Audi A8 revealed

The new German flagship has a handwriting recognition system, can plot the greenest routes to minimise emissions, and even has a satnav- linked systems to prevent upshifts on twisty roads or accelerating past a freeway exit.

Three-dimensional maps from Google Earth, with roads superimposed onto the real-world view, will eventually also be available through the MMI system that links the driver to the car.

But Audi is making the running on technology and luxury as it works the angles to win customers who are currently committed to the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class limousines.  The A8 will probably cost a little more in Australia than the current model, which starts at $165,900.

"It will be here around the middle of the year. We're saying the second half but it will be in the early part of the third quarter," says Audi spokesperson, Anna Burgdorf.  "The lead cars will be the two V8s, the petrol and diesel. That's what we'll launch with here in Australia."

She is slightly vague on exact details, but only because the new A8 was only revealed last week at an art-themed preview in Miami, Florida. Production will not begin for several months although Carsguide will have a preview drive report from Europe in February.

"It's too early for us to say. We are still planning the detail. We will definitely look at all that technology, but I cannot confirm it for Australia. It's all available, but it's a question of what we get and if it's standard or optional."  There is a similar response on pricing.

"There will be a small increase, because there are a host of new technologies in the cars. But it will be close to par with the current car," Burgdorf says.  The headline act for the new alloy A8 is the updated MMI system, called 'touch'. It allows written input of satnav addresses and the system can recognise Cyrillic, Chinese, Cantonese, Japanese and Korean characters.

The latest satnav is linked to the stop-and-go cruise control, adaptive lighting and automatic gearbox, providing more driver support systems.  The MMI can also have an internet connection and onboard Wifi to create an onboard hotspot.

Audi says the A8's V8 petrol engine is 13 per cent more economical and the latest diesel V8 has 800 Newton-metres of torque, allowing a 0-100km/h sprint in 5.5 seconds, 0.2s quicker than the petrol engine.  There is also an eight-speed tiptronic automatic and Audi's signature quattro drive.