There's a new class of flagship. As the finest sedan to wear the four rings, the Audi A8 represents a step up in class.

Efficient Performance
It might seem like we work unceasingly to deliver innovative luxury performance, but even Audi engineers believe in a little downtime. Well, in a manner of speaking. That's why we did something unexpected in our 4.0 TFSI® biturbo V8?by adapting to your drive, we let some of our cylinders take a little break. Our Cylinder on Demand? engine efficiency technology allows the A8 to operate with only four cylinders when the driving situation doesn't require all eight. When you need the power of all eight cylinders, they are there, automatically and instantaneously. When traffic slows to a halt, or you're the only one on the road, smart technologies help save fuel that doesn't need to be burned.

Suddenly discovering the sizzling side of efficiency.
When it comes to engines, luxury performance has often meant excess?big engines, awash in displacement statistics, obsessed with the number of horses they spit out. Sure, numbers matter, but Audi would like to give you a different perspective, with more-efficient engines that will really surprise you.1 New for 2013, the A8 features a supercharged 3.0-liter TFSI® V6 that expresses itself powerfully off the line and accelerates just as quickly as vehicles with larger engines.2 And with a lighter engine, even handling is improved due to less weight on the front axle. If efficiency doesn't hint of performance, consider how the 3.0-liter TFSI engine is capable of producing 333 hp and an inspiring 325 lb-ft of torque. In essence, we've taught excess and efficiency to learn to love how they make each other feel. But the most important part of progressive luxury is putting you in charge of what you drive.

Eight-speed Automatic Tiptronic® Transmission
The Audi A8 features an eight-speed Tiptronic® automatic transmission, a technical tour de force combining a range of ratios to match whatever the road throws at you. This wide spread of ratios between first and eighth gear not only helps reduce fuel consumption, but
is flexible enough to deliver everything from sporty acceleration to smooth cruising.

quattro® with Available Sport Rear Differential
Permanent all-wheel drive systems are not created equal. And they certainly don't perform that way, either. quattro is essentially a mechanical system devised around a torque-sensing, self-locking, center differential that shifts torque instantaneously to where it's needed. This means quattro is adjusting power between front and rear axles more than 100 times a second, helping ensure torque is delivered to the wheels where traction exists. Under normal driving situations, quattro distributes the power between each axle by sending 40 percent to the front wheels and 60 percent to the rear wheels, enhancing the driving dynamics while helping maintain optimum control. Constantly assessing grip, quattro ensures the best possible combination of traction and handling, regardless of the road conditions.

quattro with Sport Rear Differential additionally senses which rear wheel to deliver an optimum level of torque. Specifically, it directs most of the power to the outer rear wheel to help steer the car through the corner. This reduces understeer, common among other all-wheel drive systems, and creates the true sportscar handling found in an Audi.

Aluminum ASF® technology
Lightweight and rigid, the revolutionary aluminum ASF® technology offers class-leading weight savings - a benefit you will notice in the overall efficiency, enhanced performance and remarkable handling. It is why you can apply the words "precise" and "graceful" to a vehicle this powerful and athletic.

Servotronic® Steering
Handling is further increased by Servotronic® speed sensitive steering. The dynamic technology of this steering system varies the power assistance based on vehicle speed. At low speeds, the steering operates with a high degree of power assist and the steering is extremely direct, requiring minimal turns of the wheel from lock to lock. It is these flawless shifts of Servotronic® that add an extra layer of performance to the A8.

Audi drive select
Progressive Audi technology flourishes with hundreds available vehicle handling and performance combinations thanks to Audi drive select. Whether you prefer the smooth, luxurious ride of Comfort mode or the more direct and firmer responses of Dynamic mode, Audi drive select allows you to tailor the vehicle to your liking. The result is a driving experience that ensures your A8 always performs to your preferences.

Adaptive air suspension
A8 handling is even more evolved with the standard adaptive air suspension. It's designed to react to driving forces nearly instantaneously producing a comfortable, responsive ride in any driving condition. Additionally, body roll and pitch are reduced by increasing damping through corners and under braking, resulting in a composed and responsive ride. For optimal personalization, adaptive air suspension offers four modes to select from, Auto, Dynamic, Comfort, and Lift. Depending on the mode and vehicle speed, the suspension can lower the body up to 1".

Advanced Braking
The new A8 has a braking system that is carefully engineered for maximum heat dissipation and low weight. All four discs are internally ventilated, with stainless steel pins connecting the front friction plates and brake pistons made from aluminum. This sport-inspired concept is new to the luxury class and saves up to 10.5 lbs. per wheel, and makes the brakes less sensitive to fading under extreme lead. The wheel range also underscores the powerful character of the new Audi A8, with the 4.2 FSI running on light-weight 19" alloys wrapped in all season tires.