All-New Audi A8 Combines Sophistication With Sleek Style

[mikeavelli]

I was reading the most recent issue of Automotive News today and they note something very, very interesting. After being known for their use of aluminum, Audi is actually moving away from it and more heavily relying on steel for the new A8. Article text:

...[The A8] has a big reduction in the amount of aluminum in its body in favor of steel. Audi pioneered the use of aluminum as a body shell material for its first A8 in 1994, and it marketed the car on the lightness of its Audi Space Frame. The technology continued in later A8s and spread to other models.

But aluminum content has significantly dropped in the body shell for this new A8, down to 58%, says Audi. That's compared with 92% for the outgoing A8, according to steel supplier ArcelorMittal, which hailed the switch as signaling a trend away from the lightweight but expensive metal and toward modern steel technologies.

The result is a heavier body at 621lbs vs. 509lbs for the outgoing car, despite the use of carbon fiber for the rear seat back and parcel shelf.

So why the switch? Three reasons, says Alexander Kobilke, engineering manager at Audi's lightweight design center in Germany. The most important is crash strength. New regulations plus protecting the battery for the plug-in hybrid called for high-strength, hot-formed steel to build the occupancy cell. It also helps torsional rigidity, up 24 percent compared with the old car, Audi says. That helps handling. Lastly, steel has better acoustic properties, reducing cabin noise.

Source: Automotive News, 7/24 issue.


Very, very interesting.

When a car weights 4500-5000 lbs I don't think anyone is going to miss a 150lbs difference. Makes sense.. Odd though that Ford went with it with the F-150 then....

 

[CIF]

I was personally always against the large-scale use of aluminum in vehicles. Small-scale use sure, but not large-scale use. I'm no engineer, but from common sense I always figured aluminum was a poor choice for pure strength, cost, and for rigidity and crash structure. I feel Ford made a major mistake going all-in with aluminum for the F-Series.

I'm not at all surprised Audi is moving away from aluminum for key structures like the frame and chassis.

 

[meth.ix]

Again, curiously, not a word on the Cadillac CT6's Super Cruise.

Finally, an official article on Super Cruise. I guess I was wrong, even though the system is very similar to the Audi, it is ranked as level 2 autonomous and the Audi is level 3. Even though they both can drive on highways, accelerate, brake and switch lanes without requiring the driver to keep their hands on the wheel. It is coming out this month, so at least I got the part that it will come out before the A8 right.

 

[spwolf]

Finally, an official article on Super Cruise. I guess I was wrong, even though the system is very similar to the Audi, it is ranked as level 2 autonomous and the Audi is level 3. Even though they both can drive on highways, accelerate, brake and switch lanes without requiring the driver to keep their hands on the wheel. It is coming out this month, so at least I got the part that it will come out before the A8 right.

I would not be too concerned about their PR pieces, I mean their "Level 3" system works only until 37mph... I mean it does not work right now, it should by next summer.

So in the end, it is far from something usable, it is glorified cruise control right at those speeds:

After having experienced traffic jam pilot as a passenger and, briefly, behind the wheel in a secure environment, however, I find myself seeing it as little different from adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist on, below the 37 mph limit. The only added dimension – by no means a small one, mind – is the added ability to take both eyes and hands off the steering wheel.

I dont know where would i be able to have it on, if not in the center of the city at speeds under 37mph.

Both Audi and BMW have only now started to have decent auto-crash systems in their vehicles, they are far behind and hence these PR things that make you think they are at forefront of technology.

 

[mmcartalk]

I was reading the most recent issue of Automotive News today and they note something very, very interesting. After being known for their use of aluminum, Audi is actually moving away from it and more heavily relying on steel for the new A8. Article text:

IMO a good move on Audi's part. I'm generally not a fan of aluminum in automobiles, for several reasons....though I'll admit it can be nice to have lighter hoods.

Here's the link, BTW..........

http://www.autonews.com/article/20170724/OEM03/170729928/aluminum-pioneer-takes-steel-path