A new proximity sensor function also means that the rear lights will illuminate automatically if another vehicle comes within two metres of the back of a stationary Audi A8, so expect to see some impressive synchronised light shows (and mildly panicked, unwitting London drivers) along the chauffeur ranks outside all the capital’s posh hotels very soon. Mid-spec S Line trim and up gets the dynamic presentation, so you get your own light display when you turn the car on and off, and it’ll even subtly change the lights when you put the car in Dynamic mode. The rear OLED lights are also new, and come with different signatures depending on the trim. We did ask Audi’s execs what it would cost to replace one of these headlight units if you had the misfortune to damage one or find yourself with a fault outside of the car’s three-year warranty, but all we got in response was nervous laughter and shrugging. The rear OLED lights are a new feature, and come with different signatures depending on the trim All while maintaining high beam without dazzling oncoming traffic. Those top-spec digital matrix LED headlights now know whether you’re on the motorway or a country road and automatically adjust the beam to better illuminate your lane, or to give a broader spread of light for rural roads. The changes to the A8 for this 2022 model year are fairly minimal, then, but the new additions are impressive nonetheless. You can’t get predictive ride on most models Tech refresh
Audi s8 city car driving 1.4.1 update#
This is a mild update for the Audi, so those engines aren’t much changed, but the new software for the touchscreen, more brazen grille and vent design at the front, OLED rear lights and digital matrix LED headlights on top-spec Vorsprung models, are all new. The Audi is also in good company when it comes to indulgent, luxury cars since it now competes not only with its traditional arch rivals of the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7-Series, but also with SUV alternatives including the Range Rover and BMW X7. The Telegraph verdict: 'This is a mild update for the Audi, so those engines aren’t much changed' It’s effectively a de-tuned version of the 523bhp Audi S8 that we will get.Īnd, if it helps to shrug of that dinosaur-shaped shadow, it’s worth pointing out that the A8 will be offered with a variety of engines in the UK, including 3.0-litre V6 petrol and diesel models, and a plug-in hybrid that’ll mate a new, bigger battery to the V6 petrol for longer pure electric driving than before (although the official WLTP electric range is yet to be confirmed). Our 453bhp test car is destined for China and various other European and global markets, but not for the UK. The indulgently powerful version of the A8 that we drove isn’t even the most extravagant model. That pervading sense of having seriously misread the room with our 5.2-metre long, twin-turbocharged V8 Audi A8 limousine wasn’t helped by the fact that we were driving it along the breathtakingly beautiful coastline of Norway a country where you’re in the minority if you aren’t driving an electric car. It has to be said that, with Cop26 resonating through our news feeds, some of the bigger, more generously-cylindered cars suddenly feel about as appropriate as a casino in a convent. The A8 will be offered with a variety of engines, including 3.0-litre V6 petrol and diesel models, as well as a plug-in hybrid