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Fort Myers, FL - Audi Fort Myers has begun accepting pre-orders for the all new re-resigned 2011 Audi A8. When high-end luxury automakers unveil new or redesigned models, it always makes big news, but making changes to their flagship vehicles gains even more publicity. For Audi, the redesign of the A8 sedan garnered much attention thanks to a high profile, worldwide unveiling in Miami Beach, Fla. The 2011 Audi A8 now gets a design that fits its luxurious cabin, and when the car goes on sale in the United States later next year, it will be available in both standard and extended-wheelbase variants.

From just a design standpoint, the Audi A8 has managed to match or surpass its main competitors, the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, in just its third major design change (compared to eight generations for the Mercedes and five for the BMW). The new A8 couldn't have come at a better time with both of these cars receiving updates or redesigns in the last year. Although most of the changes to the all-new Audi A8's exterior seem subtle, the redesigned sedan manages to appear sportier and more elegant than its predecessor without abandoning familiar Audi design cues.

The single frame, trapezoidal grille may have been the prominent front end feature on the previous A8, but the focal point up front on the new model is easily the new headlamp design. Not only do the "eyes" to this car utilize the similar LED running lights as the Audi R8, but they also feature adaptive LED headlamps with 10 individual lights. The soft, rounded edges of the second-generation A8 have given way to harder, crisper lines that give the big sedan a more athletic look. In profile, the A8's body creases are apparent as the car's shoulders are formed from a line that runs from the headlight back to the taillight leaving almost no body panel flat or boring. Even the decklid incorporates delicate lines that emanate from the D-pillar and act as an extension of the roofline giving the car a sportier shape.

In terms of size, the new A8 is bigger than its predecessor in every possible dimension riding on a wheelbase that is almost two inches longer than its predecessor and an overall length that is almost three inches longer. This puts the standard wheelbase 2011 A8 close to the long wheelbase versions of many of its competitors. While it's unlikely that the long wheelbase A8 will be able to surpass the extended version of the BMW 7 Series, it should easily outdo the previous A8 as well as the Lexus LS.

The size difference of the 2011 A8 is definitely obvious inside the new flagship. Only the standard wheelbase model was on display, but there was still plenty of room in the back seat for taller passengers. Up front, fans of current Audi cabin designs will welcome the restyled gauge cluster and extensive use of wood and aluminum trim. All of the surfaces inside the A8 were covered in high-quality materials including the suede headliner. The headliner also features two thin ambient light strips above each B-pillar. In addition to a new design, the A8's cabin also adds new cabin technology including Audi's latest iteration of the multimedia interface (MMI) which features the addition of handwriting recognition capability. Instead of scrolling through the letters on the screen using the control knob, driver's can "write" letters with their fingers on a pad next to the MMI controls.

Although Audi unveiled the A8 with two engine options (the 4.2 FSI and the 4.2 TDI), models sold in North America will initially be available with only the 4.2-liter FSI V-8. This engine is currently available as the base engine in the A8, but it receives a slight bump in power output from 350 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque up to 372 horsepower and 328 lb-ft of torque. Despite this increase in power, Audi also claims that the 2011 A8 4.2 FSI will have a 15 percent improvement in fuel consumption compared to the current model although specific EPA figures were not mentioned. In addition to direct injection and variable intake valve lift, Audi says that replacing previous model's six-speed automatic transmission with an eight-speed automatic helped improve fuel economy as well as vehicle responsiveness and driving comfort. No word yet as to whether the 6.0-liter W-12 engine will be available after the 2011 A8's launch or when the next-generation S8 would debut, but Audi did mention a hybrid version that would compete against the Mercedes-Benz S400 BlueHybrid and the BMW ActiveHybrid 7.

To balance the sporty handling quality expected from an Audi with the smooth ride expected from a luxury sedan, the 2011 Audi A8 features Audi's quattro® all-wheel drive system and an adaptive air suspension system. Audi says that the standard wheelbase A8 will be positioned as a driver's car, while the extended wheelbase model will be more of a status car. Both models will utilize Audi's Aluminum Space Frame to increase vehicle rigidity and reduce the overall curb weight. For performance, Audi claims that the big A8 can run from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 5.5 seconds which is aided by the 40/60 rear-biased torque split of the quattro® system.

To pre-order your 2011 Audi A8 at Audi Fort Myers use the contact form on the right side of this page or call 888-254-7845