|
 Audi's
A8 L-all-aluminum flagship provides ultimate comfort and convenience for drivers
and passengers
The epitome of German luxury has grown with the introduction of the 2000 Audi
A8 Long Wheelbase (A8 L). Expected to hit showrooms in March, the Audi A8 L
builds on the continued improvement of the 2000 A8. Audi's flagship sedan, the
A8, has long stood for excellence without excess and elegance without arrogance.
The revolutionary aluminum space frame body technology helped to place the A8
ahead of its class. The A8 is the first and only member of the premium luxury
class to earn the dual five-star safety rating for both the driver and front
seat passenger protection under NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Building on the A8 foundation, the A8 L adds exclusive standard equipment
including Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and a GPS navigation system.
Ultimate convenience for passengers is achieved with heated
"soft-optic" front and rear seats, an electric sunshade for the rear
window and manual sunshades for rear side windows. Also available are 1 8-inch
performance tires, and forged and polished alloy wheels as an option.
Rear legroom is expanded to 41.1 inches in the A8 L from 38.4 in., and rear
doors are now lengthened. The rear seat has been repositioned to increase head
and shoulder room, creating a more spacious rear cabin area. Headroom is
increased from 37.9 in. to 38.2 in. for the rear passengers. Overall A8 L length
expanded 5 in. to 203.3 in. from 198.2 in. When calculated according to the EPA
interior volume standard, the additional length creates four cubic feet more
interior volume for the rear occupants.
The A8 has been described as the "first luxury car of the 215t
century" and "simply the best car in the world." Pursuing
continuous improvement, Audi added significant refinements to the 2000 A8, both
inside and out. The; new race-bred 4.2-liter DOHC 5-valve V8 engine produces 310
horsepower and 302 lbs. ft. of torque between 3,000 and 4,000 revolutions per
minute. The new engine teams with a more rigid body riding on a revised aluminum
independent front and rear multi-link suspension to make driving the A8 an
exercise in performance. Add the extra room and enhanced features of the A8 L
and driving becomes an exercise in luxury as well.
Other convenience features include auto-dimming interior and exterior
mirrors, eightcolor driver information display, and a multi-function steering
wheel with audio controls. Steering wheel telephone controls also have been
added. Accompanying luxury, performance and convenience is safety. Enhanced
safety features on the new A8 and A8 L include inflatable "Sideguard"
curtain airbags for occupant protection. When combined with the standard
equipment front and rear seat mounted side airbags, the A8 provides one of the
most comprehensive supplemental restraint packages available in the industry. A
three-point center safety belt with a concealable center headrest is new this
year for the rear passenger.
The look of the A8 has been updated as well for model year 2000. Exterior
changes include reshaped bumpers with additional aluminum strips; larger,
redesigned headlights; and a sharper, larger accented front grille and a new
rear decklid to emphasize the dynamic character of the A8. The changes add
refinement to the A8 and give the car a more assertive face.
Inside, there are new seats lined with "Valcona" leather upholstery
(the first automotive application of this very luxurious and supple open pore
leather); a revised instrument panel with electro luminescent lighting;
additional interior lighting; an upgraded radio with an in-dash CD; and all new
interior surfaces for a more luxurious feel.
Audi's luxury flagship is built in Neckarsulm, Germany. The base price of the
A8 L will be $67,900.
| 
