On the eve of the 2009 L.A. Auto Show, Audi is {across|throughout} the continent {at the|on the} "Art of Progress" exhibition in Miami, with Lucy Liu presenting {the new|the brand new} 2011 Audi A8. Our {own|personal} Marty Padgett is {on hand|available|readily available} to {bring|carry|convey|deliver} us {the latest|the most recent|the newest}, updating {live|dwell|reside|stay} from the {floor|flooring|ground} of the {event|occasion} {in the|within the} widget {below|beneath|under}. The 2011 Audi A8 will {come in|are available|are available in} two flavors, the shorter of which--dubbed "Normal Wheel Base (NWB)"--was unveiled tonight. The {long|lengthy} wheelbase {will be|can be|might be|shall be|will likely be|will probably be} revealed {next|subsequent} {year|12 months|yr}. {As the|Because the} fourth {generation|era|technology} of the flagship A8 sedan, the 2011 A8 {offers|affords|gives|presents|provides} an all-new look and {a range|a spread|a variety} of {updated|up to date} {technology|expertise|know-how} {including|together with} the MMI interface, adaptive air suspension, {available|accessible|obtainable|out there} quattro all-wheel drive, and an aluminum {space|area|house} {frame|body}. Targeting the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series, the Audi A8 envisions itself as a {level|degree|stage} above the Jaguar XJ and Lexus LS, due {in part|partially|partly} to its positioning as a "driver's {car|automobile|automotive}".
The NWB {version|model} of the 2011 A8 will {focus on|concentrate on|deal with|give attention to} sport driving {behavior|conduct|habits}, {while|whereas} the LWB--{long|lengthy} wheelbase--{version|model} will emphasize {comfort|consolation} and prestige {while|whereas} balancing sportiness. {A standard|A normal|A regular|A typical|An ordinary} eight-{speed|pace|velocity} tiptronic transmission sends {power|energy} to the {front|entrance} or all {four|4} wheels {depending|relying} on the trim, with that {power|energy} {provided|offered|supplied} by a pair of V-{8|eight} engines and {another|one other} pair of V-6 engines--one {each|every} gasoline and diesel. {It's not|It is not|It isn't} {yet|but} clear that the diesel engines {announced|introduced} at {the global|the worldwide} launch {will be|can be|might be|shall be|will likely be|will probably be} coming to the U.S. The gasoline 4.2-liter FSI V-{8|eight} engine {rates|charges} 372 horsepower, and rockets {the big|the large|the massive} sedan to {62|sixty two} mph in {just|simply} 5.7 seconds. Top {speed|pace|velocity} is digitally {limited|restricted} to 155 mph. All {four|4} engines are being touted as examples of {efficiency|effectivity}, with {high|excessive} compression (12.5:1 {in the|within the} V-{8|eight} FSI), variable cams, low {internal|inner|inside} friction, and {special|particular} oil pumps getting the {credit|credit score}. Drag is low at {just|simply} 0.26 coefficient of drag, roughly {equivalent|equal} to that of the Toyota Prius--{quite|fairly} a feat for {a large|a big} {luxury|luxurious} sedan.
Audi plans to {sell|promote} {at least|a minimum of|at the least|at the very least|no less than|not less than} 6,000 {units|items|models} of {the new|the brand new} A8 {annually|yearly}, topping the figures of the {previous|earlier} {model|mannequin}. 500,000 {annually|yearly}, aged {around|round} {58|fifty eight} years {old|outdated|previous}. Growing {almost|nearly|virtually} two inches in wheelbase over the {previous|earlier} {standard|commonplace|customary|normal} wheelbase A8. At 117.{8|Eight} inches, the D4 2011 A8 is about {3|three} inches shorter in wheelbase than {the new|the brand new} 7-Series and about 7 inches shorter than the {long|lengthy} wheelbase-{only|solely} U.S. Lightness is a focus {throughout|all through} {the new|the brand new} A8, {right|proper} {down to|all the way down to|right down to} the brakes: Audi saved 8.25 pounds per wheel with aluminum brake hats on the {four|4}-wheel discs. Wheel sizes {ranging from|starting from} 17 to 21 inches {allow|enable|permit} a {choice|alternative|selection} of {appearance|look} or {performance|efficiency} {options|choices}, and the tires have been optimized to compromise grip, {comfort|consolation} and rolling resistance. Adaptive air suspension {enables|allows|permits} the 2011 Audi A8 {to adjust|to regulate} its demeanor to {suit|go well with|swimsuit} the {road|highway|street} and driving {style|fashion|model|type} as {needed|wanted}. {Capable of|Able to} {lowering|decreasing|reducing} the {car|automobile|automotive} {up to|as much as} 25 mm on demand, the adaptive system {is also|can also be|can be} {able to|capable of|in a position to} {lift|carry|elevate|raise} the {car|automobile|automotive} {slightly|barely} when {extra|additional|further} clearance {is needed|is required}, {for example|for instance} in steep lot entry {situations|conditions}. Combined with this adjustable suspension is an ESP stability system with {both|each} sport and disabled modes. {A wide range|A variety} of {high|excessive}-tech {safety|security} {systems|methods|programs|techniques} are {also|additionally} {available|accessible|obtainable|out there}, {including|together with} Audi pre-sense {basic|fundamental|primary}, which {uses|makes use of} {data|information|knowledge} from the stability system {to close|to shut} {windows|home windows} and tension the seat belts in preparation for an accident. Also {available|accessible|obtainable|out there} is the {stop|cease} & go system, which {monitors|displays|screens} {traffic|site visitors|visitors} in {front|entrance} of the {car|automobile|automotive} {to help|to assist} {provide|present} the driver with warning of an impending collision {as well as|in addition to} pre-loading the brake system {for maximum|for max|for optimum} effectiveness. The upgraded MMI infotainment system {offers|affords|gives|presents|provides} a 3D-terrain {model|mannequin} map of {the surrounding|the encircling|the encompassing} environs, animted route {guidance|steerage|steering}, and predictive {road|highway|street} {network|community} monitoring to {deliver|ship} {the best|one of the best|the most effective|the perfect|the very best} {directions|instructions} {possible|attainable|doable|potential}. It {also|additionally} operates the 1,{400|four hundred} watt, 19-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. A rear-seat {entertainment|leisure} system {is available|is accessible|is obtainable|is offered|is on the market|is out there}, {which can|which may|which might} {read|learn} {data|information|knowledge} from the 20GB {internal|inner|inside} {hard|arduous|exhausting|laborious|onerous} disk or {memory|reminiscence} card slots, plus its {own|personal} {built|constructed}-in DVD drive.
The 20-inch titanium-look wheels with a {five|5}-arm rotor design impart {a particularly|a very} {exclusive|unique} {appearance|look}. The Audi drive {select|choose} driving dynamics system comes {standard|commonplace|customary|normal} in {the two|the 2} new S {models|fashions}. Among others, it modifies the characteristic of the {gas|fuel|gasoline} pedal, the shift {points|factors} of the S tronic, the servo {boost|enhance|increase} of the electromechanical steering and the characteristic of the adaptive air suspension. The driver can {adjust|alter|modify|regulate} the operation {of these|of those} {systems|methods|programs|techniques} in {five|5} {stages|levels|phases}. The {optional|elective|non-compulsory|non-obligatory|optionally available} sport differential and the dynamic steering, which varies its ratio as a {function|operate|perform} of {speed|pace|velocity}, {can also be|can be|may also be|will also be} {integrated|built-in} into the system. The {car|automobile|automotive} {bodies|our bodies} play {a large|a big} {part|half} {in the|within the} dynamics of the Audi S6 and S6 Avant. {They are|They're} unusually lightweight {because|as a result of} {they are|they're} roughly 20 {percent|%|p.c} aluminum. The Audi S6 has a curb weight of {just|simply} 1,895 kilograms (4,177.76 lb), the S6 Avant 1,950 kilograms (4,299.01 lb). Both are {much|a lot} lighter than their direct rivals. At 4,931 millimeters (16.18 ft), the S6 is {16|sixteen} millimeters (0.{63|Sixty three} in) longer than the A6; with the 4,634-millimeter (15.2 ft) S6 Avant, the {difference|distinction} is {8|eight} millimeters (0.31 in). Their single-{frame|body} grille {sports|sports activities} aluminum {applications|functions|purposes} and chromed horizontal double bars.
Another chrome strip adorns the {front|entrance} bumper. The exterior mirrors {feature|characteristic|function} aluminum-look housings, and the {side|aspect|facet} sills are distinctively {shaped|formed}. The S6 sedan has a spoiler on the trunk; the Avant has a roof spoiler. With {both|each} {models|fashions}, the diffuser on the rear bumper is platinum {gray|grey} with an aluminum-look offset edge. The {four|4} chrome-tipped tailpipes are elliptical. The S {models|fashions} {are available|can be found} in a {choice|alternative|selection} of eight {colors|colours}, {including|together with} the {exclusive|unique} shades Estoril Blue, crystal {effect|impact} and Prism Silver, crystal {effect|impact}. The {body|physique} is decorated with S6 and V8T badges. The {interior|inside} of the S6 and S6 Avant {is also|can also be|can be} characterized by sporty elegance. There are S6 badges on {the key|the important thing}, the {leather|leather-based} sport steering wheel with {colored|coloured} stitching and aluminum shift paddles as {well|effectively|nicely|properly} {as the|because the} {instruments|devices}. The illuminated door sill trims and {both|each} {displays|shows} (MMI and driver {information|data|info} system) greet the driver with the S6 {logo|brand|emblem}. A {red|crimson|pink|purple} ring adorns {the start|the beginning}-{stop|cease} button, an aluminum clasp the selector lever. The footrest, the pedals and the {soft|comfortable|delicate|gentle|mushy|smooth|tender} keys of the MMI {operating|working} system shine in an aluminum-look {finish|end}.
