2011 Audi A8 The design of luxury cars

Audi design is always
fascinating in its complex intelligence

Advanced illustrations of its future product lineup was released in 2008 by Audi which included the latest D4 A8. It was further revealed that the latest A8 will be the beginning of a new styling language for the car maker. With the third generation it will be more aggressive, sharper and clear-cut.
However, with the succeeding generation, the theme was styling with softer, smoother lines. According to Audi, the first generation was very rigid and inflexibly designed. The latest illustrations are somewhat different from the initial previews with its new slotted lower air intakes in the front air dam and modified LED-edge headlamps.The distinctive elements include a large single-frame grill, LED daytime running lights and a profile like that of a coupe. The final curb weight of the new model will come between 3,630lb (1,560kg) and 4,180lb (1,900kg) contingent on the specs of the model.
It will still come with the aluminum spaceframe body which will cut more than 150kg of weight in contrast to the conventional steel body. The design of the upcoming model is a development of the present model as what can be observed from its illustrations. What gave it away as the next generation version are its extended fender flares, stretched wheelbase and broader track. A test model, which has kept under the present D3 body, has been seen going through cold weather testing several times already. Together with this, it is also reported that for the very first time a new entry-level version, which will come with a turbo-charged 4-cylinder unit, will be made available.
This minor styling will have to suffice for at least one more year as the succeeding generation 'D4' A8 which was reported to arrive in the middle of 2010 as a MY 2011 car. Since it began selling in 2003 the Audi A8 has received only a minor facelift just to make it appear fresh beside the Lexus LS, the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the BMW 7-Series which was revealed just of late.

2011 Audi A8 profilation of this cars :

Audi has launched the next generation of the Audi A8 - the sportiest sedan of the luxury class sets new standards. Its elegantly styled body with the Audi Space Frame (ASF) is aluminum, the engines are powerful and highly efficient, and the power transmission and running gear combine dynamics with convenience. The new flagship's generously designed interior captivates with its luxurious equipment, newly developed control system MMI and the excellent quality of its workmanship. Innovative assistance systems lend even more confidence to driving.

Design

Audi design is always fascinating in its complex intelligence. The outer skin of the new Audi A8 conveys homogeneity, as if modeled from a full volume. A coupé-like roof line lets the silhouette flow; sculptured surfaces conveying calmness and prestige contrast with sharp lines. The new A8 underscores the leading position maintained by Audi in the field of automotive design. Representing the cutting edge in many innovative technologies, the Audi A8 indicates this role through new and progressive design elements.
5137 mm (16.85 ft) in length, with a 2992 mm (9.82 ft) wheelbase, 1949 mm (6.39 ft) in width and 1460 mm (4.79 ft) in height - the new luxury sedan is generously proportioned. The Audi A8 significantly exceeds in length and width both its predecessor and its competitors. Its height, however, remains below that of its immediate rivals in Germany - the proportions follow the dynamic line.
The Audi A8 displays its single-frame radiator grille like a proud coat of arms. Framed by a chrome edge, the grille presents a new design - sculptured, three- dimensional and rich in details. With angular upper corners, it is neatly integrated in the front section, while the prominent, horizontal chrome braces emphasize the vehicle width.
The Audi A8 looks out on the world through newly designed headlights - with xenon plus units and the innovative full LED headlights, a technology Audi was the first to introduce worldwide in the Audi R8 high-performance sports car. The adaptive light system augments the xenon plus units - it controls the swiveling modules so that they always provide the perfect lighting for intersections, the city, country roads and highways. The new all-weather light integrated into the headlights replaces the fog lights. Their traditional location in the air intakes is now occupied by the radar sensors of the optional adaptive cruise control with stop & go function.
A technological breakthrough from Audi is the networking of the headlight control unit with the optional MMI navigation plus. The navigation system analyzes the route ahead and relays the data to the light computer to activate highway lighting with its extended range while still on the ramp to the highway, for example. Before entering an intersection, the system activates the cornering light, which provides wider-angle illumination and thus enhances safety.

High-end technology: the full LED headlights

The high-end solution on board the new A8 is the full LED headlights. They give the big sedan an unmistakable appearance even in daylight and even more so after the fall of darkness. Their revolutionary optics mean a departure from the large, tubular light modules commonly used today.
The low beams comprise ten individual modules forming an arc situated below the wing-shaped chrome contour known as the "wing." Just below this is another arc of 22 white and 22 yellow LEDs for the daytime running lights and the turn signals. Their thick wall technology makes them appear from the outside as homogenous, continuous strips of light.
Located above the wing are the high beams, whose light is generated by two powerful four-chip LEDs and a free surface reflector system. An assistant switches between the high and low beams, and additional high-power LEDs generate the highway light and cornering light. A separate fan and heat sink moderate the system's temperature.
The full LED headlights offer a number of functional advantages in everyday situations. With a color temperature of 5,500 Kelvin, their light resembles daylight and thus is much less tiring to the eyes. They also offer efficiency advantages. The low beams, for example, consume only 40 watts per unit, a bit less than the already highly efficient xenon plus headlights.
The side view of the new Audi A8 also gives the image of concentrated and forward-thrusting power. Typically for the Audi line, the vehicle line makes up two-thirds of the height, with the remaining third falling to the greenhouse. From the single-frame grill Audi's characteristic Tornado line runs as a light edge just beneath the window sill. The line continues close above the wheel arches, giving the Audi A8 a powerful appearance on the road.
The surfaces below the Tornado line interpret the interplay of light and shadow, of convexity and concavity, and are statement of seriousness and timeless elegance. Proceeding downwards, the surfaces are framed by the rising dynamic line running above the side sills. Large wheels - from 17 to 21 inches in diameter - fill the wheel arches pulled out wide.
At the rear the separation edge gives an impression of sleekness, which further reinforces the impressively sculptured surfaces. A chrome strip underlines the width of the sedan, terminating in a diffuser.
The tail lights also produce an appearance both three-dimensional and striking - and typically Audi. They, too, use LED technology with 72 light-emitting diodes per unit. Chip-on-board LEDs, which can be packed tightly together with high precision, are used in many areas due to the limited amount of space available.
The tail lights, which consume only 9 watts per unit, form a trapezoidal contour that appears as an even, homogenous strip. Its upper segment is a light guide - a plastic tube; the lower section is a reflective, textured free-form surface. It is thicker than the upper segment to optically lower the center of gravity of the Audi A8's back end. The turn signal is a horizontal line. The five-segment brake light is located inside the trapezoid.

Body

Big, strong, safe and yet amazingly lightweight - the aluminum body once again sets new standards. Its low weight is a key factor for the outstanding driving dynamics, exemplary efficiency and very good comfort of the new A8. Audi, the lightweight design pioneer of the automotive industry, again demonstrates its leadership role.
Fifteen years ago the four rings brand introduced the technology of the Audi Space Frame (ASF) into production - with the first Audi A8 generation. ASF has proven its merit outstandingly; and now Audi is again using it in a much more advanced form. In its basic design the ASF body brings a latticed framework to mind. Its skeleton comprises extruded sections and pressure diecast parts of aluminum. The aluminum panels - such as the roof panels and the side panels - are joined by friction connections.
Depending on their tasks, the components of the ASF body fully differ in shape and cross-sectional area. For example, the A-pillar nodes of the new Audi A8 - one of 25 castings in the body - interconnect the longitudinal member, the sill, the omega cross-member, the windshield crossmember, the roof frame and the suspension strut mount. The lateral roof frame, on the other hand, is formed by a single extruded section; its cross-section changes flexibly from the A-pillar to the C-pillar.
Audi has substantially increased the strength of the higher-strength body components in the new Audi A8, thereby significantly reducing both material thickness and weight.
One of the keys for this is a novel composite material for the aluminum panels. The use of this new, high-strength aluminum alloy alone enabled a weight saving of 6.5 kilograms (14.33 lb).

Engines

Superior power and high efficiency - the new Audi A8 makes its debut on the market with a strong V8 engine. With 372 hp, they never fail to impress with their superior power and mighty but discreet propulsion. All engines feature direct fuel injection, and consume 15 percent less fuel than their respective predecessors.
The engine in the A8 has intelligent elements from Audi's modular efficiency system on board. During deceleration the recuperation system converts the kinetic energy to electric power, which is buffered in the battery. In the innovative thermal management a computer monitors numerous actuators for the ideal distribution of the heat flows between the engine, transmission and interior in any situation. After the cold start the engine is temporarily fully uncoupled from the cooling circuit, considerably shortening the warm-up phase with its high loss of friction.
The 4.2 FSI draws 273 kW (372 hp) of power from 4,163 cm3 displacement, generating its maximum of 445 Nm (328.22 lb-ft) torque at 3,500 rpm. It accelerates the Audi A8 from zero to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds, with the propulsion ending (as in all engine variants) at the electronically controlled speed of 250 km/h (155.34 mph).
The most important reason for this enhanced power is the reduction of internal friction, especially in the chain drive for the camshafts and auxiliaries. The controlled oil pump with changeover between two pressure stages operates with high efficiency. Like all gasoline engines from Audi, the V8 has FSI direct injection. It allows a high compression of 12.5:1, for increased power and efficiency.