German carmaker Audi’s flagship sedan, the Audi A8, has been going strong in the market.
Armed with cutting-edge technology and an enhanced sporty design, the A8 has sold more than 150 units since its July 3 launch, Audi Korea said.
“The New Audi A8 actively lays out Audi’s key spirit of design, traffic comfort and drivers’ convenience,” Johannes Thammer, managing director of Audi Korea, told Korean press at the vehicle’s launch.
Under Audi’s slogan “Advancement through Technology,” the new Audi A8 is comprised of 10 models ― a best-option A8 L W12, high-performance S8, five TDI diesel engine models and three TFSI gasoline engine models. All vehicles are equipped with eight-speed tiptronic auto transmission and the exclusive full-time four-wheel drive system Quattro.
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| The new Audi A8 |
All models have adopted an aluminum frame technology known as Audi Space Frame, which makes the car up to 140 kilograms lighter than steel-framed cars.
Perhaps the most significant change is the Audi Matrix LED headlight, which is the first of its kind in the world. Audi has installed daytime running LED headlights also for the first time in the world.
The 50 high-beam LEDs in the headlights are arranged in a matrix to adapt automatically to the surrounding conditions.
“It offers a brighter and wider line of vision for the drivers,” an Audi spokesman said.
For example, drivers can elevate the intensity of light toward in the direction they are turning.
“At the same time, the system would detect up to eight vehicles coming from the opposite direction as well as the driving direction so as not to disturb the line of vision for other drivers or pedestrians,” the spokesman said.
Targeting younger customers, Audi has also adopted several contemporary features. The Head Up Display allows the driver to check the current speed, night vision and other driving information. Drivers can also look up song titles and phone numbers within the driver’s vision.
Other noticeable equipment to enhance drivers’ convenience is electronic power steering, a supplementary brake system that operates the brakes automatically to prevent a secondary collision in an accident.
“A touchpad navigation system, a supplementary parking system that allows to identify space through ultrasonic sensor and an Audi Active Lane Assist that prevents the vehicle from deviating from the lane are also among the attractive points,” an Audi spokesman said.
The new Audi A8 is priced from 126.7 million won ($124,000).
By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)
