No great surpise: the A8 joins the fold

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Johann

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Audi has updated its A8 saloon range to include the company's single frame grille and more equipment as standard.

Previously reserved for 12-cylinder versions of the aluminium-bodied Audi flagship, the new styling treatment is now a common feature of the 10-model line-up, which also boasts an upgraded SE equipment specification as standard for V6 and V8 models and a new Sport pack available at extra cost.

Over and above the standard A8 equipment, the new SE specification adds DVD-based satellite navigation, light and rain sensors, the Audi Advanced Key system (enabling keyless access and start-up) and voice control technology for vocal operation of radio, CD player, car telephone and navigation system. Additional aluminium interior trim, an enhanced ambient interior lighting system using LED technology and the latest Audi steering wheel design inspired by the single frame grille.

Sport specification upgrades the wheels from 17-inch 7-spoke to 19-inch 12-spoke, and also adds sports seats, sport adaptive air suspension (20mm lower than the standard set-up in each mode), a sports steering wheel with tiptronic gear change paddles and Grey Birch facia inlays. The standard Valcona leather upholstery is also replaced by leather and Alcantara combination upholstery (full Valcona leather can be retained if required). The Sport option carries a premium of £2,500 for V6 models or £1,900 for V8 versions.

The range of petrol engines available for British A8 models includes a 3.0-litre V6 with 220PS, 3.7-litre and 4.2-litre V8s with 280PS and 335PS and a 6.0-litre W12 with 450PS. Two common rail TDI units - a Piezo-injected 3.0-litre V6 with 233PS and a 4.0-litre V8 with 274PS - are also available.

The new look A8 range with quattro four-wheel-drive is now open for UK order for May 2005 deliveries with OTR prices ranging from £47,125 to £77,355.

From: http://www.testdriven.co.uk/news.cfm/audi_a8_range_updated

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[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.a2oc.net/pic_show.asp?picid=1572&type=1 On www.A2OC.net pictures UK160 to UK183
 
Ahhh. The A8. The ONLY model in the range that suits the 'BIG GRILLE' in my opinion of course.
Heard the other day that dealers are stockpiling 3 door A3s with the normal grille and are not relishing the imminent arrival of the BIG GRILLE A3. Apparently they are not selling a lot of 5 doors because of 'it'. Punters prefer the more understated look of the 3 door grille.
I guess it could be a BIG Girls Blouse. Yes O know, a pathetically poor play on words.
But
I like it.

Audi BGB!
 
LOL... well maybe they should just start to offer a normal face as an option... it is only a different bumper after all and if an S-line A4 can have a different bumper to the rest of the range why not a whole face too? The big grille looks best on silver cars when you don't see the chrome so much... but on darker cars the silver makes the snout very pronounced!

But have to agree the A8 carries the snout best.

The past weekend I drove to Suffolk and back and saw plenty of new face Audis... let me tell you you can't tell them apart from the front at a distance! That is bad thing for Audi I must say with everything looking the same! I saw 4 new Sportbacks, two A6s and 3 new A4s... now the latter is ever so slightly different in the headlamps but the others... you can buy a sportback and no-one would see the difference from an A4 Avant as they look so similar! The rear lights even look interchangeable! BMW fell hard into this Small, Medium and Large clone-all-models-look-the-same trap in the 90s and it seems Audi is heading that way too...

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[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.a2oc.net/pic_show.asp?picid=1572&type=1 On www.A2OC.net pictures UK160 to UK183
 
So I guess we are not likely to see the front of the A2 change just prior to the end of manufacture. Have had a little play around on a basic photo enhance package to see how it may look. A small roll of chrome-look self adhesive tape and 'bob's your auntie!
Let me know what you think!

http://photobucket.com/albums/v221/tesscott6312/8380b3df.bmp


Dolphin Grey 1.4 petrol c/w OpenSky
 
Where can I buy one? Wow! WOW!

Steve - A couple of A2's, then a Corolla, now an Avensis T3-X 2.0 Auto
 
LOL Funny! To be proper it needs to taper to the bottom!

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[img=left]http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/11882/a2andme2.gif[/img=left]
2001 A2 TDI SE Crystal Blue with Open Sky, 6CD Symphony II, BOSE upgrade, DIS and HALF a winterpack!

iPAQ 3970 with Sat-Nav sleeve, rear cupholders, luggage net and floppy wiper!

http://www.a2oc.net/pic_show.asp?picid=1572&type=1 On www.A2OC.net pictures UK160 to UK183
 
That A2 really is not pleasant to look at!

[img=left]http://www.a2forum.net/stuart1.jpg[/img=left] Stuart Diamond: A2OC Founder | Forum Administrator | Ex-A2 Owner (Now a VW Touran Owner!)

2001 TDi SE: Cobalt Blue Metallic | Open Sky Roof | Kenwood Mask CD | Front Centre Armrest | Front Centre Tray.
Visit the A2OC Website
 
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