The Audi A8 is Audi’s flagship model and it reflects with perfection what vorsprung doith technique means. Recently Audi decided to raise the bar a little higher and launched the premium version of its flagship model the Audi A8L.

Why Audi A8L and what does the L stands for? It is quite simple the L stands for Larger. The Audi A8L has a longer wheelbase which allowed Audi to set new standards in luxury, dynamics and efficiency in the premium segment. The Audi A8L it is also the first car in the world to offer optional factory installed WLAN hotspot for Wi-Fi access.

We have covered the Audi A8L in detail a series of articles. The first one was entitled “New Audi A8 W12 FSI Setting new Luxury Standards” and the second was entitled “Audi A8 2011: First Car in the World to Offer Wi-Fi Access“.

Today we brought you a video from Audi TV that shows the excellence of Audi’s Premium Flagship Model. So sit back relax and enjoy.

To begin this article I would like to quote a phrase from legendary oil baron Paul Getty “if it appreciates, buy it. If it depreciates, lease it”. This quote reflects with perfection the state of the automotive market these days, whereas when you buy a new car the minute you drive out of the dealer it starts to depreciate.

Depreciation is one of the worst nightmares for fleet managers across the globe. Car leasing and other auto finance options like contract hire, lease purchase and hire purchase are solution to this problem. In short, when you lease a car you will pay a set monthly fee for something that is depreciating.

It is arguable that car leasing is not as good as it seems, paying for something that is not actually yours and is loosing value either way might not sound like the brightest idea. But there are other benefits that make car leasing for business owners more attractive than actually buying a new one.

First you can renew your fleet every 2 to 4 years depending on your leasing contract, monthly payments are on average 40% lower than a normal car loan, there is no need for huge up-front deposit, just to highlight a few.

Now that the benefits of business car leasing are highlighted I will get down to the real purpose of this article. Here is a list of what I think are the best Audi Models business owners and fleet managers alike should consider leasing.

Audi A3

Offering one of the most extensive variety of models from all the Audi range the Audi A3 has all the practical benefits a company car should have. The Audi A3 offers luxury combined with sportiviness mixed with the latest fuel efficiency technologies developed by Audi, not to mention the lowest CO2 emissions rates in the premium segment. Audi A3 leasing prices start at around £240 a month.

Audi A4

Another vehicle from Audi with an extensive range of models that go from the traditional saloon all the way to ultra-sportiviness of the RS family. The Audi A4 boasts modern, ultra-stylish looks and advanced technology. Audi’s traditions of perfect performance, luxurious interiors and high safety levels are perfectly displayed on the Audi A4. Leasing an Audi A4 starts at around £300 a month.

Audi A5

For many, the Audi A5 revolutionised the whole Audi Range. Never a model received so many variants in such a short period of time. In less than 3 years the Audi A5 range was extended all the way to newly launched Audi RS5, including two cabriolet versions, A5 and S5. The Audi A5 is the ideal vehicle for the new generation of young business owners who are looking for an executive mid-size vehicle that has all the luxurious features of bigger models with the power and performance of a sports car. Leasing an Audi A5 could cost as little as £350 a month.

Audi A6

The Audi A6 offers unrivalled beauty, cutting edge technology and the powerfulness a high-end business man vehicle should have. In all areas, from styling, performance and handling to value, safety and environmental responsibility, it simply excels. Depending on the year and model you could lease an Audi A6 for only £329 a month.

Audi A8

One of the most luxurious saloons in the world, a car perfectly made for business men that are on the move constantly. Equipped with all the latest Audi driving enhancing technologies the Audi A8 redefines luxury and comfort in the premium segment. The new Audi A8L W12 has definitely set new luxury standards with its reclinable back seats that provide more space for the rear passengers not to mention the optional factory installed WLAN hotspot for Wi-Fi access. Leasing an Audi A8 for your business could cost a bargain of only £629 a month.

To learn more about Audi Lease & Audi Contract hire and other Audi Finance options please contact Audi Nationwide or follow us on Twitter

For those of that are no familiar with the acronym BIVSA, it stands for British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards. The A5 Cabriolet is one of four Audi models to be honoured as best-in-class in the British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards 2010. The A4, Q5 and S8 were also winners in their respective categories.

Audi has yet again been amply rewarded for its uncompromising approach to car security with four category trophies in the British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards, held recently at the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre in Thatcham, Berkshire.

Audi models were voted best-in-class in four of the specific model categories assessed by the experts using the New Vehicle Security Rating process that awards star ratings based on ‘theft of’ and ‘theft from’ protection. The Audi A4 Saloon, Audi A5 Cabriolet, Q5 compact SUV and Audi S8 luxury high performance saloon all achieved higher NVSR scores than their respective competitors. Since the awards began in 2006, the Vorsprung durch Technik brand has secured no less than 15 category wins, bearing testament to its absolute commitment to security.

This meticulous approach has not only brought outstanding anti-theft protection for Audi customers, but has also helped to ensure that their insurance premiums are the lowest in the premium sector, according to data sourced from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) group ratings database.

Commenting on this impressive achievement, Director of Audi UK Jeremy Hicks said: “The plaudits recognising the efforts of Audi AG’s security team in making the Audi range as secure as possible just keep on coming year after year. With their help Audi customers not only benefit from exemplary protection, but also from the lowest-in-sector insurance premiums that their meticulous approach has made possible.”

Award-winning security is achieved right across the Audi range through features including Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser technology with interior ultrasonic protection and anti-tow sensors, Thatcham Category 4 locking wheel bolts and extensive covert and overt marked parts.

To learn more about Audi Lease & Audi Contract hire and other Audi Finance options please contact Audi Nationwide or follow us on Twitter

Audi range insurance premiums are lowest of the ‘Big Three’. Award winning security measures and competitive repair costs cut insurance premiums for Audi drivers

Audi drivers can expect to pay considerably less to insure their cars than owners of equivalent models from the German premium sector brands, according to data sourced from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) group ratings database.

Managed by the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre in Thatcham on behalf of the ABI and Lloyds Syndicates, the insurance group ratings database has been updated monthly with new car insurance rating data since the 1980s, and includes all trim levels, variants, body styles and engine types. This data has been used to calculate average insurance group ratings for Audi models and their equivalents wherever applicable from German premium sector competitors. In virtually every range, Audi models post considerably lower average ratings than competitors, meaning that owners will generally pay lower insurance premiums.

These ratings are defined using a system which allocates penalty points to each vehicle based on a number of factors, including the purchase price, the cost of key parts and the ease, and cost, of repair following an independent crash test undertaken by the Research Council for Automobile Repairs (RCAR).

The higher the outright purchase price or parts and labour charges, and the more costly and labour intensive the crash repair, the higher the points tally, and consequently the higher the insurance group rating.

Crucial security performance
Security performance is of course also a critical factor in determining each rating, and four British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards and three What Car? Magazine Security Awards for ‘Best Overall Manufacturer’ attest to Audi expertise in this area. Held by Audi for four consecutive years since 2006, the top BIVSA award for ‘Best Overall Manufacturer’ highlights the fact that the brand offers more ranges in which every variant has achieved the maximum five star rating for ‘theft of’ security and of at least four stars for ‘theft from’ security than any other entrant.

Award-winning security protection is achieved right across the Audi range through features including Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser technology with interior ultrasonic protection and anti-tow sensors, Thatcham Category 4 locking wheel bolts and extensive covert and overt marked parts.

To learn more about Audi Lease & Audi Contract hire and other Audi Finance options please contact Audi Nationwide or follow us on Twitter

With the new Audi A8L W12 Audi aims to set new luxury standards in the premium segment. Presented during this year’s Beijing Motor Show in China. This longer wheelbase version of Audi A8 comes is powered by a W12 FSI petrol engine capable of delivering 500PS of power.

With such beast under its hood and the option of only one petrol engine the message is quite clear. The Audi A8L W12 is aimed for higher branch executives who want a comfortable, spacious and luxurious company car for their day to day activities.

As usual Audi improved fuel efficiency and off course maintained performance. With a 12% fuel economy improvement the A8 L W12 can cruise serenely to 62mph in just 4.9 seconds, and continue to a seemingly effortless governed top speed of 155mph. And with the help of FSI technology, fuel economy belies these figures, with up to 23.5mpg achievable according to the combined cycle test – a 12 per cent improvement over the outgoing model which results in CO2 output of 278g/km.

But where the Audi A8L W12 excels is in its interior. First of all it is the first car in the world to offer optional factory installed WLAN hotspot for Wi-Fi access. There is 130mm more space to recline which benefits rear passengers, who are able to enter even more easily through wider doors which are power assisted.

Rear passenger comfort is also further improved by standard seat heating, an upgraded climate control system which enables precise temperature modulation in the two rear ‘zones’ and electrically operated rear window and side window blinds. In the Audi A8L W12, comfort is taken to even greater extremes by replacing the standard rear seat arrangement with two individual sculpted rear seats which can be heated and ventilated and feature fore/aft adjustable bases and angle adjustable backrests.

Enough talking and lets watch the Promo video for the Audi A8L W12 so you can get a clear picture of what I’m talking about.

Why not share your thoughts about the new Audi A8L W12 in our comments section and let other know what you think of it.

For Audi A8 lease options and Audi A8 contract hire and to learn more about Audi Lease & Audi Contract hire or other Audi Finance options please contact Audi Nationwide or follow Audi Nationwide on Twitter.

Audi’s plans to revolutionise car customisation are well under way and proof to that is the 2011 Audi A8 that will be the first car in the world to offer optional factory installed WLAN hotspot for Wi-Fi access.

All passengers will be able to connect to the internet simultaneously through the car’s integrated WLAN module via UMTS, using up to eight terminal devices such as netbooks, Ipads, Smartphones and laptops.

“Using the WLAN hotspot is remarkably simple. To activate Internet access with speeds up to 7.2 Mbit/s, the driver merely needs to insert a data-capable SIM card into the Bluetooth online car phone. Alternatively, an Internet connection can be established via Bluetooth by using a compatible mobile phone with a SIM Access Profile. Any existing mobile phone contract can be used for this – often coupled with a flat-rate data plan.”

Communication with the Internet takes place through the rooftop antenna of the Audi A8 via the car’s own UMTS module. This enables utmost connection stability with outstanding reception quality and WP2 encryption provides the necessary security for data transfers.

The Audi A8 is already a reference vehicle for top end executives thanks to its high standard luxurious features. During this year’s Beijing Motor Show Audi presented a longer wheelbase version of the Audi A8 offering additional luxuries, 130mm more space in which to recline and the option of a new 500PS W12 FSI petrol engine offering a further improved power and efficiency.

Add all that to the in-car Wi-Fi access and the Audi A8 will sure be one of the most desired company cars in the world.

For Audi A8 lease options and Audi A8 contract hire and to learn more about Audi Lease & Audi Contract hire or other Audi Finance options please contact Audi Nationwide or follow Audi Nationwide on Twitter.

Currency exchange rates necessitate adjustment of Audi pricing which in a number of cases is offset by enhanced equipment.

With effect from Tuesday May 25, retail prices for most models within the UK Audi range will increase as a result of prevailing currency exchange rates. Their impact has necessitated an average rise of around two per cent, which in some cases will be partially offset by specification improvements.

New customer orders placed up to, and including, May 24 will be fixed at currently advertised 2010 Model Year prices.

Among the core models in the Audi range, the three-door A3 and five-door A3 Sportback hatchbacks are subject to an increase of 1.9 per cent, the A4 Saloon and Avant rise by 2.4 per cent (in SE form) and the Audi A6 Saloon and Avant by 2.0 per cent.

Audi A5 Sportback, Coupe and Cabriolet models increase by 2.5 per cent, 2.4 per cent and 2.2 per cent, Audi Q5 and Audi Q7 by 2.0 per cent and 0.6 per cent, TT Coupe and Roadster by 0.9 per cent and Audi R8 V8 and Audi R8 V10 by 3.0 per cent. Recently announced prices for the A1 hatchback, the R8 Spyder, the RS 5 Coupe and the A8 remain as before.

In a number of cases the increases go hand-in-hand with improvements. The TT range, for example, has been visually enhanced for the 2011 Model Year, and features a newly introduced and significantly more efficient Turbo FSI petrol engine and recuperation technology that boosts economy virtually across the board. The Q5 adds an engine start-stop system for four-cylinder models that also works in favour of improved fuel economy, and the Audi Q7 is revitalised by even more frugal new petrol and TDI engines and a new eight-speed tiptronic transmission.

For Audi lease and contract hire for company cars contact Audi Nationwide.

Audi A8 at length – The long wheelbase version of the new Audi A8, offering additional luxuries, 130mm more space in which to recline and the option of a new 500PS W12 FSI petrol engine makes its world debut at the Beijing Motor Show next week. UK prices will start from approximately £58,000 and orders will be taken from late July.

Audi has stretched the bounds of luxury saloon comfort even further in the new long wheel base version of its flagship A8 saloon, which incorporates an additional 130mm of wheelbase and body length, the latter concentrated at the rear to provide even more exceptional passenger accommodation. Making its world public debut at the Beijing Motor Show (April 27-May 2), and due to open for UK order in late July priced from around £58,000, the new Audi A8 L will also be further refined by an extensively reworked version of the twelve cylinder W12 petrol engine offering further improved power and efficiency.

The 130mm increase takes the length of the new A8 L to 5,267 millimeters, and the wheelbase has grown by the same amount to 3,122mm. Lightweight aluminium employed for all elements bar the safety boosting high strength steel B pillars ensures that the extended Audi Space Frame (ASF) body, like its standard wheelbase counterpart, weighs around 40 per cent less than an all-steel equivalent.

Power will come courtesy of four engines – the 3.0-litre TDI (250PS), the 4.2-litre TDI (350PS), the 4.2-litre FSI (372PS) and, exclusively for the long wheelbase model, the W12, which in its latest application has been bored out from 6.0-litres to 6.3-litres, and incorporates FSI direct petrol injection in the interest of optimum economy and emissions control. Maximum power has increased by 50PS over the previous version to 500PS, and the 45Nm higher torque peak of 625 Nm arrives at 3,250 rpm.

12 per cent economy improvement
As a result, the A8 L W12 can cruise serenely to 62mph in just 4.9 seconds, and continue to a seemingly effortless governed top speed of 155mph. And with the help of FSI technology, fuel economy belies these figures, with up to 23.5mpg achievable according to the combined cycle test – a 12 per cent improvement over the outgoing model which results in CO2 output of 278g/km.

Thanks to its cylinder arrangement, which forms the ‘W’ shape that gives this model its name, the W12 engine is exceptionally compact at just over 50cm in length and 70cm in both width and height, and its overall weight of 247kg is also impressively low helped by high aluminium content.

The two camshafts within each of the engine’s aluminium cylinder heads operate 48 valves by way of low-friction roller cam followers, and are themselves driven by chains from an intermediate shaft. The cylinder heads themselves have been extensively modified to enable FSI technology to be incorporated, and as a result fuel is injected into the combustion chambers at a pressure of up to 130 bar, giving a high 11.8:1 compression ratio that boosts power output and efficiency.

New efficiency measures
The crankshaft and timing chains have also been reworked to reduce friction, and a recuperation system recovers energy that would otherwise be lost when the car is braked. An innovative thermal management system also shuts down the coolant circuit for a time after the cold engine has been started. This warms up the engine oil more rapidly and shortens the operating period in which friction is still high.

Efficiency is also boosted further still by the new eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission, which shifts smoothly and quickly, with the individual gears closely spaced but with a generous overall spread from low to high. Gear shifts are performed electronically (“shift by wire”) via the yacht-style selector lever or steering wheel paddles.

The centre differential, the main component in the quattro permanent all-wheel drive train, allots up to 60 per cent of the torque flow to the rear axle and 40 per cent to the front in regular driving conditions. If driving conditions warrant it, up to 60 per cent of the torque can be sent to the front, or 80 per cent to the rear. An optional sport differential can split this torque input actively between the left and right rear wheels. Its responses can be fine-tuned, along with throttle response, steering assistance and transmission shift points, at the touch of a button via the built-in Audi drive select adaptive dynamics system.

Thanks to its advanced adaptive air springs, aluminium-intensive suspension and latest generation quattro all-wheel-drive, the long-wheelbase Audi A8 manages to combine the polished ride refinement expected of a luxury car with handling poise and agility that would normally characterize performance saloons from one or two classes below.

130mm more space to recline
The full extra length of the A8 L benefits rear-seat passengers, who are able to enter even more easily through wider doors which, in the W12 version, feature power assisted closure. Rear passenger comfort is also further improved by standard seat heating, an upgraded climate control system which enables precise temperature modulation in the two rear ‘zones’ and electrically operated rear window and side window blinds. In the W12, comfort is taken to even greater extremes by replacing the standard rear seat arrangement with two individual sculpted rear seats which can be heated and ventilated and feature fore/aft adjustable bases and angle adjustable backrests.

Travel is made even more effortless and pleasurable in the A8 L W12 by double glazing, even more extensive use of Fine Nappa leather taking in everything from the glove compartment lid to the area surrounding the MMI controls, a CD changer playable through a BOSE audio system and a sophisticated Bluetooth mobile phone connection system that enables occupants to access selected content from the internet. All-LED headlights, 19-inch 15-spoke alloy wheels and a powered sunroof are also features that set the top flight model apart from other A8 L versions.

As expected of an Audi, the A8 L also has pioneering innovation on board: the standard MMI navigation plus system, which operates with the aid of a high-capacity hard disk, has a touch-sensitive control panel known as MMI touch. The driver inputs his or her navigation destination or a telephone number simply by writing the letters or numerals on the pad with a finger. Acoustic feedback makes this possible without taking one’s eyes of the road.

The navigation system cooperates with the assistance and safety systems in an innovative way. It registers the topography of the road in advance and makes this data available to the control units for the automatic transmission, headlights and adaptive cruise control with Stop & Go function. Thanks to their advanced intelligence, these systems can identify complex scenarios and offer the driver support in good time.

The Audi side assist system, which helps the driver to change lanes, and Audi lane assist which detects any departure from the chosen lane, also have new and additional performance features.

The night view assistant uses a thermal imaging camera to identify pedestrians on the road ahead of the car. If it considers the situation to be potentially dangerous, the image of the person on the road is shown in red and a warning signal is heard. The Audi pre sense safety system is also closely linked to the assistance systems. It is available in several stages: the full version brakes the car automatically in order to minimize the consequences of a nose-to-tail collision.

For Audi A8 lease options and Audi A8 contract hire for company cars contact Audi Nationwide

All Audi models from the Audi A1 to the Audi A8 have to endure a strict quality test before they can hit the roads all over the globe.

The video below highlights Audi’s engineering perfection and attention to detail that is dedicate to every single model in the Audi range or as the video say: What it takes for a car to become an Audi.

Audi Perfection – The Unique Audi Quality

Bonus Video: Iron Man 2 Audi R8 V10 Spyder Commercial

The 2010 Geneva Motor Show is all about green cars, today’s top auto makers presented a wide selection of hybrids and electric concept cars that will be on our roads sooner than you may expect.

Once again Audi raised the efficiency standard by presenting the Audi A8 Hybrid as technology concept which many believe is a preview of the Audi Q5 Hybrid scheduled to enter the market later this year or in early 2011.

As powerful as a V6 but with a fuel economy similar to a modest four-cylinder the Audi A8 Hybrid has two propulsion units – a 2.0 TFSI engine and an electric motor. The four cylinders 2.0 TFSI is the same engine that has been named “Engine of the Year” five times in a row. Combining direct fuel injection with turbocharging and the AVS Audi valvelift system the four cylinder 2.0 TFSI engine delivers 211PS and 350Nm of torque.

When combined with the electric motor the 2.0 TFSI engine develop a total output of 254PS of system power and 480 Nm of torque enabling the Audi A8 Hybrid to speed from 0-62mph in 7.6 seconds and a top speed of 146mph all that with a fuel efficiency of 45.6mpg and CO2 emissions of only 144g/Km.

The electric motor has an ample propulsive power and is linked to the petrol engine by a hydraulically operated wet clutch. Capable of running for 1.2 miles at a driving speed of up to 40mph the electric motor also serves as a generator that develops 45PS of power and 211 Nm (155.63 lb-ft) of torque.

Mounted in the rear section the energy storage system of the Audi A8 Hybrid is done by a more compact and lighter lithium-ion battery protected by a high-strength housing, and a ventilation module ensures that it always operated within the ideal temperature range.

The Audi A8 Hybrid wasn’t the only Hybrid concept presented by Audi. Following the e-tron electric sports car concepts shown in Frankfurt and L.A, Audi presented the Audi A1 Subcompact Plug-in Hybrid Concept, a tiny, yet more affordable approach to the previous e-tron concepts. Expect to hear more about the Audi A1 e-tron in future posts.