Audi has taken the wraps off the facelifted Audi A8 range, which will make its public debut at Frankfurt 2013. There are quite a few updates, including a surprise increase in wheelbase for the A8L, the first time I've ever heard of such a thing being done for a facelift instead of an all new model.
The most obvious change you'll notice from the exterior of the car are the new front and rear end. The prominent feature of the front are the new Audi Matrix LED headlights, which are now standard on all models with a V8 engine. In Malaysia, we only get a single variant of the A8 which is the long wheelbase model with the 3.0 litre V6 TFSI engine, so the headlamps might remain an option here. The headlamps feature a new sequential turn indicator which we've previously covered.
On the rear, the car gets a new chrome strip running across the back, which also extend into the design of the tail lamps. The LED tail lamps are now flatter. The redesigned rear bumper now houses two rhomboid tailpipes, and this look is carried on all models except the Audi S8.
Both the A8, S8 and A8L feature a revised trunk layout for better space. For the long wheelbase A8 L, Audi has stretched the car's length and wheelbase by 130mm to increase interior space.
The baseline Audi A8 uses the 3.0 litre TFSI V6 engine which produces 310 horsepower. an increase of 20 horsepower over the pre-facelift's 290 horsepower. There's also the 4.0 litre TFSI V8 engine does 435 horsepower. For buyers of oil burner models, there's a 3.0 TDI doing 258 horsepower as well as a powerful 4.2 litre TDI diesel engine producing 385 horsepower and 850Nm.
The flagship is the A8 L W12 quattro, which uses a 6.3 litre W12 engine producing 500 horsepower. It also has cylinder deactivation, allowing it to run on 6 cylinders under low load condition. For those who want a sportier version of the A8, there's the Audi S8, which tunes up the 4.0 litre TFSI V8 to 520 horsepower.
The Audi A8 hybrid continues on with the facelift model range, pairing a 2.0 litre TFSI engine with an electric motor to produce a total system output of 245 horsepower and 480Nm of torque. Its lithium ion battery mounted at the rear allows 100% electric driving up to 100km/h for about 3km. Fuel consumption for the A8 hybrid is rated at 6.3L/100km. If this model is introduced in Malaysia, it will qualify for duty exemptions like the A6 hybrid since the combustion engine is smaller than 2,000cc.
New driver assist features include Audi active lane assist, which makes slight steering adjustments when necessary. a park assist system with a 360 degree view display that handles steering when parking, and a heads-up display which projects vital info on the windscreen. The night vision assistant is also now improved, being able to recognise larger animals in addition to pedestrians.
After the facelifted A8, A8L and S8 debut at Frankfurt 2013, it will go on sale in Germany in November. We'll keep you updated on the introduction of the A8 facelift here in Malaysia.
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