2011 Audi A8

[Username]

The re-designed A8 was released yesterday.

Some new features include:

Full LED head and tail lights
Headlights will turn around corners based on info from the Navigation system
The rear view camera also seems to do this too...
User adjustable ambient lighting(see pics)
Power seats in the back
Touchpad that allows you to "draw" letters to input an address into the navi
Night vision and pedestrian detection
Speed limit display on roads
372 HP V8 engine w/ 15% less emissions
Bang & Olufsun 19 Speaker 1400 watt system
8-Speed Transmission
Aluminum chassis and is lighter than current A8
Pre-safe system that can detect front AND rear collisions







As a huge fan of the last A8, I'm a little bit disappointed.

  Kev

[Username]

Some more pics






  Kev

[derrick]

Why do the 1st and 4th have different headlights? The first is a lower model without the LED headlights?

The LED headlights are hella ugly.

[Username]

Why do the 1st and 4th have different headlights? The first is a lower model without the LED headlights?

The LED headlights are hella ugly.

Correct. There are different headlights for the LED headlights and the regular HID headlights. And yes, the LED headlight design is awful. It makes the car look downright tacky. I wish the trend would go away.

  Kev

[derrick]

I don't mind the technology as it does save a lot of energy, but just don't make it ugly.

[rob]

this one is boring! A6 is much nicer looking

[Keiichi]

They better keep those nav maps updated.........

[Username]

One of the rare times I would say I prefer the prior generation car sight unseen



  Kev

[Heavenclosed]

One of the rare times I would say I prefer the prior generation car sight unseen
Kev

+1

[M Speed]

as a flagship...this is a disappointment.

S class > 7 series > A8

[Username]

Indeed. My boss just picked up a new 760li. Looks soooo elegant. But for me, S63 any day.

  Kev

[MS3Pilot]

S63 any day.

agreed...but if I'm spending big bux...I'd go for the new Gullwing SLS AMG!!!! Come on winning lotto tix...

Pete

[M Speed]

compare SLS to S63?  apple to orange.

with winning lotto ticket....get BOTH.

[MS3Pilot]

compare SLS to S63?  apple to orange.

with winning lotto ticket....get BOTH.

agreed!

[Golddragoner]

I don't mind the technology as it does save a lot of energy, but just don't make it ugly.

Uhhh no it doesn't. The average efficiency of a white LED is only about 35 lm/W (slightly better than a incandescent). HID are compact ceramic metal halide's which do about 120 lm/W. The only reason you conceive them to use less energy is because they are so damn dim compared to you average incandescent or HID. The very best efficiency they have for a white led is about 45 lm/W. One of the downfalls to LED's right now is that they make so much heat therefore need massive heatsinks attached to them (relative size)

On another note, that is bloody ugly as hell. Even the interior looks ugly to me.

[serpico007]

I like the previous generation better.

[derrick]

I don't mind the technology as it does save a lot of energy, but just don't make it ugly.

Uhhh no it doesn't. The average efficiency of a white LED is only about 35 lm/W (slightly better than a incandescent). HID are compact ceramic metal halide's which do about 120 lm/W. The only reason you conceive them to use less energy is because they are so damn dim compared to you average incandescent or HID. The very best efficiency they have for a white led is about 45 lm/W. One of the downfalls to LED's right now is that they make so much heat therefore need massive heatsinks attached to them (relative size)

On another note, that is bloody ugly as hell. Even the interior looks ugly to me.

Actually back in 2006, Nichia, Cree and Philips all created LED bulbs capable of 100lm/W. Who knows what they are up to now. They aren't using those 3mm LEDs you used in electronics class.

Also you have to average the lm/W over the life of the bulb. HIDs will lose brightness and efficiency as they age. LEDs do as well, but at a much slower rate and over a much longer period of time. The spec you specified is most likely at their peak performance.

Do not forget to calculate in the efficiency of LED driver circuits and the ability to lower the brightness with exceptional energy savings through PWM. And HIDs also require more energy when igniting the lamp, which is not necessary for LEDs.

There are also other advantages to using LEDs including but not limited to, safety because there is no glass, redundancy so even if one bulb goes out the others continue to function and lower environmental impact.

[Username]

Not to mention the environmental impact of having to manufacture replacement HID bulbs and ballasts.

  Kev

[zephyrantes]

figure I'd pipe in.   But first off, I'm NOT great with electrical, so please forgive me.

Derrick: Everyone seems to think that if one LED goes out, then you can "just replace the one LED".   That would be true, but only in a "perfect" world.   I'm not trying to debate with you, but the car manufacturers are out to make money, and I've seen many LED tail lamps where it's the circuit board that f*cks up.   BUT in regards to that "one LED replacement", most of the time, you're buying the whole UNIT.. and that's big bucks.   They're not going to make adjustable intensity for LED headlights; it wouldn't be a far stretch for someone to file a lawsuit because there wasn't a fine print saying that "dimming your headlight in the dark can cause accidents".   Sorry, once again.. NOT trying to pick an argument.   Just the reality of the business.

Correct me if I'm wrong guys (once again, my lack of electrical knowledge), but I thought that LEDs were supposed to run cooler?

I've never liked the LED "driving lights"..   How many Audi's have you guys seen with one side completely out?   I've seen quite a few on the road, and I'd hate to be replacing a unit once the warranty is over..

[DKaz]

How much do you figure the Audi headlight assemblies with DRL LEDs would be? $1400 a pair? When I was looking at OEM HID headlight assemblies for Corollas with built in automatic motorized leveler they were $900 a pair. I wonder how much the assemblies with the LED lowbeams would cost... ouch if you had to replace the whole thing. You would hope that Audi did the right thing and put replaceable components. I think with the Prius you just have to swap out the LED component with another?

Tail lamps are not as bad, well $225 for a pair of LED assemblies on our compacts (I paid about that much for LED assemblies for my Corolla), maybe a bit more for those luxury cars.