Audi's new generation A8L launched

Audi's flagship model, the new generation A8L, has been launched with four new models. The models currently available are all powered by the 3.0 TFSI engine and equipped with a 48V mild hybrid system. As the flagship model of the Audi family, this car is the benchmark of the family in terms of intelligence and technology configuration, in addition to the luxury it deserves, which is the core competitiveness of the new A8L in seeking a breakthrough in the large luxury car market.

New car profile exterior: big mouth and lights, the two elements that get the most attention

The new generation of the A8L adopts the latest Audi design language. The new model has a flatter and wider hexagonal grille design, which brings a sportier visual effect on the one hand, and a larger air intake on the other. The "big mouth" contains a night vision probe, a front camera, a front radar, a laser probe and other equipment, which makes it possible to achieve level 3 autonomous driving in terms of hardware.

Another highlight of the front is the headlamps on both sides. The lower two models have LED headlamps, while the more advanced models will have Matrix LED headlamps and HD Matrix Laser headlamps respectively. The latter is also the only production laser headlamp to support matrix unit control, which activates when the speed exceeds 70km/h, double the range of the high beam.

True to its name, the rear of the new A8L features OLED taillights. The brightness of the taillights can be steplessly dimmed, intelligently adjusting to the ambient light and taking care of the driver behind.

In terms of body design, the new car does not feature a through-line waistline, but instead uses a broken waistline design similar to that of the Quatrain cars, giving the new car an overall sunken visual effect. In terms of body dimensions, the new car is 5302mm in length, 1945mm in width and 1485mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3128mm, which is only a small drop in width compared to the previous model.

Interior: six large screens create a sense of technology

Inside, the new Audi A8L creates a strong sense of technology through six displays, five of which are touch-enabled. This includes a 12.5-inch full LCD instrumentation, 10.1-inch and 8.6-inch centre LCD screens, a 5.7-inch rear centre LCD screen and two 10-inch rear LCD screens. To enhance the touch experience, audible and tactile feedback is available when using the functions on the touch screen for blind operation. 5.7-inch rear centre LCD is a 1080p flat panel that can be used to control temperature, reading lights, seats, seat massage, rear window sunshade, music, etc. It can also be used as a telephone.

Rear: comfort is also a priority

Thanks to the roof beam, the new car has a front and rear panoramic sunroof design, with a rear vanity mirror at the sunroof beam, illuminated by a cluster of seven LEDs. In addition to this, the car also features LED rear reading lights, which not only adjust the brightness but also the size and focus of the light cone. The rear seats offer a foot massage function, which allows passengers to choose from three intensity levels and three-foot sizes to massage their feet, as well as heat them.

To reduce sound noise, the new A8L will monitor outside noise through four microphones and balance it out with five interior subwoofers. The B&O audio contains 23 speakers and its 3D sound algorithm was developed in conjunction with Fraunhofer.

Configuration: more intelligent technology features

As mentioned above, the new A8L is equipped with LIDAR and 24 sensors that contribute to several driver assistance systems. This cannot be achieved without the new car being equipped with four core components, such as Mobileye's EyeQ3 for traffic signal recognition, pedestrian detection, collision warning, light detection and lane line recognition, and NVIDIA's Tegra K1 for driver status detection, 360-degree panorama and more. With the synergy of these systems, the new car's comfort and safety are enhanced accordingly. For example, in the event of a side collision hazard, the body of the side in distress is instantly raised to lower the impact with a more rigid side floor beam, thus protecting the passengers.

Power: 48V mild hybrid system across the range

The models on sale are all powered by the 3.0 TFSI V6 engines, which have a maximum power of 340 hp (250kW, 5000-6400rpm) and a peak torque of 500 NM (1370-4500rpm). The engine's turbocharger is placed midway between the two cylinder clamps, which also gives the whole engine a more compact structure. The official 0-100km/h acceleration time is 5.7 seconds and the combined fuel consumption is 8.8-9.2 L. The transmission is mated to an 8-speed Tiptronic gearbox.

The 48V light-hybrid system (the only one in its class to be fitted as standard) includes a lithium-ion battery mounted under the boot floor and a belt alternator starter (BSG) connected to the crankshaft. This system allows the new car to be driven with zero emissions for up to 40 seconds in the 55-160km/h range with the driver letting go of the accelerator and the engine off and coasting forward. The higher voltage and higher battery energy of the 48V Light Hybrid system are also fundamental to the Audi ASL's ability to support the intelligent hardware mentioned above.

Chassis: four-wheel drive as standard

The new generation of the Audi A8L is equipped with four-wheel drive as standard. Under normal driving conditions, the central differential lock distributes torque between the front and rear axles in a ratio of 40:60. If there is a possibility of slippage, more power is provided to the axle with better traction, with up to 70 per cent of torque available to the front wheels and up to 85 per cent to the rear wheels. The new car is also equipped with four-wheel steering, with the rear wheels turning up to 5 degrees in the opposite direction to the front wheels at low speeds and up to 2 degrees in the same direction as the front wheels at medium/high speeds.

In terms of suspension, the car uses a five-link independent front/rear suspension. The adaptive air suspension automatically lowers the body by 20mm at speeds of 120km/h or more to optimise aerodynamic properties.

Driving experience: a revolution towards rejuvenation

We have previously test-driven the new generation A8L and editor Yuan Lu wrote, "The accelerator pedal is linear, with a suitably deep press, the car is ready to whip out and the power reserves are quite sufficient. The new A8L's 8-speed manual transmission, built specifically for 48V light hybrids, shifts quickly, performs smoothly in the vast majority of situations, and is quick to respond to the driver's intentions in an effective and timely manner."

"The new A8L is so completely tuned for a pure comfort route that every time I stop at a junction if I apply the brakes a little deeper, there is a more pronounced nod to the front end. This explains why the front end lifted so noticeably the moment the car lurched out when we did the acceleration test earlier. When I'm driving on my own, I use the Custom Drive mode, which switches the suspension directly into Sport mode, while as for the engine and steering I would still prefer Comfort mode, which allows me to enjoy a thicker, more solid suspension without making the engine too sensitive and the steering too heavy." For more on the test drive, click here to read in depth.

Rivals: BMW 7 Series, Mercedes-Benz S-Class

In competition with BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Audi's overall sales in China have been a catch-up for the other two. But when it comes to the large luxury sedan segment, the Audi A8L is no match for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series. The Mercedes-Benz S-Class has been the benchmark in its class for a long time and has always been synonymous with luxury, something that the old A8L and even the new A8L have found difficult to surpass in terms of the product image. The 7 Series, by its replacement, has a more youthful design and a more technologically advanced configuration than the old A8L, which was previously on sale, not to mention that the new 7 Series once outsold the old player, the S-Class. The new A8L, which is on sale this time, is ahead of its rivals in terms of technology, while all models are equipped with full-time four-wheel drive, 48V mild hybrid system and adaptive air suspension as standard. Coupled with its 3.0T engine, which also has power advantages in the 900,000-1,000,000 yuan entry-level model range, the new car has the hope of changing the status quo of the old model and rewriting the pattern of the large luxury car market.

Full summary: younger and more technological, are your bosses ready

The new A8L is an unprecedented breakthrough in technology, whether in terms of laser headlights, six LCD screens, intelligent safety features, etc. It has an advantage in its class for the time being. This is exactly the side of the car it wants to show consumers: perhaps not offering the most luxurious ambience in its class, but giving you a more youthful design and cutting-edge technology.