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.February 04, 2004
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This Week:

• The Sky's the Limit With the New 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible

• Lexus to Show the All-New GS Sedan and RX 400h Luxury Hybrid SUV at the Chicago Auto Show

• BMW 760i: The Ultimate Luxury Driving Machine - Now In A Performance Version

• Mazda RX-8 Wins Wheels Car Of The Year

• Ford Sees Luxury Trend Continuing To Grow

• The new-generation C-Class from spring 2004

• Top athlete and luxury saloon: Audi A8 6.0 quattro

• Agreement signed with Dongfeng Motor in the presence of Chinese President Jintao and French Prime Minister Raffarin

• Nissan Announces Name Change on Full-Size SUV

• Bangle Strengthens Design Teams Of The BMW Group

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Top athlete and luxury saloon: Audi A8 6.0 quattro

Photo: Audi
 

Ingolstadt - Audi is unveiling the new and most sporty version of its flagship model, the A8 6.0 quattro. This twelve-cylinder version with standard wheelbase, like the ultra-comfortable, dynamic long-wheelbase version before it, raises the stakes in the luxury car category even higher. The A8 6.0 quattro, a top athlete clad in the custom-made attire of a luxury saloon car, is now moving into the fast lane. With a displacement of six litres, twelve cylinders, 331 kW (450 bhp) and 580 Newton-metres of torque, it has all the vital ingredients of an out-and-out sprinter. The six speeds of the automatic transmission are much lower-geared than the A8 L 6.0, enabling the large-capacity engine to unleash its potential compellingly.

The A8 6.0 quattro accelerates from 0 to 100 in just 5.1 seconds; the speedometer touches 200 in a mere 16.9 seconds and reaches the electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h after less than 29 seconds. The most thrilling thing about it is just how spontaneously the six-litre engine translates every adjustment of the throttle into acceleration, and just how smoothly it can rev right up to the rated speed of 6,200 rpm if desired.

At the same time more than 95 percent of the engine's peak torque is available between 2,300 and 5,300 rpm - the ideal basis for spontaneous punch and supreme pulling power in every velocity range. The torque characteristic of this large-capacity naturally aspirated engine is utterly unequalled.

In conjunction with the low weight of the aluminium body built using the Audi Space Frame ASF principle, the engine and transmission turn in an excellent performance coupled with exemplary economy.

(February 2, 2004)