This the fourth generation A8, but it's called the D5.
That's because the real first top model of Audi was the V8.
Indeed, that's a converted Audi 100 or 200 with a V8 engine made of two Golf GTI engines.
That's a special construction, but it's ancient history by now.
This is 2018. The A8 already existed in 2017, but for some reason they didn't have a car for us.
We're driving it now, though. Yay!
It's a bit of a...
I'm driving this car in two ways. It's either a gray Audi diesel, or a new A8.
The latter is more fun, but it's a well-behaved edition that's a bit boring.
We're waiting for the S line versions and maybe an S8, which you know will be made.
There are two V6 engines at the introduction. The 335 hp 3-liter V6 TFSI; that'd be the 55.
They have difficult names, but I'm beginning to learn. That's the 335 hp version.
This is the 50 TDI, a 3-liter TDI with 282 hp and 600 Nm (443 lb ft) torque.
There will be a 4-liter TDI V8. I don't know if this'll be the 70, 60, or 65 TDI.
Of course there's also the well-known 4-liter V8 gasoline engine from the S6, RS6, etc.
In the A8 it'll have 454 hp. There will also be a W12.
There are always rumors that this may be the last one.
With every new generation S-Class, 7 Series, or A8 they say to enjoy it while it lasts.
If enough people order one, it'll be fine. The 12-cylinder engines will keep coming.
Audi thought a plug-in hybrid should go to China first.
Again that's a 3-liter V6 with hybrid support for a total of 362 hp.
I think this is expedited for Europe. Diesel engines are out of fashion.
Porsche also sells many plug-in hybrids now.
This is a bit of a hybrid; a mild hybrid like Smart.
There's a bit of support from the starter motor.
It has recuperation. When you slow down, it can regenerate up to 12 kWh or kW.
It quickly shuts down the engine when you coast or brake.
I'm doing 80 kph (50 mph) now. It's rolling and doesn't slow down much, but the engine stopped.
When I accelerate... It's not seamless, but it is fairly smooth.
This 3-liter TDI... No, the 50 TDI; a 5-liter diesel engine.
Of course it's not a 5-liter engine, but that doesn't matter.
0-100 kph (62 mph) in 5.9 seconds.
The top speed is limited to 250 kph (155 mph).
It's nice to drive when you're not in a hurry, but want to drive quickly.
If you're pushing the limits, diesel engines don't do that well.
It's not rewarding to redline it.
The handling. It's a big Audi on winter tires. It doesn't have a sports suspension.
The handling is well-behaved and safe.
Read: a bit of understeer and that's it.
In the snow... It's a quattro and has an 8-speed tiptronic automatic transmission.
It may do more then. You can get a quattro sports differential; a diff lock on the rear axle.
It may be more playful then, but you don't buy the car for this.
Audi drive select can be put in Sport, but I think the car is best in Comfort.
It's not floaty, but it does filter a lot.
It's very quiet. This car has the optional double glazing.
The plug-in hybrid gets active noise cancellation, filtering it with anti-sound.
It suits this A8.
There are a number of other things we need to talk about.
The interior.
Wow. Audi made pretty steps here. Only displays surround you.
There are relatively few buttons. Of course there are some.
Climate control, for example. There's a display to set the climate control.
You can swipe up the temperature or use the plus and minus buttons.
The screen has haptic feedback, so it moves a hair (the press release said that)
and you hear a small click. The feedback is good.
It's nice to have two displays. The infotainment touchscreen is nice and big.
The traditional Audi dial is gone.
It has voice recognition, which works okay but not fantastic.
It's always like that.
However, you can tell it to go to Rotterdam, Koolsingel 110.
It gets that, but something more complicated goes wrong.
In front of me is the Audi... Active Info Display is by Volkswagen, but it's the same idea.
There are no gauges, but a display that can show you different things.
You can have a big satnav map or bigger gauges.
This is exactly like you want.
There are many fun things in the interior. We have a video of 30 minutes in which I show everything.
If you're really interested in the A8, you can watch that.
The air vents. If the car is parked and I'm starting it, the decorative strip slides out of the way.
In this case it's eucalyptus wood. The garden shop has this, but the A8 has it too.
The air vent itself slides forward a little. That's brilliant.
It'll be shitty if you buy this car in 15 years and it's broken.
It'll probably 1,000 euros to replace this.
The features we get here... Massage seats, vented and heated, including the arm rests.
A massage function in the back seats and for your feet is optional.
The optional feet rest warms and massages.
This car doesn't have it. It's a sparsely specced car.
It does have 72,000 euros worth of options, though.
Indeed, that's a lot of money.
Audi shows that this is their flagship.
It has everything they could think of.
I haven't listed all interior things.
It has 40 support systems,
including adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning.
It needs to be coordinated with the law first, but it has level 3 autonomic driving.
Level 3 means I can keep my hands off the wheel. The car manages the throttle by itself.
For now it only does this in traffic jams, up to 60 kph (37 mph).
On the highway, with a median strip and crash barriers.
The lane need to be separated by a physical barrier. Only then it can drive itself.
When the car needs help, it warns the driver. This is level 3.
Only then you have to take over. You can do your own thing, but you need to be alert to take over.
The next phase is level 4, which requires you to do even less.
Why can Audi go further than others do?
In addition to radar systems, cameras, and ultrasonic parking sensors, it has a laser scanner.
This gives even more information.
All this information is combined to look around the car and see what's happening.
You need this for autonomous driving. It has to see in every direction.
Adaptive cruise control was really dumb in the beginning.
You followed the car in front of you at a certain distance.
The Audi A8 can do staggered driving at road works.
You don't want to drive next to the other car on narrow roads. You want to drive like this.
It looks at the other lane to find a good spot and make it easier for the driver and passengers.
You heard me correct myself. There can be multiple passengers.
Three passengers can sit in the back and one in cameraman Martijn's spot.
Are there more things I can tell?
Laser lights are optional, giving you up to twice the amount of light on the highway.
It has 138 LEDs in the headlights.
OLED taillights are optional. These costs 3,300 euros, but it looks cool.
You can go crazy with the option list. They did with this car.
Like I said, this car has 72,000 euros worth of options. 72,000 euros.
A base model A8 L 50 TDI is 108,000 euros. This one is 180,000 euros.
Is this rightly Audi's flagship?
Martijn said you'll no longer see the German Chancellor in a S-Class or 7 Series, but in an A8.
This is a step beyond BMW and Mercedes.
The displays and systems, such as the air suspension.
If a car threatens to T-bone the A8, that side is raised by 8 cm.
Brilliant. This means it hits a stronger part of the A8. That's safer for this car's occupants.
Is it Audi's flagship for me? I miss the driving pleasure.
It handles really well, but not sporty.
Yesterday I drove on the highway and through the city.
It did 7L/100 km (34 mpg). You know I don't drive slowly.
This car asks for gentle driving, but you're driving a 282 hp Audi A8.
It does 1L/14km (33 mpg). That's very good.
It's not a very inspiring driver's car, though. You can't expect that from this size car.
On the other hand, the M760Li xDrive does have that.
Maybe Audi has to put me in an S8. This could tie it all together, making it a perfect car.
This car is perfect too, but it's a bit boring.
Subtitles - Maru's Text Support
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