Mick Briesgau
Tire Trailblazer
True. My last W221 was in Dolomitbraun and was sold in very short time. It just stood out between the 99% black coloured second hand S-Klasse.
A8/S8 [Official] Audi A8/S8 facelift 2015
Rainer271
Kraftwagen König
kingjr9000
Das Beste Enthusiast
Audi A8 5.5 launched with built-in rice cooker
Audi A8 5.5 (JDM-spec)
Comes bundled with Audi-branded rice paddle
Audi has introduced today in Japan the A8 5.5 which comes with a built-in rice cooker.
Specially developed for Japan, the Audi A8 5.5 gets its name from 5(five) Go and 0.5(half) Han, coming from the term "gohan", which means rice in Japanese. It comes equipped with a rear console-mounted rice cooker designed specifically for the full-size luxury sedan that can cook the "perfect rice ever" thanks to its intense heat convection inside the Japanese rice cooking pot called Hagama.
The owner can use an on-board touchscreen menu panel to select from various cooking options while an Audi-branded rice paddle will come bundled but only for a limited amount of time. Pricing hasn't been disclosed but Audi says the A8 5.5 will be commercialized only in Japan.
Audi A8 5.5 (JDM-spec)
Comes bundled with Audi-branded rice paddle
Audi has introduced today in Japan the A8 5.5 which comes with a built-in rice cooker.
Specially developed for Japan, the Audi A8 5.5 gets its name from 5(five) Go and 0.5(half) Han, coming from the term "gohan", which means rice in Japanese. It comes equipped with a rear console-mounted rice cooker designed specifically for the full-size luxury sedan that can cook the "perfect rice ever" thanks to its intense heat convection inside the Japanese rice cooking pot called Hagama.
The owner can use an on-board touchscreen menu panel to select from various cooking options while an Audi-branded rice paddle will come bundled but only for a limited amount of time. Pricing hasn't been disclosed but Audi says the A8 5.5 will be commercialized only in Japan.
Mick Briesgau
Tire Trailblazer
Man, if you like it or not, but isn't it great what todays car industry can offer. And look at those bamboo seats. Not my style, but I appreciate the idea 
DjordjeC63
Vorsprung Visionary
^ 1st April fools.
Btw. even though this is joke, maybe they will offer that for Chinese market.
Btw. even though this is joke, maybe they will offer that for Chinese market.
JHF
Driving Dynamics Pro
Audi A8 tech secrets revealed ahead of 2017 launch
New styling direction, advanced new technology and electric turbocharged engines confirmed for next-gen Audi A8
Audi bosses have lifted the lid on some of the revolutionary tech that will make its way into the next-generation Audi A8 saloon when it arrives in 2017.
Everything from Audi's piloted driving autonomous car tech to gesture control, and organic LED lighting will find its way into Audi’s flagship saloon, ensuring it becomes the technological showcase it needs to be to tackle the Mercedes S-Class. The new A8 will also be the first model from Audi to feature the brand’s new design language as showcased by the Audi Prologue concept at the LA Motor Show last year.
“The A8 will be the next-generation of the every successful vehicle model for Audi, so what we are doing is looking at which future technologies make sense for our customers, what do they expect and how can we surprise out customers,” Audi's technical development chief Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg told Auto Express. “The next level of sophisticated technology will be in the A8.”
New A8 to drive itself with Audi Piloted Driving tech
Revolutionary piloted driving tech has been confirmed for the A8. Long-range radar sensors, 12 ultrasonic sensors, laser scanners and hi-resolution video cameras will constantly monitor the car’s surroundings, with the system also able to guide a car safely through traffic jams at up to speeds of 37mph.
Audi believes up to 90 per cent of all innovation in the automotive sector will come from electronics, with lighting playing a significant part. Matrix LED technology is still relatively new but Audi is already working to move the game on further. “We are working on the integration of organic LEDs,” said Ricky Hudi, Head of Electronics at Audi. He claims the advancement will enable “new forms of expression and differentiation”, with their main use expected to be in a car's digital displays.
Those displays will also be operated by gesture control, a feature also confirmed for the facelifted VW Golf due next year. “We are already working on a new gesture control system as an advanced development,” said Hudi. In-car operations such as adjusting the temperate, answering incoming calls and switching between radio stations will move from button operation to gesture control.
“The A8 is a good car to introduce some of these technologies because it is always good to start with a premium offering,” added Hackenberg.
Electric turbos for new Audi engines
But advancements won’t stop at in-car technology with Dr. Hackenberg also confirming the A8 will feature electric turbocharging. “We are preparing the production of such systems and it will be in the market with the A8 as well as other models in the future”, he said.
With the next-generation A8 to be based on the new MLB platform, around 200kg of excess weight is expected to be shed, while new and revised V6 and V8 engines will be offered. A plug-in hybrid version under Audi’s e-tron strategy is also certain, with the brand committing to having a plug-in hybrid model in each of its model ranges.
All of this technology will be wrapped up in a whole new look for the A8, too. It will be the first model from Audi to feature the new design language from the Prologue concept penned by new design chief Marc Licht. Expect bolder styling, exaggerated proportions and a new take on the trademark wide-mouthed grille.
New 2017 Audi A8 UK starting price revealed
New styling direction, advanced new technology and electric turbocharged engines confirmed for next-gen Audi A8
Audi bosses have lifted the lid on some of the revolutionary tech that will make its way into the next-generation Audi A8 saloon when it arrives in 2017.
Everything from Audi's piloted driving autonomous car tech to gesture control, and organic LED lighting will find its way into Audi’s flagship saloon, ensuring it becomes the technological showcase it needs to be to tackle the Mercedes S-Class. The new A8 will also be the first model from Audi to feature the brand’s new design language as showcased by the Audi Prologue concept at the LA Motor Show last year.
“The A8 will be the next-generation of the every successful vehicle model for Audi, so what we are doing is looking at which future technologies make sense for our customers, what do they expect and how can we surprise out customers,” Audi's technical development chief Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg told Auto Express. “The next level of sophisticated technology will be in the A8.”
New A8 to drive itself with Audi Piloted Driving tech
Revolutionary piloted driving tech has been confirmed for the A8. Long-range radar sensors, 12 ultrasonic sensors, laser scanners and hi-resolution video cameras will constantly monitor the car’s surroundings, with the system also able to guide a car safely through traffic jams at up to speeds of 37mph.
Audi believes up to 90 per cent of all innovation in the automotive sector will come from electronics, with lighting playing a significant part. Matrix LED technology is still relatively new but Audi is already working to move the game on further. “We are working on the integration of organic LEDs,” said Ricky Hudi, Head of Electronics at Audi. He claims the advancement will enable “new forms of expression and differentiation”, with their main use expected to be in a car's digital displays.
Those displays will also be operated by gesture control, a feature also confirmed for the facelifted VW Golf due next year. “We are already working on a new gesture control system as an advanced development,” said Hudi. In-car operations such as adjusting the temperate, answering incoming calls and switching between radio stations will move from button operation to gesture control.
“The A8 is a good car to introduce some of these technologies because it is always good to start with a premium offering,” added Hackenberg.
Electric turbos for new Audi engines
But advancements won’t stop at in-car technology with Dr. Hackenberg also confirming the A8 will feature electric turbocharging. “We are preparing the production of such systems and it will be in the market with the A8 as well as other models in the future”, he said.
With the next-generation A8 to be based on the new MLB platform, around 200kg of excess weight is expected to be shed, while new and revised V6 and V8 engines will be offered. A plug-in hybrid version under Audi’s e-tron strategy is also certain, with the brand committing to having a plug-in hybrid model in each of its model ranges.
All of this technology will be wrapped up in a whole new look for the A8, too. It will be the first model from Audi to feature the new design language from the Prologue concept penned by new design chief Marc Licht. Expect bolder styling, exaggerated proportions and a new take on the trademark wide-mouthed grille.
New 2017 Audi A8 UK starting price revealed
JLBM
Oversteer Expert
It'll be a little more inspiring but the whole lineup, when revised, will be another yawn-fest. I would own an S3 sedan as a daily driver, but they all suffer from a lack of character. It's weird. Even Lexus in my views can go as radical in design as they like - it'll still be a car for the blue-rinse brigade.
Audi is a much younger brand but feels flat to me.
And every one I've owned (3), whilst having very well designed cabins, rattled all over the place.
Audi is a much younger brand but feels flat to me.
And every one I've owned (3), whilst having very well designed cabins, rattled all over the place.
JHF
Driving Dynamics Pro
Is Audi Targeting Maybach With 6-Door A8 Stretch Limo?
The appearance of a stretched version of Audi’s current A8 limousine with six-doors on European roads this week raises more questions than answers.
current generation A8 or even a test mulefor a Maybach rival from the all-new A8 that will come into the limelight sometime in 2017.
We’ll leave it at that for now, but we’ll see if we can dig up some more information and pass it along.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops
The appearance of a stretched version of Audi’s current A8 limousine with six-doors on European roads this week raises more questions than answers.
current generation A8 or even a test mulefor a Maybach rival from the all-new A8 that will come into the limelight sometime in 2017.
We’ll leave it at that for now, but we’ll see if we can dig up some more information and pass it along.
Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoops
That looks ridiculous. Sorry, this is just my opinion, but I don't think Audi's fairly 'plain' styling suits being elongated this much, there's just so much unstyled sheet metal there.
I'm not against the idea of 6 door limo's though, they're kinda quirky.
I wonder if Audi have the prestige to really capture this market though, I would have thought a Bentley would be better suited perhaps?
I'm not against the idea of 6 door limo's though, they're kinda quirky.
I wonder if Audi have the prestige to really capture this market though, I would have thought a Bentley would be better suited perhaps?
hannaz
Aerodynamic Artisan
Audi stretches A8 L even further for six-door one-off
Audi has taken the wraps off a unique A8 L that was further stretched and has gained two extra doors.
Meet the Audi A8 L extended, a stately limousine with an overall length of 20.9 ft. (6.36 meters) and a massive wheelbase spanning at 13.8 ft. (4.22 meters). It’s described as an “exceptionally long luxury sedan” and required almost one year of development to get everything right. The six-door, six-seat A8 L extended wears a moonlight blue metallic paint on its body which had to be modified from the A-pillar back for this new application.
The built-to-order version comes with extruded aluminum sections for the extended side sills and center tunnel while a double rear bulkhead was implemented to separate the passenger area from the trunk compartment. To ensure a torsional and flexural rigidity almost on par with the A8 L, there are more aluminum profiled tubes and cross-braces in the elongated roof which hosts a 7.9-ft. (2.4-meter) glass panel. As required by the law for vehicles of this length, the Audi A8 L extended comes with small side marker lights incorporated in the headlight and taillight clusters.
Stepping inside the cabin, all of the seats face the direction of travel and each row comes with sun blinds. The seats have been covered in “extra-supple” Valcona leather featuring a velvet beige color while those on the rows two and three are individual and benefit from electrical adjustment. The seats on the third row are separated by a full-length center console featuring a screen and a cool box.
Audi has fitted the XXL sedan with a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine producing 310 horsepower (228 kilowatts) and a maximum torque of 324.5 pound-feet (440 newton meters). Not like it matters a lot with these limousines, but performance is more than decent, with the 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) taking just 7.1 seconds before hitting an electronically-capped 155 mph (250 kph).
Tipping the scales at 5,330 pounds (2,418 kilograms), the Audi A8 L extended rides on 19-inch wheels featuring a 15-spoke design and backed by a braking system sourced from theS8. As you would expect from such a vehicle, the extra-long limousine has an all-wheel-drive quattro system receiving the engine’s power through an eight-speed tiptronic transmission.
Although Audi is not revealing the identity of the customer, an article published by autofil.noin January revealed the Norwegian royal family commissioned a six-door, further stretched A8 L for King Harald's 25th anniversary as monarch. There are some images on that website with the car and it appears to be the same.
Audi stretches A8 L even further for six-door one-off
Audi has taken the wraps off a unique A8 L that was further stretched and has gained two extra doors.
Meet the Audi A8 L extended, a stately limousine with an overall length of 20.9 ft. (6.36 meters) and a massive wheelbase spanning at 13.8 ft. (4.22 meters). It’s described as an “exceptionally long luxury sedan” and required almost one year of development to get everything right. The six-door, six-seat A8 L extended wears a moonlight blue metallic paint on its body which had to be modified from the A-pillar back for this new application.
The built-to-order version comes with extruded aluminum sections for the extended side sills and center tunnel while a double rear bulkhead was implemented to separate the passenger area from the trunk compartment. To ensure a torsional and flexural rigidity almost on par with the A8 L, there are more aluminum profiled tubes and cross-braces in the elongated roof which hosts a 7.9-ft. (2.4-meter) glass panel. As required by the law for vehicles of this length, the Audi A8 L extended comes with small side marker lights incorporated in the headlight and taillight clusters.
Stepping inside the cabin, all of the seats face the direction of travel and each row comes with sun blinds. The seats have been covered in “extra-supple” Valcona leather featuring a velvet beige color while those on the rows two and three are individual and benefit from electrical adjustment. The seats on the third row are separated by a full-length center console featuring a screen and a cool box.
Audi has fitted the XXL sedan with a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine producing 310 horsepower (228 kilowatts) and a maximum torque of 324.5 pound-feet (440 newton meters). Not like it matters a lot with these limousines, but performance is more than decent, with the 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) taking just 7.1 seconds before hitting an electronically-capped 155 mph (250 kph).
Tipping the scales at 5,330 pounds (2,418 kilograms), the Audi A8 L extended rides on 19-inch wheels featuring a 15-spoke design and backed by a braking system sourced from theS8. As you would expect from such a vehicle, the extra-long limousine has an all-wheel-drive quattro system receiving the engine’s power through an eight-speed tiptronic transmission.
Although Audi is not revealing the identity of the customer, an article published by autofil.noin January revealed the Norwegian royal family commissioned a six-door, further stretched A8 L for King Harald's 25th anniversary as monarch. There are some images on that website with the car and it appears to be the same.
Audi stretches A8 L even further for six-door one-off
I've been driving yet another A8 3.0 TDI quattro over the weekend. I drove over 2,000 miles. If I'd bought this car with the radar cruise control I would take it back in disgust demanding a refund. It simply doesn't work properly. At one point it picked up a car in lane 1 of the motorway whilst I was overtaking in lane 2, and applied the brakes. This wasn't an isolated incident and it's happened on every A8 I've driven. Unfortunately, unlike the S-Class and 7 Series, you can't use the cruise control without the radar function. On top of this, there were around seven or eight other design faults with the car, such as where the memory buttons for the seats are placed just where you put your hand to open the door, so you end up unintentionally adjusting your seat every time you get out.
And people think we're ready for autonomous cars already?
And people think we're ready for autonomous cars already?
I think the system is trying to be human?And people think we're ready for autonomous cars already?
KiwiRob
Autotechnik Ace
I've been driving yet another A8 3.0 TDI quattro over the weekend. I drove over 2,000 miles. If I'd bought this car with the radar cruise control I would take it back in disgust demanding a refund. It simply doesn't work properly. At one point it picked up a car in lane 1 of the motorway whilst I was overtaking in lane 2, and applied the brakes. This wasn't an isolated incident and it's happened on every A8 I've driven. Unfortunately, unlike the S-Class and 7 Series, you can't use the cruise control without the radar function. On top of this, there were around seven or eight other design faults with the car, such as where the memory buttons for the seats are placed just where you put your hand to open the door, so you end up unintentionally adjusting your seat every time you get out.
And people think we're ready for autonomous cars already?
I think the system used on the A6 must be better, I've not had any problems with it slowing down or stopping in situations like you described. I haven't tried to use cruisxe control without it being active, I'll have a look and see if it can be switched off.
If you could do that I would be extremely grateful, as I suspect this will not be the last time I drive an A8 with the system.
Similar threads
Audi
Audi AG is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles
headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. A subsidiary of the
Volkswagen Group, the company’s origins date back to the early 20th
century and the initial enterprises (Horch and the Audiwerke) founded
by engineer August Horch (1868–1951). Two other manufacturers (DKW
and Wanderer) also contributed to the foundation of Auto Union in 1932.
The modern Audi era began in the 1960s, when Volkswagen acquired Auto
Union from Daimler-Benz, and merged it with NSU Motorenwerke in 1969.
Official website: Audi (Global), Audi (USA)
Official website: Audi (Global), Audi (USA)
