Heads or tails? Big sedan was put on the market more than ever - for example, in America, where such cars are sold with a bang in 2003, selling one of its main competitors - BMW 7-Series - fell by 10% " thanks to the "ambiguous and complex system design, interface, iDrive. These were not slow to take advantage of the coming competition from Mercedes-Benz: sales of the model S-Class have risen by about the same number. Increased revenues from sales and A8 models, but so far they are not even close to the competition: Audi sells in the U.S. about six times smaller than their champions, than the rest of the Germans from the "big three". This is despite the considerable cost advantage: A8L is in the U.S. $ 68 500 - less than a long "seven" 745Li ($ 72,500) and S500L ($ 81,000), both competitors have only rear-wheel drive, and the total cost to the "Mercedes" S430 to $ 75 500. What's the matter? Maybe the lack of hype around? And really, when was the last time you saw this stamp on the silver screen, the last time the tabloids screaming about the latest acquisition A8L any sports star, celebrity when in a car with four rings on the grille withdrew night party in "emtivishnoy" chronicles? Never. Or very rarely, and purely by chance. Newspapers are silent. Remove directors rubbed sides "es-classes" and "sevens". Secular chroniclers peep over which the sins are created for tinted SUVs. Only skiers under the hooting fans sliding on steep slopes in the ammunition with advertising-wheel-drive quattro. But even if all professional skiers in the world will buy myself A8, companies do not outperform the competition. She needs a dozen of John Frankenheimer, each of which will remove the dynamic pursuit of the "Audi", where it will go nicely in the end, and competitors will remain empty. But the problem is that there is no more on earth Frankenheimer, and every European teenager knows that "Peugeot" option in Marseille taxi rides certainly much faster A8L c 4.2-liter engine, but a combination of nitrous oxide injection system works better turbo and AWD. Just to have persuaded no one in obratnom.Mozhno noted that teenagers - this is not the audience that the company's interests. But questions may arise and to the same one, you need an audience. For example, whether to buy a representative sedan, which is positioned as the most dynamic in the classroom? After all, everyone imagines life in the cabin of the "long" version of the sedan did not chase after every second, and more than $ (which is rather typical for the stage of primitive accumulation of capital), and the peaceful movement with a power-law relation to the transience of life. "Class" personal drivers of these vehicles is different, not so much a skill to take turns in a controlled drift, and the ability to smoothly, comfortably and quickly as possible to deliver the passenger to the final destination. This largely negates the advantage of large wheel-drive - in fact the vast majority of "population" of the car "lives" not in the mountains and not in extreme winters, and more acceptable to the business of weather conditions. But maybe it is not the rigidity of the establishment of big business, maybe we're dealing with a car for young professionals, who have not yet eroded from the head of a desire to steer active? But in this case it seems rather strange lack of money for business uncompromising car, ready to give a real feeling of driving on the limit, which is simply not available five meters long limousine one hundred eighty-two centimeters, equipped with a mass limit of electronic systems ... Or take, for example, design. In an era of widespread differentiation Audi iron hand enforces corporate identity in the major size classes, making the A8 in some angles too similar to the A6, and the latter, in turn, on the A4. And the controversy is not the quality of design, which is at a height, and a complete lack of desire to add cars to different lineup of individuality, which is present in S-Class, and the new "Seven." But every coin has always two sides, and learn how the first, we can not look at the turnover. And here the imaginary machine flaws begin to play good to her. The absence of an established image - this is just an excuse to instill, in which case you absolutely do not want too "gangster", "snobby" or "blue" car. And the "Audi" just has not become any one nor the other nor the third. Not too emotional design? But if you do not need to shout about yourself at every corner, this car will create an attractive image of the person for whom the more important to be rather than to seem. And the lower price of the machine, as well as its ability to active driving-wheel drive only help to complement the image of a pair of major strokes. But the image, price and rumors about the design - only half the story. At the moment I sat in the car, slammed the door and started the engine, all superficial pushed aside. Natyurlih! Interior A8L never ceases to surprise even seasoned reporters quality of study of every detail: there is unlikely to find at least a small, insignificant detail, like the curved corner stitching or defect to which you can find fault. This, incidentally, may more than offset the conservatism of design decisions. Classic chetyrehspitsevy steering wheel, classic beautiful instruments in the "pits", a classic tree - if you do not take into account the slide-out panel navigation system, apparently there is almost nothing like the coming of the XXI century. This interior, like an expensive chronograph with leather strap - always out of time and fashion. But the era of comfort here says it all: a great driver's seat with weight adjustment (their number is 16), including the hip, shoulder and lumbar structural supports, lamps, lighting pleasant wherever it is needed, as well as quality audio Bose - like pleasure these days you can get, perhaps, only in the Philharmonic. True, none Philharmonic no such comfortable seats, which is in the A8L, yes, and then places abound. Once back sat one of my colleagues to increase meter ninety, I'm not lazy ruler to measure the distance from his knees up to my driver's seat - there was still 15 inches. By the way, the new A8L to 63.5 mm longer than the last "a long eight". The car is fully equipped with the fruits of technological progress: a list of equipment available navigation system based on DVD, four-zone climate control, a function of massage, heating and ventilation for the front seats, and solar panels in the roof of the store energy for operation of electrical systems, even when the ignition is off. The role of the main control center systems rests with the unit MMI (Multi Media Interface), he materializes in the center tunnel in the form of a large rotary knob, and eight additional buttons (Radio, CD / TV, Net, Tel, Nav, Info, Car, Setup), which responsible for all the settings in the car - the choice of radio stations to install air suspension stiffness. And all the arguments about whether difficult or easy this system is better or worse than "beemveshny" iDrive, keep journalists - I personally think that if a person was smart enough to earn money for a car of this class, he is able to deal with any management electronics, whether it's menu of DVD-player, mobile phone or a system of MMI. But the interesting thing is that the abundance of electronic and "safe" systems (in particular, the presence of 10 airbags) is practically nullified the benefits of lightweight aluminum space frame and body panels from the "winged metal". Weighing 1990 kg, A8L weighs more than "seven" 745Li (1910 kg) and S-Class 500L (1805 kg). Among those advantages, which remain, we can note the high rigidity of the body (in particular, this frame is 60% stiffer than its predecessor). It is necessary to carefully examine the facts before the test, and so will clear already during the trip. In particular, due to the rigidity of its structure are equally worthy of the car behaves at best, and on secondary roads. Pnevmoballony in suspension qualitatively damp road bumps, not allowing the call to ride in sports uncomfortable even in the Dynamic (although the need for such treatment raises questions in a limousine), and the Comfort mode is not too "relaxed" machine. Foreseeing its transformation into a kind of "jelly on a plate," I was disappointed reactions were quite sharp, but the course was smoother and slightly increased roll. In the Automatic suspension itself adapts to the driver's driving style and road conditions, and mode selection Lift increases ground clearance by 25 mm (normally 120 mm). Multi-link suspension front and rear, coupled with sharp steering and all-wheel drive quattro - is perhaps the best set of components that allow you to stay in the high-speed cornering. In it you will certainly feel a bit at first understeer, which usually helps to manage a small discharge of gas, but if you deliberately start to "cheat" the laws of physics, then the road will help you stay system ESP, ABS, EBD brake force distribution and electronic differential lock EDL. Processed V-shaped "figure eight" volume 4.2 liters added 20 hp compared with the previous version, and now power the motor makes 330 hp But the most emotion is not so much the ability of the engine "fired" nearly two-ton car to "hundreds" of 6.3 seconds, and the quality of the new six-speed transmission control module with Tiptronic: switch implemented with virtually no joints and delays, as when driving a V-belt CVT. It is interesting to note that the American version of the car is forced to limit mark of 210 km / h - European drivers were more fortunate. Returning to business as svoyaChto as a result? According to its characteristics and behavior of the new limousine "Audi" remains a strong competitor in its class rivals in a poor. But what place he occupies there, everyone decides for himself. Stylish, low-key but it will not give the secret about the size of your bank account. A8L but never force the owner to blush when talking about go down as the interior running properties or trendy electronic toys in the cabin. A standard four-wheel drive for sure will also gain extra points. And yet, this car would not hurt, to be talked about more. Hey, marketing, how about a new movie with the Audi S8 in the title role?
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