem from Audi is called MMI - Multi Media Interface (multimedia interface). The rotating controller is supplemented by four buttons with inclusion indication. They choose the necessary mode. However, you should not be distracted once again - the selected mode can be determined by the color of the display. Yellow is an audio system, green is the phone and the Internet, the blue is navigation, red - the chassis setup. Perhaps, in terms of the number of functions and uniformity of operations, the system is slightly inferior to I-Drive from BMW, but noticeably easier in work. The driver (or, if you like, the user) does not need to remember which of the many menu and the submenu is located. Information from a five -minute video was quite enough to confidently feel at the wheel, program the navigation system and evaluate the capabilities of the car acoustics.
It is worth saying about the navigation system: here for the first time the carrier serves not the CD, but the DVD-disk. On one such, cards of all of Europe fit - there is no need to change the wheels when moving already symbolic boundaries. I was pleased that the scaling of the card occurs quickly enough so as not to embarrass the driver with the thoughtfulness of the system. And one more thing: even if the main display is busy with other cases, navigation information is displayed by a smaller size between the speedometer and the tachometer. It represents it in a pseudo -threat image - convenient and easily readable.
Another curious novelty is in the Audi A8 electrical circuits - the car is able to independently monitor the battery charge. Yes, on machines with a large number of electrical devices and drives this is necessary. Analyzing the surrounding temperature and charge of the battery, the system is able to start starting after a long parking. It can intervene when driving, increasing the speed of idle or, in extreme cases, even disconnect (for example, in traffic) heating the seat or rear window. By the way, the maximum generator current is 190 a!



On the roads of Catalonia
Although there is not so much time left to get acquainted with the car, it brought enough impressions. Let's go to ride, yes, exactly to ride, and not to conduct tests. Collect impressions. Is our life not a collection of impressions and baggage of experience?
Yes, Audi A8 is not one of those cars into which, as they say, I jumped up and drove, but the process of adjusting for itself does not require mobilizing the reserves of intelligence. The control keys are exactly where you are looking for, and the algorithm is exactly the present. Having understood this, it remains to devote a little time to external mirrors and climatic installation, and you can go.
The first car turned out to be a smaller eight of 3.7 liters, but the dynamic qualities indicated by it did not force to think about a more powerful motor. Involuntarily, the times are remembered when they simply spoke about the power of the Rolls -Royis engine - sufficient. Maybe it's time to resume the forgotten tradition? Looking ahead, I’ll say that the other A8 is with a 4.2 -liter engine, of course, more dynamic and has a more pronounced character of the engine, but you can feel it only by moving into it immediately after the first.
One of the main shortcomings of the Audi A8 of the previous generation was insufficient smoothness - here he clearly lost in comparison with competitors. Now - subjectively no worse than the leaders. A pneumatic suspension with automatic, unacceptable control of damping can not only maintain constant road clearance at any load, but also change the characteristics according to a pre -introduced program. The main settings are four. Automatic - when the car supports a road clearance of 120 mm to 120 km/h, and at high speeds squats at 25 mm for better stability. In dynamic mode, a 100 mm road clearance with more sports settings of pneumatic elastic elements and shock absorbers is supported. At high speeds, the car is pressed to the ground for another 5 mm. A comfortable regime offers especially soft shock absorbers in combination with standard road clearance. And finally, the elevator mode increases it to 145 mm and retains at this level to 100 km/h - the most suitable option for broken roads. In addition, there are two more programmable modes - for towing the trailer and to replace the wheel: the latter will not allow the car to fall from the jack.
For drivers who prefer sports settings, there will be a special version of the air suspension, where the base road clearance will decrease from 120 to 100 mm and even more effective shock absorbers will appear.
A special word is about tires. The minimum size is 235/55R17, the maximum is 255/40R19. Accordingly, with the first, comfort is better, with the second there should be more precisely steering. But there is no need to talk about radical differences. By the way, in order to feel a puncture in time, there is a pressure monitoring system. However, from the puncture you can completely insure you if you choose the PAX wheels from Michelin: traditionally in a metric dimension 245/690R500Y. Even with a complete loss of air, you can drive 200 km at them at a speed of 80 km/h.
  Nevertheless, the dominant feature of the new Audi A8 was not saturation with equipment or ostentatious sports, but quite real comfort. Even at 200 km/h, the noise level remains impressively low, although multi -layer double -glazed windows are not used to reduce it. But the seal of door and window openings includes three independent contours and three sealing edges!
The bottom of Audi A8 is completely closed by aerodynamic panels from the bumper to the bumper. The only open element is that the central muffler is designed taking into account the features of the air flow. Moreover, in the pads of the bottom there are six (!) Air intakes of the NASA type, to which the author nourishes weakness from institute course projects.
Without claiming to know the specific requirements of potential owners, it is difficult to draw reliable conclusions. And to claim is not too reasonable. More importantly, the new Audi A8 has one’s own person, and worthy parameters, and, if you like, its own concept, noticeably different from competitors. So, he will not be left without adherents.
Such a body weighs only 215 kg.



Photo / Anatoly Fomin and Audi

A source: The magazine "Driving"