Audi A8 D4 Test drive since 2010 sedan

The degree of superiority

Audi A8 W12 is one of the most powerful representative cars in the world. Its atmospheric 12-cylinder engine is capable of 450 hp. And lay the speedometer arrow on the mark of 200 km/h in only 17.4 seconds.
 
However, twice a V -shaped motor is far from the only thing that distinguishes a new flagship from Ingolstadt from previous modifications of this car. And although everything else is not as impressive as a power unit, it is worth telling about it.
 
The first thing that is distinguished by the car with its predecessors, more precisely, emphasizes the exclusivity of the Audi A8 W12, is a new radiator grill (this will soon appear on other Audi models). Divided into two parts and framed by a chrome contour, it now extends from the hood to the lower edge of the bumper. The solution is strong enough: the car began to look even more serious than before. Enhances the perception of the w12 w12 inscribed in the sparkling contour.
 
Designers did not ignore the head optics. Today, A8 is the only serial machine equipped with adaptive headlights with LED dimensions. Thanks to them, the car can be easily recognized even at night: it is impossible to not notice a star of five bright white -faced LEDs in each headlight.
 
In the cabin - a new multifunctional steering wheel and aluminum insert; Otherwise, everything, as before, if it is, of course, not a top option. The eight charged in a maximum has an eight in the arsenal, among other things, a fax, a refrigerator, three liquid crystalline display, two of which are installed in the back of the front head restraints, and a DVD player, that is, all that (and even a little more) than the cars are equipped now with such vehicles now class.
 
Despite such a rich equipment related to the field of comfort, the Audi A8 W12, first of all, is not for passengers, but for the driver, because only the driver can feel how good a superdaptive pneumatic suspension, a full-wheel drive, a 6-speed automatic gearbox and transmission are good in work The most powerful engine.
 
On the day of the test arranged in Austria, the weather was extremely bad. The piercing wind and snow with the rain were forced to jump into the salon as soon as possible. I slowly taxied from the hotel parking on the streets of Salzburg. Despite the enormous power of the motor (the torque is 580 N.M), the machine reacts very delicately to the pressing of the gas pedal, allowing you to easily move in a normal urban mode.
 
Soon the road goes to the autobahn. I am attached to the tail of the column going in the second row, and after ten minutes of such a ride I begin to frankly fall asleep. Yes, 120 kilometers per hour - the speed is clearly not for this car. But the highway expands to three -lane. Maneuver to the left, gas to capacity.
 
The engine allows you to go to the point at any speed: 95% of the torque are available between 2300 and 5300 min-1. Frankly, the last time I experienced similar sensations when I tested Mercedes-Benz S-Class with the Biturbo engine. The speedometer arrow runs along the scale, the surrounding landscape turns into something blurry, difficult to recognizable, and nothing happens in the car and with the car at this time. Also, almost silently, the engine works, the same excellent controllability, the same confidence and peace.
 
The camera’s outbreak of the camera that worked in front returns to the ground: one of the neighbors in the transport stream was puzzled for excess speed. It's time to brake. 230 kilometers per hour is much more permitted one hundred and thirty, and I do not want to leave my portrait in the police station at all. A fleeting look in the rearview mirror, the brake pedal to the floor. A couple of seconds, and my speed is exactly the same as everyone else.
 
Despite the fact that under the wheels slippery porridge, the stabilization system for a moment did not release the car from under control, ensuring security even with such an extraordinary maneuver. By the way, she coped very well with her duties and on narrow mountain paths, allowing without fear to go to overtake on a mess of snow and water. Of course, to a large extent, this is the merit of the front -wheel drive, but even without electronics it was clearly not, which was confirmed by the light bulb that signaling the instrument, signaling that the stabilization system entered the work.
 
The machine will be produced with two bodies - ordinary and elongated, and A8 with a standard wheelbase will appear in dealers a little later than A8 L (L - Long, long). Interestingly, the dynamic characteristics of both versions are practically not different.
 
In Russia, A8 6.0 L will go on sale in late March and early April, and you can order a new product now. A8 W12 6.0 L in the basic configuration will cost $ 163642. This is the price of possessing one of the most advanced cars for today.
 
Technical characteristics Audi A8 W12 6.0 L
 
Body - supporting, all -metal
Equipped mass, kg - 1995
Full mass, kg - 2545
Dimensions, mm:
- length - 5192
- Width - 1894
- Height - 1455
Base, mm - 3074
Maximum speed, km/h - 250
Acceleration time to 100 km/h, s - 5.2
Control consumption of fuel, l/100 km:
- City cycle - 20.5
- Zagorod - 9.9
- mixed - 13.8
Engine:
- Type - W12
- working volume, cm3 - 5998
- Power, L.S. at MIN -1 - 450/6200
- Torque, N.M at MIN-1- 580/4000-4700
Transmission - automatic., 6 -speed
Tire size - 255/45R18
Wheel suspension (front/rear) - independent
Brakes (front/rear) - disk., Ventylir.
Steering - gear -rake, with gur
Fuel tank volume, L - 90
Price, $ - 163642
 
Text: Oleg Kalaushin
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [04/2004]