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Audi A8/S8 flagship set for SA

LONDON, England - Audi’s new A8 will head to South Africa in 2014 - more luxurious, more refined and more efficient.

The new flagship will make its debut at the 65th Frankfurt auto show in September. The car’s aluminium body has even more revised weight reductions and packed with more technology including new MatrixBeam diode headlights and upgraded engines.

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The new Audi A8 is expected to reach its first customers in January 2014, including the South African market. An Audi SA spokesperson said: "The new range will have the same line up as we currently offer. The S8 and A8L will be launched in the second quarter.” Prices will be published closer to the launch.

Designers have been busy redesigning the new model, with subtle tweaks to the light Audi Space Frame (aluminium body), bonnet, single frame grille, front bumper and headlight units. The LED tail lights have been revised and the new rear bumper now incorporates two rectangular tail pipes, except for the S8 which has four round ones. Other additions include new chrome bits, gloss black window surrounds and five new body colours.

Audi says the MatrixBeam LED technology, an extra-cost option, is a high-beam function and uses 25 light-emitting diodse per unit that can be switched on and off or dimmed individually depending on the situation.

The car is (5.14m long x 1.95m wide x 1.46m high and has a three-metre wheelbase) remain unchanged, the A8 L also stays the same with its 13cm longer wheelbase and body length.

ENGINE LINE-UP

The engine line-up includes seven petrol and TDI engines. The supercharged 3.0 TFSI petrol engine has been tweaked to make 231kW up from 216kW, the V8 twin-turbo 4.0 TFSI pushes out 320kW while the 3.0 TDI diesel model makes 190kW and the 4.2 TDI makes 283kW/850Nm, according to the automaker.

The quattro all-wheel drive 4.0 TFSI goes from zero to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds. The 3.0 TDI is the most efficient engine with a combined fuel consumption of 5.9 litres/100kmand 155g/km of CO2. The A8 L W12 quattro with a 6.3-litre engine makes 368kW with a combined fuel consumption of 11.7 litres/100km and 270g/km CO2.

The S8 4.0 TFSI engine kicks out 382kW, blasts to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds, a fuel consumption of 10.1 l/100km with cylinder on demand technology and 235g/km CO2. The 2.0 TFSI A8 hybrid delivers 180kW/480Nm. The lithium-ion battery in the rear enables electric driving up to 100km/h for 3km. Fuel consumption is 6.3 litres/100km with 147g/km of CO2.

Audi says engines are mated to an eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission sending power to all four wheels via the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system in all six, eight and 12-cylinder versions. A sport differential acting on the rear axle is fitted as standard to the A8 4.2 TDI quattro and the S8 and optional for all other versions except the hybrid.

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Frankfurt Motor Show.
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