Audi Japan announced on April 21 that the A8, its flagship sedan with various improvements, will go on sale in July.

The new A8 features a completely redesigned exterior. Specifically, the lower edge of the Singleframe grille has been widened and accented with chrome inserts to enhance its presence and prestige. The side air intakes are similarly emphasized with chrome. Combined with the six-light cabin design and gently sloping rear end, this creates an elegant form.

The new Matrix OLED rear lights, now standard on all models, utilize organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) which are thin, lightweight, offer high design flexibility, and consume less power. They change their appearance depending on the driving mode and feature a function that warns following vehicles by illuminating all OLED segments when they approach within 2 meters.

Additionally, the sporty S line exterior is now available as an option. The S line grille with its black honeycomb pattern, bumper, and exclusive 20-inch wheels further enhance its imposing presence.

The interior evokes an open and premium lounge. A horizontal, simple, and elegant design emphasizes width, with a focus on high-quality materials such as extended leather and an aluminum look interior. Furthermore, new options like the S line interior plus package and the Audi design selection offer the quality and style befitting a flagship.

The new A8 is offered with two powertrain options: the 3.0 TFSI and the 4.0 TFSI. The 3-liter V6 3.0 TFSI engine employs a twin-scroll turbocharger, producing a maximum output of 250 kW (340 hp) and peak torque of 500 Nm. The 4-liter V8 4.0 TFSI engine is a new unit equipped with two twin-scroll turbochargers, delivering a maximum output of 338 kW (460 hp) and peak torque of 660 Nm.

Both engines are paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic transmission and feature a 48V mild hybrid (MHEV) system for efficient and powerful driving. This MHEV system, utilizing a lithium-ion battery and a belt-driven alternator starter (BAS), can send up to 12 kW of recuperated energy to the battery during deceleration.

In addition to complete engine shutdown during coasting, the start-stop system now operates down to 22 km/h, potentially saving up to 0.7 liters of fuel per 100 km (European standard).

A key feature across all models is the quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system with a mechanical center differential. The self-locking differential typically distributes torque asymmetrically with a front-to-rear bias of 40:60, achieving both agile handling akin to rear-wheel drive and the superior stability of full-time 4WD. By varying the torque distribution based on road conditions, it ensures excellent traction and dynamic driving performance.

In terms of body and chassis, aluminum is used for body panels and frame components, while the cabin incorporates hot-formed steel components and carbon fiber (CFRP) panels. Magnesium is used for the strut tower brace, achieving both high body rigidity and weight reduction. Furthermore, all models come standard with adaptive air suspension, balancing comfortable ride quality with sporty handling.

Additionally, an advanced predictive active suspension is available as an option on all models (standard on the S8), which balances ride comfort and handling stability at a high level to enhance the driving experience. This technology uses four suspension actuators, each generating 1100 Nm, to instantaneously and independently control the vehicle's attitude by anticipating road and driving conditions. For example, selecting the Dynamic mode in Audi drive select creates an optimal driving posture for sporty driving.

In Comfort+ mode, the steering works in conjunction with the front camera to assess road conditions and predictively control the actuators, smoothly absorbing road imperfections and maintaining a level vehicle attitude during acceleration, deceleration, and cornering for a comfortable ride. Furthermore, in conjunction with Audi pre sense 360, if a side collision is deemed unavoidable, the vehicle's ride height on the impact side is raised by approximately 8 cm, allowing the impact to be absorbed by the highly rigid body structure and the suspension's damping force, thereby reducing cabin deformation and impact on occupants.