Audi A8 D3 (2004–2010)

Audi A8 D3 (2004–2010) — production years, market prices by model year, NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, and live listings for sale on VehiSales.

Audi A8 — body generations

Generation Produced Facelift
D2 1997–2003 —
D3 2004–2010 —
D4 2011–2017 2015
D5 2018–present 2022

Vehicles within one generation share the same platform and body style.

Engines used in the A8

Engine families this model shipped with, by NHTSA VIN build data — each links to every model that shares it.

Engine Years in this model Also used in VIN builds ⓘ
Audi 4.2L 8-cylinder 1997–2012 15 models 36
Audi 3.0L 6-cylinder 2013–2020 19 models 22
Audi 4.0L 8-cylinder 2013–2020 10 models 15

About this generation

Previewed as the Audi Avantissimo concept at the 2001 IAA exhibition in Frankfurt, the second-generation Audi A8 (Typ 4E), built on the Volkswagen Group D3 platform, was unveiled via press release in July 2002 and introduced in November 2002 in Europe and in June 2003 (as a 2004 model) in the United States. The model was longer than the previous generation, with room for four or five large adult occupants in the cabin, depending on rear seat configuration.

The D3 development program began in 1996, with the design process commencing in Ingolstadt in 1997. The whole Audi design studio based in Ingolstadt first contributed sketch proposals, from which numerous different themes emerged. Six of them were developed into full-size clay models and worked up in a traditional manner adjacent to full-size tape drawings. At least three one-quarter scale models were produced to explore other design variations.

The six full-size exterior clay models were reduced to two in late 1998, and these continued to be refined in parallel for a year. At the end of 1999, the final theme selection was made by Miklós Kovács and Imre Hasanic, the main contributing designers. This lengthy development time was in part due to the body being made from aluminium, a material less able to take the small radii of sharp feature lines such as those on the (steel bodied) A4 (B6) designed in 1998.

In parallel to the exterior design development, the interior design was progressed with a total of four full-size models produced, and the production car's horizontally-themed instrument panel design dominant from early on, with Norbert Schneider, Mark Bergold and Enzo Rothfuss the main contributing designers. Grouping major controls nearer to the driver for a more driver focused identity whilst creating a more airy and spacious feel were early priorities for the interior design team, which was headed by Jurgen Albamonte.

This was in part facilitated by the Multi Media Interface (MMI) designed by Jurgen Schröder, that pioneered on the D3 A8 after the Audi Avantissimo concept car preview, and also by class leading colour and trim from Barbara Krömeke and Melinda Jenkins. Under the supervision of Dany Garand, during the first half of 2000, exterior and interior clay models were digitized and developed using digital design tools in a supporting, not leading, capacity.

The D3 final production design was later frozen in the summer of 2000 for an August 2002 start of production. The A8 was previewed at the 2001 Frankfurt Motor Show by the Audi Avantissimo concept car. This concept introduced much of the technology later available on the series production A8 D3, including: Multi Media Interface, 6-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles, self-levelling adaptive air suspension with continuously controlled damping, electric park brake, bi-xenon headlights with static Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFS) curve headlights, dashboard, and driver identification systems with a fingerprint scanner.

Unlike the Avantissimo, though, an estate version of the A8 never entered production. As with the previous version, two body variants of the second generation A8 are offered, the A8 (standard, or short wheelbase), and the long-wheelbase (LWB) A8 L. The A8 L adds to the rear legroom and to the overall height of the car. For quattro all-wheel drive models, a ZF 6HP26-A61 (lower torque capacity 6HP19 version for 6 cylinder models) six-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission with "Dynamic Shift Programme" (DSP) and "sport" mode, with optional steering wheel mounted paddle-shifters, is the only transmission offering.

Output is transmitted via Audi's quattro generation IV all-wheel drive system using the Torsen T-1 centre differential with a default 50:50 torque split front/rear. If the road conditions change, the purely mechanical Torsen differential responds without any delay; it can divert up to 70 percent of power to the front or rear axles.

Source: Wikipedia — Audi A8 — D3 (Typ 4E; 2002), CC BY-SA.

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