Skip to main content

Report: Audi A8L Introduces Wireless Charging

The plug-in version of the A8L will be Audi’s first to use inductive charging, instead of a power cord.

Owners and (probably more likely) chauffeurs alike will be able to simply drive over a charging pad that automatically charges the A8L plug-in’s batteries.

The extra-cost option puts a coil under the A8L’s front axle. When the car drives over the charging plate, it rises up until it’s within a few fractions of an inch from the coil and starts charging the batteries, which are good enough to move the car for about 30 miles on their own.

Now, if that sounds a little tricky, lining something under car up with something even more under the car, don’t worry because Audi’s thought of that, too. When you’re ready to charge, the display screen helps you to find the charging plate.

Together, the electric motor and 3.0-liter gasoline engine combine to produce 442 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, sending power, predictably, to all four wheels.

Theoretically, the powertrain could be made available on the standard wheelbase A8, but a spokesperson told Digital Trends that its wider availability will depend on demand.

And given its self-parking capabilities, it doesn’t take much imagination to envision a future in which an electrified Audi will go find its own charging bay, that it could then vacate when charged.

Back here in the realm of reality, though, the plug-in A8 should hit showrooms next year.

[source: Digital Trends]

The post Report: Audi A8L Introduces Wireless Charging appeared first on VWVortex.



from VWVortex http://ift.tt/2u713EL
via IFTTT

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Project SportWagen: Going Stage 2 with APR

    When we last left you, the humble little SportWagen was fresh from the development process with our friends at AWE Tuning, sporting a new downpipe, exhaust and intake, allowing things to breathe a bit easier.  The car sounded great, but there was no getting around the fact that our wagon was still quite, well, slow.   While we realize that nothing we do to the Golf SportWagen at this point will make it a race car, we still felt compelled to do something .  To put it bluntly, we had a fever, and the only cure was more power. Flash forward a few hours, and we found ourselves at Waterfest, staring down APR’s palatial spread and the numerous tuned vehicles surrounding it.  Earlier in the year, APR had hinted to us that their 1.8 TSI files would be quite impressive, and based on what they were able to do with the 2.0 TSI found in the new GTI and our time in their Golf R, we knew it’d be worth the wait.  So with this in mind, we lined our G...

Watch: The Zerouno Cruis’n USA

ItalDesign is drumming up excitement for its new supercar based around the same 5.2-liter Audi V10 that powers the R8. Naturally, it hit the road for a cruise around California last week to celebrate Monterey Car Week. There isn’t much in the way of V10 noise—which is a real shame given the sound it makes—but you do at least get a good look at the car inside and out in this video. With a body made entirely of carbon fiber and designed to be as aerodynamic and light as possible, ItalDesign figures that it will be good for a 0-60 time of just 3.2 seconds. “We put it our best skills into the production of the first car,” said Massimo Bovi, head of pre-series production, when the Zerouno was first unveiled in Geneva earlier this year. “Using some of the finest productions methods and engaging our high-skilled workers.” The car features clever aero tricks gleaned from single-seat racing, like a y-duct up front to improve downforce and turn-in. Available in a number of trim levels, the...

Volkswagen Golf GTE Wins Top Honor at the 2015 Business Techies Awards

Golf GTE wins Green category in the 2015 BusinessCar Fleet Technology awards Judges praised the Golf GTE for its performance, ease of use and economy Golf GTE launched earlier this year with plug-in hybrid technology – priced from £33,755 204 PS performance combined with CO 2  emissions of just 39 g/km Volkswagen has added to its growing list of 2015 automotive industry accolades by winning the Green category in the annual BusinessCar Fleet Technology Awards – the Techies. The prestigious title was awarded to Volkswagen for the Golf GTE, an innovative plug-in hybrid that combines sporty dynamics with exceptional fuel economy and low CO 2  emissions. Now in their seventh year, the Techies are judged by both BusinessCar’s experienced editorial panel with help from TRL’s technology expert. The industry’s only technology-specific awards, the BusinessCar Techies reward the use of technology to make business car fleet operations easier, cheaper, cleaner, safer and more straig...