Eighth Dozen

Audi firm today can repeat as much as the fact that the six and twelve liter cylinders - a remake of a long-standing "Horch". We all know what "six hundredth" set the tone in the higher segment of the automotive market, but surrendered the position - at least, that part of it, which concerned the power and dynamics. Judge for yourself. W12, mounted on the Audi A8, develops 420 hp and the car starts to "hundreds" of less than 6 seconds. So the Mercedes S600 with its 367 hp and 6.3 seconds - out of business. There's also equipped with Bavarian V12 "Seven" BMW and Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph. Jaguar XJ12 long out of production. Japan goes on Toyota Century Right-hand drive and V12, develops a measly 280 hp Still there is a 430-strong BMW Alpina B12 6.0, but it does not count, because there can hardly be considered a production car. Audi also plans to build and sell about five hundred six-liter A8 in the year. Although most of it is projected, the usual korotkobaznye cars that will be a $ 12 thousand less expensive version of L. Thus, the "six hundredth" from Ingolstadt - now the undisputed leader. Plus, it is the only one of all of these machines has a four-wheel drive. WHY IS NUZhNO.Te who ever use A8 with eight-cylinder engine of 4.2 liters, and even more so S8 with its turbo version, know that their dynamic performance is enough to make, say, safe overtaking. A maximum speed of these machines, like ingolshtadtskoy "six hundredth," limited to 250 km / h. "Set" of all, having gone to the point with a traffic light? Hardly. Few would argue with the fact that the limousine with an elongated body - a "machine for the passenger." Imagine: a personal driver presses the gas all the way to the car with the cosmic acceleration is breaking with the place the owner in the back of the neck vertebrae crack and zahlopnuvshiysya laptop hurts the fingers. Brad. Then why? We take the liberty to assume that purely for the sake of prestige. Audi Prestige company before all of the above competitors, which will now be forced to invent "symmetrical response". And, of course, the prestige of the owner of the car, which rightly can be proud that it is the fastest limousine and the dramatic. Vanity Fair. To emphasize this prestige, the designers and engineers have done a lot. Let alone 13.5 cm - seems to be little value, however that this A8 "long", is even seen with the naked eye. Grille bars get the twelve vertical of polished steel, as it continued to air intake of the front spoiler. The sun shining dotted lines reminiscent of a jet fountain. As far as it is beautiful, I will not judge, but notice all of them and immediately understand what is before them is not a simple A8. Left on the grid label W12. The same appears on the front door moldings. Vanity Fair concludes the trunk lid, where the sparkling chrome inscription "A8 L" and "6.0 quattro". Well, here is specially made to add a "six hundredth" 18-inch alloy wheels with five holes. Inside, all is not as demonstrative as solid and useful. The front of the cabin innovations spared: it is characteristic that even make-up mirror on the reverse side sun visor - an option that needs to be specially ordered. The same goes for heating the steering wheel, front passenger eyrbega and other luxuries that can only be spoiled staff. But back - full of "stuffing", although in this case, a plebeian mot hardly the most suitable. Passenger compartment stuffed with all sorts of "multimedia" is almost $ 15 thousand addition to telephone and fax numbers, the rear passengers have the opportunity to manage the navigation system, watch TV or DVD on LCD monitors built into the front seat head restraints, listen to music from the Bose or engage in some important business, put forward by pressing the individual table and placing your feet on a special stand. "Twelve." POEM CYLINDER. If pereschelknut selector in D and just let go of the brake, two tons of weight A8 L 6.0 quattro barely move. Unlike the others, equipped with "automatic" nedomerkov, there must be pressure on the gas. To "hundreds" sprint in less than 5.8 seconds. Even after 14 seconds. he can race at speeds of 200 km / h. With regard to the maximum 250 km / h, which operates an electronic limiter, then they A8 L 6.0 quattro reaches over 38 sec. from the start. Each horsepower is only 4.7 kg weight of the car - an excellent result even for a sports car. Five-speed automatic transmission equipped vehicle with a function tiptronic, but the latter seems to enjoy and there is no need. At a speed of 100 km / h tachometer needle hovering around the mark in 1500 rev / min. Nine-tenths of torque starting at 1,800 rpm already / min. (Maximum 550 Nm - from 3500 to 4750 rev / min.), So that is enough to accelerate a stronger push on the pedal. By the way, but in this case will be heard the roar of the engine, which is at work on a small turnover almost inaudible. Of course, setting such a powerful power plant forced the designers to enhance the brakes, which are actually perfectly do their job. However, when braking at low speeds the tested machine a long, whining blocks that run in 6 thousand miles was a bit strange. Perhaps this can be attributed to the fact that this copy to us mercilessly exploited peers. CHANCELLOR rest. In Germany the price for the A8 L 6.0 quattro starts at $ 95.5 thousand Korotkobaznaya version, which goes on sale later, will cost $ 12 thousand less. As for Russia, as stated by us in the Moscow bureau Audi, domestic consumers' already written to the queue. " They do not bother any price is not yet clear - it is projected to make $ 120 thousand - or the fact that the new engine is equipped with a model that appeared on the market seven years ago and because it looks a bit old fashioned and in the near future awaits her facelift. By the way, to talk about the prestige. Our test-drive took place in Germany just in those days, when the user Audi A8 Gerhard Schroeder met in Russia. So, the armored version of the A8 L 6 quattro will not, and he, apparently, and must be content with V8. Therefore, any holder of twelve cylinders of the Audi will feel cooler Chancellor of Germany. In a large family car produced by a group of Volkswagen, has already been made a 12-cylinder engine - from the Lamborghini Diablo. However, this classic V12 A8 adapt it is hardly possible: first, because of its impressive size, and secondly, because the Audi - engine compartment in front and all-wheel drive. To develop a compact twelve-engine VW-Audi specialists have worked a long time. On the concept Audi Avus, shown ten years ago, six-liter engine was standing, twelve cylinders of which were located in three rows. Then there was a sports car - Volkswagen W12. Finally, it came to the series. Current W12 - is "merged" into one two "folksvagenovskih" VR6. Dimensions its only 2 mm larger than 4.2 liter V8 in volume, weight - more than 35 kg, so that the engine compartment A8 has not changed. In the future, this same engine will be installed on other models of VW - the executive class limousine and SUV D1 Colorado.