Next-Gen Audi A8 Can Hit Top Speed Of 160Km/h With Engine Switched Off

However, this system doesn't increase the performance of the sedan, but it does enable the engine's 'start and stop system' to be smarter, faster, smoother, and in turn, more efficient. The mild hybrid drive of the all-new Audi A8 includes two main components: the water-cooled 48-volt belt alternator starter (BAS), which complements the regular pinion starter.

The belt alternator starter is permanently connected to the powertrain, which the company says it allows the new A8 to accelerate without any delay in situations such as stop-start traffic.

The new Audi A8 sedan will be equipped with a highly advanced coasting function available from 55 to 160km/h once the driver takes his foot off the accelerator. In this speed range, the sedan's engine will be completely shut off whenever possible to save fuel, and it will remain that way for up to 40 seconds.

After the driver presses the accelerator, the internal combustion powertrain is activated immediately without any delays in acceleration.

Engineers at Audi have also come with an ingenious start/stop system active from 22 km/h and including a new function dubbed "predictive convenient starting."

Once the sedan's front-mounted camera and sensors detect the vehicle in front starts moving, the motor is automatically switched on even if the driver still has his foot on the brake pedal so that the driver will be able to drive off quicker and therefore improve the traffic flow.

The technology will also detect if the sedan is dangerously getting close to the vehicle behind it while in coasting mode. Audi says, with the mild hybrid system and the smart powertrain management, the fuel consumption is reduced by up to 0.7 litres.