For the 2019 model year, Audi is giving their flagship sports sedan, the A8, a significant revision: piloted driving for traffic jams.
The feature will offer only limited speed capabilities, but will start the car, stop the car, and steer as it negotiates traffic; a matrix of radar, cameras, and laser and ultrasonic guidance keeps the car moving in the right direction, and away from obstacles in the road. As a self-driving vehicle, the 2019 A8 will reach a top speed of 37 MPH. The car will also self-park and launch from a parking space or garage, features which will be capable of being app-operated.
In the cabin, the technological innovations continue, and onboard controls are touchscreen-operated. The 2019 A8 will feature two touchscreens, and a cutting-edge intelligent navigation system. Further, Audi AI will allow the car to learn a driver’s habits behind the wheel, as well as regular driving routes.
Audi will offer a series of engines for the model; depending on the region or continent, these include 3.0L, 4.0L and 6.0L poweplants with six, eight or twelve cylinders. North American cars will receive a 3.0L turbocharged V6. All variants will be mild-hybrid, and feature a 48-volt battery in the trunk powered by a water-cooled belt alternator; Audi will more than likely introduce a plug-in as well.
Luxury and performance features for the 2019 model include an optional backseat which offers massage, and a variable suspension control for fine tuning based on desired function.
In keeping with the fourth-generation A8’s technological advancements, Audi transformed the look of the car, too. It now features a more dramatic, hexagonal grille, as well as LED laser headlamps. The rear of the car now features a LED lightbar.
Available in the U.S. by the middle of next year, the 2019 Audi A8 will be priced according to its features. In Europe, the car will base sticker at 91K EUR, or $103K. U.S. pricing has yet to be announced.