• Armored security sedan fulfills most stringent criteria for safety with class VR 9 ballistic protection standard
• Audi offers competitive advantages of quattro drive, low weight and high payload
• New Audi A8 L Security is priced at INR 9.15 crores onwards (ex-showroom New Delhi and Mumbai)
Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer today launched the most secure Audi ever- the Audi A8 L Security at the Auto Expo 2016. The car satisfies the criteria of the class VR 9 ballistic protection standard, currently the most stringent requirements for civilian high-security sedans. Priced at INR 9.15 crores ex-showroom New Delhi and Mumbai, the new Audi A8 L Security is available to order.
“We are proud to launch the most secure Audi ever in the form of the Audi A8 L Security here at the Auto Expo 2016. The Audi A8 L Security assumes a unique position in its segment. Its quattro drive makes it the only luxury sedan with an all-wheel drive system that is offered directly from Audi as an armored high-security vehicle. Thanks to the high share of aluminum in the body, the vehicle’s weight is relatively low. Nonetheless, it can handle a maximum payload of 600 kg, which is the best figure in the competitive field,” said Mr. Joe King, Head, Audi India.
Audi has once again made its armored security sedan even more robust. The safety cell of the new Audi A8 L Security integrates extremely resistant materials – aramide fabric, special aluminum alloys and a hot-formed steel armor that offers even more protection despite its lower weight. These improvements mean that the total vehicle is now certified to the requirements of resistance class VR 9. It has been tested for resistance to explosive charges in accordance with the ERV 2010 guideline.
The company manufactures each order entirely under its own supervision in a partnership between the Neckarsulm plant and a secure, top-secret factory. Standard security features of the luxury sedan include an armored communication box in the luggage compartment, an intercom for communication with the outside world and selective door unlocking. Upon request, Audi can deliver solutions such as its patented emergency exit system, a fire extinguishing system and an emergency fresh air system. Along with standard comfort features such as the relaxation seat at the rear, Audi can also satisfy individual requests.
Two engines are available for the high-security sedan. The 4.0 TFSI, a biturbo V8, has a power output of 435 hp and produces 600 Nm of torque. The naturally aspirated W 12 FSI offers 500 hp and 625 Nm of torque. Its torque performance is strong, and its top speed is electronically governed to 210 km/h – a limit set in consideration of the tires that possess exceptional emergency flat-running properties. The entire chassis and the quattro permanent all-wheel drive are specifically designed to meet the high security requirements.
High-security features
The communications box in the trunk of the high-security sedan is one of its central elements. In addition to the control units for communication and vehicle electronics, it also contains an auxiliary battery and control units for high-security features. Special guards for the starter battery and fuel tank can also be supplied as options. The standard equipment of the new Audi A8 L Security also includes an intercom system that passengers can use to communicate with the outside world when the windows are shut. It consists of a loudspeaker in the Singleframe grille and interior and exterior microphones. Selective door unlocking is another standard feature – it is used to securely open doors from the interior.
Many special options improve protection even more. These include the emergency exit system, a technology for which the brand holds a patent. If the driver or rear passenger presses a sealed switch while pulling one of the inside door handles, pyrotechnic fracture bolts in the hinges detach the door from the body so that it can then be opened with a light push.
Another feature is the fire extinguishing system, which is activated at the press of a button or by heat sensor. The extinguishing agent flows through pipes in the underbody from two containers that are mounted in the luggage compartment. Nozzles spray it into the wheel arches, onto the underbody and fuel tank, and into the engine compartment. The emergency fresh-air system operates with two pressurized cartridges housed in the protected zone. At the push of a button it supplies the interior with breathing quality air through vents – in most cases for long enough to drive through or out of a hazard zone. The system generates overpressure inside the vehicle and thus prevents the infiltration of toxic gases.
Another option is the security start – a feature that allows the driver to start the engine remotely by radio signal. Numerous additional solutions round out the offering. These include an LED signaling system for convoy driving, strobe lights, a siren, preparation and installation of analog and digital radio communications with public authorities, permanent telephone installation, accident data logger, additional rear camera and heated windshield with partially heated side windows.
The Audi model range in India includes the Audi A3 Sedan, Audi A3 Cabriolet, Audi A4, Audi A6, Audi A8 L, Audi Q3, Audi Q5, all-new Audi Q7, Audi TT Coupé, Audi S5 Sportback, Audi RS 5 Coupé, Audi RS 6 Avant, Audi RS 7 Sportback, Audi R8, Audi R8 Spyder, Audi R8 V10 plus and Audi R8 LMX available across the country: in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bengaluru Central, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi Central, Delhi South, Delhi West, Goa, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kanpur, Karnal, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Ludhiana, Madurai, Mangalore, Mumbai South, Mumbai West, Nagpur, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Noida, Pune, Rajkot, Raipur, Ranchi, Surat, Thane, Udaipur, Vadodara and Visakhapatnam.
