Yang beruntung menggunakan mesin baru itu, sedanA8 4.2 TDI quattro, berhasil melontarkan dirinya jauh didepan kompetitornya. Mesin biturbo ini membuat sedan berkerangka aluminium itu melesat dari diam ke 100 km/jam dalam 5.9 detik dengan top speed dibatasi secara elektronik 250km/jam.
Audi mengklaim, mesin ini juga ekonomis dan irit bahan bakar. Kombinasi sistem penggerak roda quattro dengan 6-speed tiptronic automatic transmission hanya membutuhkan 9.4 liter/100 km yang artinya, dengan satu tangki penuh solar, sedan ini punya daya jelajah hingga 950km.
Audi A8 4.2 TDI dilengkapi dengan diesel particulate filter yang bekerja tanpa aditif dan tanpa perawatan seumur hidup. Sedan ini menggunakan Audi Adaptive Air suspension yang memungkinkan suspensi disetel sporty atau comfort, sesuka hati pengemudinya. Sedan mewah ini bisa dipesan mulai Juni dengan pilihan standar wheelbase dan long wheelbase yang 30mm lebih panjang. (mobilku.com)
World's highest horsepower V8 diesel-engined car
240 kW (326 bhp): With this extremely impressive horsepower output, the new Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro puts itself ahead of all the other diesel-engined cars on the international market. The entirely redeveloped 4.2-litre, eight-cylinder biturbo engine accelerates the lightweight saloon with its aluminium body from 0 to 100 km/h (0 – 62 mph) in just 5.9 seconds. The top speed is electronically restricted to 250 km/h. In addition to these dynamic qualities, the new power plant displays the kind of refinement that sets standards even in the top segment of the motoring world, and ennobles the A8 4.2 TDI quattro, turning it into the perfect long-distance touring saloon.
The new engine is also exemplary in terms of economy. Combined as standard with quattro permanent four-wheel drive and 6-speed tiptronic transmission, it uses on average just 9.4 litres of diesel fuel for every 100 kilometres. This means it will cover more than 950 kilometres (590 miles) on a full tank without a stop.
The Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro is equipped as standard with a diesel particulate filter, which works without additives and consequently lasts the lifetime of the vehicle without servicing.
The A8 4.2 quattro has a chassis with air suspension and adaptive damping – otherwise known as Audi adaptive air suspension. It allows the vehicle to be driven either in a decidedly sporty fashion or with an extremely comfortable ride, just as the driver wishes.
Like the other A8 models, the new TDI has the exclusive front end with single-frame radiator grille. The luxury saloon can be ordered from beginning of June either with the standard wheelbase or in its long-wheelbase version, which is 130 millimetres longer. First deliveries will take place in the third quarter of 2005. The basic price of the A8 4.2 TDI quattro in Germany is € 81.000.
The sheer power and the characteristics of this eight-cylinder power unit once again reaffirm the credentials of the Audi A8 as the sportiest saloon car in the luxury segment. And thanks to its top-of-the-range TDI, Audi yet again demonstrates its expertise and its lead in the development of such powerful, refined and, not least, economical diesel engines.
Entirely redesigned engine
The predecessor of the new A8 4.2 TDI had already scored top marks among the luxury-class diesel saloons with its 4-litre, eight-cylinder engine. Thanks to its 275 bhp and 650 Nm of torque, it was the most powerful V8 diesel-engined car for a long period following its debut in the summer of 2003. Its fuel consumption figures of just 9.6 litres per 100 km also earned it a top place among its competitors. With these features the A8 4.0 TDI succeeded in becoming the European number one among the V8 diesel luxury saloons, with a market share of 71 %.
In the light of such statistics, the development goals for the new TDI represented a daunting challenge:
- The most powerful car diesel engine on the market.
- Top figures in terms of driving dynamics, with low fuel consumption
- Optimum engine acoustics
- Low weight
- Compact, short design
In order to implement these specifications, Audi's TDI development team designed an entirely new engine. Just like the 3.0 and 2.7 TDI before it, the 4.2-litre V8 TDI is a member of Audi's new family of V-format engines, and has chain-drive for the camshaft and ancillaries.
The cylinder spacing in the new engine block is now 90 millimetres. This gives the engine a compact overall length of just 520 millimetres. One current competitor V8 with the same engine capacity measures all of 140 millimetres more.
The engine block weighing 62 kg altogether is made of vermicular graphite cast iron (GGV) – an important factor in achieving the low engine weight of only 255 kilograms. This is 15 kilograms less than its predecessor, the 4.0 TDI.
The 4.2 TDI is thus one of the lightest V8 diesels ever. This benefits the power-to-weight ratio and the weight distribution in equal measure – two characteristics that are of central importance for the driving dynamics of the new A8 4.2 TDI quattro.
With an engine capacity of 4,134 cc, the combustion chambers of the new engine are almost exactly 0.2 litres bigger than in the case of the 4.0 TDI. The bore has been enlarged by 2 mm compared with its predecessor, to 83 millimetres, and the stroke of 95.5 millimetres is identical with that of the 4.0 TDI. The compression ratio is 16.5 : 1.
The surfaces of the cylinder bores are treated using UV laser exposure. This special honing process ensures significantly reduced oil consumption in the TDI engine, and, as a result, a significant reduction in particulate formation during combustion.
The forged crankshaft made of chrome molybdenum steel is offset in such a way that forces and moments of the first and second order are avoided – a decisive bonus delivering extremely low levels of vibration.
Top performance and impressive fuel economy
The 4.2 TDI engine is currently the most powerful diesel engine to be found in any production saloon car. 240 kW (326 bhp) at 3,750 rpm are the new benchmark – an increase of no less than 51 bhp over its 275 bhp predecessor.
The A8 4.2 TDI quattro has the performance of a top athlete. This lightweight luxury saloon with its aluminium body takes only 5.9 seconds to sprint from a standstill to 100 km/h – making it quicker than any other diesel saloon on the international market. It is capable of a governed top speed of 250 km/h.
The torque gives the driver a feeling of pulling power in every speed range that is otherwise only to be experienced in a sports car. 650 Newton-metres between 1,600 and 3,500 rpm – this figure makes the A8 4.2 TDI quattro the Audi with the most torque of them all.
Despite the 51 bhp increase in engine output, the new Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro consumes no more fuel than its predecessor – quite the opposite,in fact: Average consumption of just 9.4 litres / 100 km means a cut in fuel consumption of 0.2 litres – a figure that is nothing less than sensational!
Audi A8 4.2 TDI quattro: Supreme sportiness
All Audi A8 V8 TDI models are equipped with 6-speed tiptronic transmission with DSP dynamic gearshift programme and additional sports programme. The engine's output and torque are always unleashed with such precision that the conflicting requirements of spontaneous power flow, high performance and perfectly refined running are all achieved.
Quattro permanent four-wheel drive converts the engine's performance into superbly effective propulsion and cornering stability, effortlessly and safely converting its enormous torque onto the road. The aluminium Audi Space Frame (ASF) body provides the high-strength basis for low weight, dynamic performance and excellent handling.
The Audi A8 has an aluminium chassis with four-link front suspension and self-tracking trapezoidal-link rear suspension. Adaptive air suspension – an air suspension system with continuous damper control – provides the driving characteristics suitable for every driving situation. It simultaneously reduces body movement, thus optimizing road holding and comfort.
With its combination of a powerful TDI, highly developed lightweight construction and the dynamic qualities of its suspension, the Audi A8 4.2 TDI presents itself as a luxury saloon offering a new level of sporty dynamism and superiority.