Audi A8 2009 News

A number of potentially hazardous faults have been identified in vehicles sold in Australia, prompting a wide range of recalls.

As the new global boss of VW promises to compensate customers for a loss in resale value, lawyers are lining up in Australia to represent more owners of cars with software that can cheat diesel emissi

There are exciting new releases planned across the board; from budget hatches to practical SUVs, to exotic supercars. We’ve broken them down into segments and likely price categories to help you. We've based our price estimations on the current market, but some estimations could change in the future, and some model ranges span across price categories, so be sure to check our other stories...New cars for 2014 | less than $20,000New cars for 2014 | $20,000-$40,000New cars for 2014 | $40,000-$59,000New cars for 2014 | $59,000-$100,000LUXURY CARSAudi A8: Audi will refresh its A8 flagship sedan lineup by mid-2014, with subtle styling tweaks and interior details, along with shuffled drivetrain options. (Approximately $188,000-$249,000)Audi RS7 Sportback: Essentially a five-door hatch version of the existing RS6 Avant, the RS7 will arrive in February with sleeker Sportback styling than the wagon, and the same 412kW/700Nm 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8. 0-100km/h is the same 3.9 seconds too. (Approximately $240,000)Bentley Continental GT S: While Bentley prepares its first SUV model, there’s not much else in store for 2014 from the legendary Brit aside from powered-up new S models added to the V8 Continental GT lineup. (Approximately $380,000)Jaguar XJR: Jaguar will add the new XJR to its XJ big sedan lineup in the first quarter, with the 5.0-litre supercharged V8 performance flagship to sit above the existing Supersport range-topper. (Approximately $350,000)Lexus RC: Lexus’ new RC coupe should arrive before the end of 2014 to take on the BMW 4 Series and Audi A5, with a choice of petrol V6 and hybrid drivetrains likely to expand to include a high-performance 5.0-litre V8 RC-F soon after. (Approximately $70,000-$130,000)Maserati Quattroporte and Ghibli: 2014 is set to be a big year for Maserati, with the new Quattroporte (Approximately from $250,000) arriving in V6 form in January, and V8 form in February, with the return of the smaller Ghibli sedan ( Approximately from $150,000) in March.Mercedes-Benz S-Class: Mercedes will cap its local S-Class sedan lineup in January, with the arrival of the $385,000 S63 AMG high performance model. The 430kW/900Nm twin-turbo V8 S63 will sit above the existing S350 and S500 models, and be joined by the diesel-electric S350 BlueTec hybrid and twin-turbo V6 S400 variants by June. (Approximately $250,000-$385,000)Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe: Mercedes’ upcoming S-Class Coupe is expected down under before the year’s end, with the yet to be officially revealed new model replacing the existing CL coupe models. A drop-top version is also planned, and a V8 and V12 petrol-only lineup is expected with an entry price north of $300,000 likely.Porsche Panamera E-Hybrid: The plug-in Panamera E-Hybrid is also due early in the year, with a supercharged 3.0-litre V6 and 70kW electric motor to enable 3.1L/100km fuel use with 0-100km/h acceleration in 5.5 seconds. (Approximately $296,900)SUV/4WDLand Rover Range Rover: Before mid-year, Land Rover will add a range-topping lineup (Approximately $250,000) with new hybrid versions of it and the Sport expected before the end of the year. (Approximately $102,000-$182,000)Porsche Macan: Porsche will add the new sub-Cayenne Macan SUV to its Australian lineup from June, with the cheapest diesel model forming a new entry point to Porsche ownership at $84,900. Twin-turbo 3.0 and 3.6-litre V6s will sit further up the price scale, with the 294kW top-spec capable of 0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds. (Approximately $84,900-$122,900)SPORTS/PERFORMANCEAston Martin V12 Vantage S: Aston will add its fastest model this side of the ultra-exclusive One-77 in the first quarter of this year, in the form of the track-ready V12 Vantage S coupe. (Approximately $450,000)BMW M3 and M4: BMW’s new M3 and M4 mid-size performance heroes are set to arrive after mid-year, with the move to twin-turbo six power resulting in the fastest M3 to date, and matched by the renamed M4 coupe. (Approximately $124,000-$180,000)BMW i8: The i8 plug-in hybrid sports car is expected to arrive before the year’s end, blending grand tourer luxury with 4.4 second 0-100km/h acceleration and 2.5L/100km fuel economy. (Approximately $200,000)Ferrari 458 Speciale: The first of 60 Australian examples of Ferrari’s hardcore 458 Speciale are set to arrive before mid-year, with the lighter, more powerful track-focused special able to lap Fiorano 1.5 seconds faster than the old Enzo flagship. (Approximately $550,000)Jaguar F-Type Coupe: Jaguar will add the recently unveiled Coupe version of its stunning F-Type in the third quarter, with the 20kg lighter V6, V6 S and V8 S variants also expected to slightly undercut their soft-top counterparts on price. The Coupe-only F-Type R will sit at the top of the hardtop range, with the 404kW/680Nm spec V8 promising 0-100km/h acceleration in the order of 4.2 seconds. (Approximately $125,000-$200,000)Lamborghini Huracan: With the Gallardo now officially out of production, Lamborghini is keen to follow with its Huracan replacement to sit beneath the V12 Aventador models before June. The V10 Huracan is set to challenge Ferrari’s 458 with an uprated version of the Gallardo’s 5.2-litre V10 and seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. From $428,000Nissan GT-R: Nissan will bring its latest incarnation of the GT-R performance coupe down under from March, with cosmetic upgrades the key changes for 2014. New LED headlights and taillights are changed for the first time since 2007, and mesh wheels keep Nissan’s giant-killer a fresh opponent for Porsche’s new 911 Turbo models. (Approximately from $170,000)Porsche 911 Turbo and GT3: Porsche will launch several key hi-po versions of the 991 911 to its Australian lineup in the first half of 2014, with the $359,800 Turbo and $441,300 Turbo S arriving first in coupe and convertible ($29,000 premium) guises, with the $294,000 track-oriented and now PDK-only GT3 soon after.Porsche 911 Targa: The new semi-convertible unveiled in Detroit will touch down in Australia before mis-year, with a new folding roof mechanism and all-wheel drive 4 and 4S versions. Both manual and PDK auto will be available, and prices will sit $2,300-$3,300 over existing Cabriolet models. (Approximately $247,900-$291,050)CONVERTIBLESAston Martin Vanquish Volante: For those who prefer their V12 Astons roofless and with a back seat, Aston will bring the Vanquish Volante to Australia in the first quarter of 2014. (Approximately $510,000)Bentley Continental GTC S: Like the hardtop GT, the soft top Continental GTC is set to score a powered up S model in 2014. (Approximately $420,000)BMW 4 Series convertible: The folding hardtop version of BMW’s 4-Series coupe is expected by March, and echo its hardtop sibling with 420d, 428i, and 435i drivetrains. (Approximately $85,000-$120,000)   

Audi built its first hybrid production car in 1996 - the Audi duo, driven by a TDI engine and an electric motor.  But it has taken until now for the German manufacturer to begin producing its follow-up hybrid. Audi group communications, product and technology manager Josef Schlossmacher says they will begin making the "first hybrid model of the present generation" in the next few months.  It will be the Q5 hybrid with a 157kW 2.0-litre TFSI engine and a 25kW electric motor. "Following, we will also bring into the market hybrid versions of our big sedans, A8 early in 2012 and a couple of months later the A6," he says.  "At Audi we are convinced that hybrid cars are an important step to the fully electrical drivetrain of the future." However, Australia may not see hybrid Audis for some time yet.  Audi Australia corporate communications manager Nadine Giusti says the Q5 hybrid will only be built in left-hand drive, "so we cannot bring the car here".

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.There is luxury, too, in everything from diamond-stitched leather seat trim to ambient interior lighting with different colour schemes and the usual electric seats, multi-stage aircon, and concert-class sound system.  It all comes wrapped in a new body, with a chunkier, masculine look and signature LED running lamps in the nose.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.  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. There is luxury, too, in everything from diamond-stitched leather seat trim to ambient interior lighting with different colour schemes and the usual electric seats, multi-stage aircon, and concert-class sound system.  It all comes wrapped in a new body, with a chunkier, masculine look and signature LED running lamps in the nose. 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.

Starring British actor Jason Statham from Snatch and, of course, the first two Transporter movies, Transporter 3 takes the high-speed action right across Europe.In this film, Statham, as Frank Martin, is forced to transport two bulky bags and a young Ukrainian woman from Marseille to Odessa.In Transporter 1 & 2, most of the action scenes lasted 30-40 seconds. Transporter 3 features almost unlimited stunts.Bond film stunt expert Raacemi Julienne said they shot all the car chase scenes at high speed rather than speeding it up later."All the car chases are filmed at real speed, without models, to capture the pace and inertia of a car going into a spin," he said.Unlike most modern action movies, 3D was used sparingly with most stunts being performed on set."That's where you have to come up with new ideas," Julienne said."How do you jump a car on to a train without it smashing up? How do you slide it down the side of truck?"Every day was a different challenge and most of the solutions were dreamed up on the spot. That's what made the shoot so exciting and such fun."Most of the chase scenes were structured like action symphonies, which resulted in crumpled fenders, high-risk chopper flying and even the use of a purpose-built quad bike in the streets of Marseille.The car star of the action flick is the six-litre, 331kW, W12-powered Audi A8 quattro luxury saloon, driven by Statham's character; at one stage on two wheels between two trucks on a high-speed Autobahn.Although how he manages to do so many handbrake slides with an electronic parking brakes defies logic.The A8 also replicates the spiral jump first seen in the 1974 James Bond film, The Man With The Golden Gun.Transporter3 also features a cornucopia of vehicles including an Audi Q7 SUV; BMW 3 and 5 Series; several Citroens and Renaults; a Hummer H1; Kenworth, DAF and Scania trucks; a Kia Cee'd; Range Rover Sport; Lada Samara and Peugeot police cars; and even a tractor that pulls the A8 out of a river.Statham is a bit of an Audi fan owning an old RS6 Audi and waiting on the release of the RS6 V10 twin turbo with 426kW of power.The rugged action flick actor with a background in martial arts did most of his own stunts in the first two Transporter movies, including car chases, scuba diving sequences and fights.Statham is no debutante to car action films having also appeared in last year's Death Race, which was a reworking of the 1975 film Death Race 2000 featuring David Carradine.Audi is also no debutante to the silver screen, having featured in the previous two Transporter movies, Ronin, I Robot, Mission Impossible 2, About a Boy, Legally Blond 2, Hitman and The Matrix 2.It also starred its R8 supercar in last year's action film, Iron Man, with Robert Downey Jr who arrived at the Australian premiere in a silver R8. Supporting roles in Iron Man were played by a S5 sports sedan and a Q7.The first two Transporter movies earned more than $50 million worldwide.Transporter3 hits the big screen on February 5.