2008
AUDI NEW CAR MODEL GUIDE
 In
addition to their curvaceous sports coupes
and convertibles, Audi from Germany promotes
precisely mannered sedans and wagons sized
in small, medium and large. Audi uses
alphanumeric tags for cars of subcompact,
compact, mid-size and full-size classes
such as A3, A4, A5, A6 and A8, plus sport
series tags S4, S5, S6 and S8. But in
2008, Audi rolls out multiple sporty performance
models like the limited-production RS
4 Cabriolet, the zippy S5 Coupe and the
new TT — a daring convertible roadster.
Audi also unleashes the all-aluminum,
R8 mid-engine sports car, which carries
the name of a legendary Audi race car
that took the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance
title five times.
 A3
Series
Audi's subcompact A3 Sportback five-door
hatch continues as the A3 2.0T FrontTrak
with front-wheel-drive (FWD) and the A3
3.2 S-line Quattro with all-wheel-drive
(AWD). The 2.0T employs a 2.0-liter, four-in-line
engine with turbo-charger and inter-cooler
plus Audi's FSI (Fuel Straight Injection),
creating 200 horsepower with a manual
six-speed stick or Direct Shift Gearbox
(DSG) automatic. The A3 3.2 Quattro S-line
packs a 3.2-liter V6 worth 250 horsepower
with the DSG. Every issue also gets substantial
safety equipment including an electronic
stabilization program (ESP). The new A3
Titanium Package adds 18-inch, titanium-color
alloy wheels and cabin trim in Piano Black.
 A4
Series
Audi's compact cars come as four-door
sedans and five-door wagons (Avant), drop-tops
(Cabriolet) with FrontTrak (FWD) or the
Quattro (AWD) traction. Sportier models
wear the badge of S4. All variations for
2008 show bodywork off the S4, which includes
revamped fascia, lower door trim and a
tail spoiler. The A4 2.0T FrontTrak has
the 2.0-liter turbo FSI plant with a manual
six-speed or Multitronic CVT (continuously
variable transmission). The A4 in luxury
mode with V6 power is the A4 3.2 Quattro
worth 255 horsepower. The S4 sedans, wagons
and convertibles employ a big V8 with
340 horsepower.
 RS
4
Audi's refined European muscle cars —
both the sports sedan and a new Cabriolet
convertible — tote a 4.2-liter, direct-injection
V8 FSI pumping 420 horsepower with a six-speed
manual transmission and Quattro AWD system
using a rear-based dynamic asymmetrical
torque split. The RS 4 has a sport suspension
with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), and wheel
track width increases over the S4 sedan
by 1.5 inches to boost tire grip. Brake
rotors are massive and the stock wheels
are 19-inch alloys capped by high-performance
Pirelli P Zero tires. The new RS 4 Cabriolet
brings a fully automatic Acoustic convertible
lid.
 A5
Series
More sporty new Audis land in 2008 with
the A5 Coupe and a sport-tuned performance
variation S5 Coupe. Both are slick-lined,
two-door vehicles with cushy four-seat
cabins, but different powertrains. The
A5 has Audi's 3.2-liter V6 FSI plant producing
265 horsepower. Upgrade the S5 to the
4.2-liter FSI V8, which delivers 354 horsepower.
Both the A5 and the S5 show Audi's asymmetrical
dynamic Quattro AWD traction and a standard
six-speed manual gearbox or optional six-speed
Tiptronic automatic. The option chart
also lists a 505-watt Bang & Olufsen
audio package with 14 speakers.
 A6
Series
Middle-size Audi cars conform to sedan
and wagon (Avant) formats with sensuous
sheetmetal shapes. The series begins with
the A6 3.2 FrontTrak sedan and the A6
Avant 3.2 Quattro, each with Audi's 3.2-liter
V6 for 255 horsepower through a six-speed
Tiptronic automatic transmission or CVT.
More muscle goes to the A6 4.2 with a
4.2-liter FSI V8 worth 350 horsepower.
The sporty S-line trim package works with
both sedan and wagon. All 2008 A6 cars
draw bodywork from the S-line with 18-inch
alloy wheels and a tail spoiler, while
new standard equipment includes headlamp
washers and Sirius satellite radio service.
 S6
The S6 is a high-performance, A6-like
mid-size sedan. Its running gear is staggering
— enough to create a supercar. Core
ingredients are a 5.2-liter FSI V10 that
boils to 435 horsepower with a six-speed
Tiptronic automatic transmission coupled
to Audi's Quattro AWD system. The S6 rolls
on 19-inch wheels and flashes a single-frame
grille with vertical struts up front and
a spoiler on the tail. Luxurious appointments
in the five-seat cabin include Silk Nappa
leather upholstery and Birch Gray wood
trim or optional carbon fiber. A newer
option includes the Audi lane assist warning
device.
 A8
Series
Cast on a unitized aluminum structure
and fitted with sophisticated mechanical
systems and extravagant luxuries, Audi's
A8 Series comes in two lengths. The A8L
rides on a stretched-wheelbase platform,
creating extra legroom for backseat riders.
The A8 and A8L employ the 4.2-liter FSI
V8 with a ZF six-speed electronic automatic
transmission and Tiptronic manual shift
mode. The A8L W12 stocks a W-shaped, 12-cylinder
engine displacing 6.0 liters through the
six-speed Tiptronic. All A8 models also
use Audi's Quattro AWD and ESP skid controls.
 S8
Audi's full-size A8 sedan spins off a
high-performance variation known as the
S8. Lurking beneath the hood is Audi's
quad-cam 5.2-liter FSI V10, which produces
450 horsepower and massive torque directed
through a six-speed Tiptronic automatic
transmission shuttled to Audi's Quattro
AWD system with asymmetric/dynamic torque
split biased toward the rear wheels. The
super sedan rolls on 20-inch wheels and
contains a sport-tuned adaptive air suspension
plus heavy-duty brakes. Lavish cabin appointments
range from Valcona leather upholstery
to a DVD-based navigation system, Bose
surround-sound audio equipment and seat
heating for every passenger.
 TT
Series
Audi's compact two-door machines appear
as a slinky sports coupe or daring convertible
roadster with curvy skin stretched tautly
over exaggerated wheels. The FWD TT 2.0T
totes Audi's 2.0-liter turbo FSI plant
with a six-speed S-Tronic sequential automatic
transmission. The Quattro TT stokes the
3.2-liter V6 working 250 horsepower with
either a six-speed manual or six-speed
S-Tronic automatic gearbox. TT cars for
2008 are crafted with the Audi Space Frame
(ASF), which combines aluminum and steel
to pare weight and enhance the weight
distribution. A special S-line Package
for the TT adds 19-inch alloy wheels and
special cabin stitching.
 R8
Audi's hand-built aluminum sports car
— a stunning work of automotive art
with perfectly balanced mid-engine architecture
— lands in 2008 with Quattro AWD
traction and a high-revving 420-horsepower
FSI V8 tied to a six-speed manual stick
with metal shift gate or the malleable
R-Tronic sequential automatic gearbox.
Expect performance numbers like zero-60
in 4.2 seconds with a max speed of 187
mph. The R8 technical highlights include
eight-piston, 15-inch front brake rotors,
Audi's magnetic ride suspension system
and 19-inch alloy wheels capped by high-performance
tires. Further options inclulde a Bang
& Olufsen premium sound kit and convenience
package.
 Q7
Audi's large-scale CUV (crossover utility
vehicle) in five-door wagon format has
a car-like unibody structure, muscular
engine options and a wagonload of high-tech
vehicle controls and safety equipment.
The Q7's cabin contains up to three tiers
of seats with rear rows that fold into
the floor. A big 4.2-liter FSI V8 delivers
350 horsepower with a six-speed Tiptronic
automatic transmission and Audi's Quattro
full-time AWD traction system. The 3.6-liter
FSI V6 achieves 280 horsepower. Trims
for the 2008 line up as Q7 3.6, Q7 3.6
Premium and Q7 4.2 Premium, with Q7 3.6
gaining leather upholstery and power seats.
For
more information on Audi.
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