Audi A8 D4 Test drive since 2010 sedan
Audi A8 Hybrid. Sailing
So Audi designers call the process of energy recovery while moving in a hybrid car when the battery is recharged. In the vicinity of German non -Kar Muslims, I swam on the new hybrid Audi A8. Audi A8 Hybrid. Price: 77 700 on sale: since June 2012
Tikhon Sikuler, Test Pilot, 29 years, driving experience 11 years, personal Ford C-Max car.
The economical Audi A8 is built on the same proven hybrid platform as the younger A6 and Q5: this is a two -liter turbocharged gasoline engine with a capacity of 211 liters. p., 33-kilowatt electric motor and traction lithium-ion battery weighing only 38 kg hidden in the trunk. The total capacity is 245 liters. with., and torque 480 Nm. But the drive is only front. For the representative sedan, the characteristics are not impressive. However, as Audi designers say, they went a different way than competitors who have powerful and expensive hybrid versions at the top of the model line. The hybrid A8 is also positioned as an economical, clean and at the same time relatively affordable representative car. It is also the easiest in the class due to the aluminum spatial frame. As a result, the declared fuel consumption is 6.3 l/100 km in mixed mode, and CO2 147 g/km emissions.
Disks drawing are also designed to save fuel
The hybrid version can be distinguished outside only by small nameplate on the body and by new aerodynamic 19 -inch wheels with a pattern in the form of a turbine. Just a hybrid is available to the light-blue color of Arctic Silver. In the luxurious A8 salon, there are also not many differences from ordinary Avosek: thresholds with the inscription Hybrid and a different panel of devices for the driver. The place of the tachometer was taken by the indicator of the efficiency of the hybrid installation. The coolant temperature indicator is replaced by the battery level indicator, and a graphic showing the operation of the hybrid installation can be displayed on the central screen.
A hybrid is touched on an electric protrusion. On it, if you turn on the EV-Mode purely electrical mode, you can drive through the passport three kilometers, accelerating to 100 km/h. In reality, you will not have time to dial a hundred before the supply of the battery ends: the acceleration is very long, since the gas pedal must be literally stroked and monitored so that the efficiency of the effectiveness indicator does not leave the Efficiency segment, then the internal combustion engine is connected. But when riding electricity, it is still not the speed, but a margin of move. Already a dissatisfied German supports the back of his shaggy golf, and the solid A8 slowly and decorously accelerates to 6070 km/h, but for long each time I had enough electricity for only a couple of kilometers, then automatically the car goes into the Drive mode when the gasoline engine is connected. When joint operation of the electric motor and ICE, the car has the greatest power supply and can gain a hundred for 7.7 s. Oddly enough, but these seconds are not particularly felt. I translate the selector into a sports mode in which the electric motor is disconnected at all. No, we do not need such a sport: ride is not interesting and uncomfortable.
The four -cylinder 211 -horsepower gasoline engine is clearly not enough for a sufficiently heavy A8. The motor roars and tears from severity, acceleration, transitions to higher gears later and nervous, and you can forget about economy. But why then buy a hybrid? No, it is better to go back to Drive mode here smoothly and quietly. The transition from the electrical engine to ICE is not felt at all, it can only be determined by a beautiful graphics on the screen of the instrument panel or multimedia complex. The electric motor operates not only when touched, but also connects during a calm urban movement. On the highway, it switches to the generator mode to recharge the discharged battery, but with a sharp press on the gas pedal, it comes to work again. In the mode of energy recovery, the hybrid installation passes during braking, and an electric motor is used for a slight slowdown, and with more serious hydraulics come into effect. Unlike sports, 8 -speed Tiptronic to save fuel, on the contrary, strives to turn on the highest gear as soon as possible, and therefore it will not be possible to effectively accelerate at speed: there is not enough traction of a weak motor on the bottoms, and throw down the transmission of the box Not in a hurry. The power steering on the hybrid A8, again in order to save fuel, was replaced by an electric power. Despite the exact and informative control, a certain electrical viscosity is felt in the steering wheel.
Instead of a tachometer, an indicator of the efficiency of a hybrid installation in percent. In the Charge segment, the arrow leaves when braking, when the battery is charged, when the arrow exits from Efficiency, the internal combustion engine is connected
There are also questions to economy: in a mixed cycle, with a fairly calm ride on autobahns, suburban highways and villages, fuel consumption was only a liter less than that of a new all -wheel drive A6 Allroad tested on the same day with the same capacity of 245 liters. With.
The battery reduced the volume of the trunk by 1.5 times and formed a step. And how to place large suitcases here?
Our verdict
Who is the A8 hybrid for? In Russia, with such technical and dynamic characteristics, its prospects are rather vague. The cost of a hybrid will most likely be close to the price of the initial 250 -horsepower A8, which also has a full -wheel drive and better dynamics with similar economy. Hybrid A8 is most likely an image product: in order to keep up with competitors.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
+
Low fuel consumption and the release of harmful substances, good work in the pair of an electric motor with an internal combustion engine ..
-
Slurred dynamics, a small and uncomfortable trunk.
Driving
A hybrid string bag is created for a steppe, comfortable movement and does not have a dynamic driving in any way.
Salon
High level of equipment. Very uncomfortable trunk.
Comfort
There are small vibrations when driving in the innight that are felt in the cabin.
Safety
A full set of active and passive security systems is already in the database.
Price
The price in Russia is still unknown, but judging by the German, it will be lower than competitors.
SPECIFICATIONS
Dimensions 5137x1856x1460mm
Base 2992 mm
Equipped mass 1870 kg
Full weight 2520 kg
Trunk volume 335 l
Fuel tank volume 75 liters
Gasoline engine with tubonova., 4-cylinder., 1984 cm3, 211/43006000l.s./min-1, 350/15004200 Nm/min--1; Electric, 33 kW (54 hp), 210 nm
Transmission 8 - automatic., Front drive
Dynamics 235 km/h; 7.7cdo100km/h
Fuel consumption 6.4/6.2/6.3 liters per 100 km
Competitors BMW Activehybrid 7, Lexus LS600H L, Mercedes-Benz S 400 Hybrid
Source: Magazine 5 wheel [June 2012]
