Audi 'Wraps' 80 UK Buildings To Launch The New A8 Luxury Saloon

The ‘building wraps’ are further underpinned by national television and cinema commercials as well as press advertising. The unique commercials describe Audi’s technological firsts – it was the first car maker to break the 250mph road record (1937) and the first brand to introduce a permanent four-wheel drive rally car (1980), among many other achievements. The commercial finishes with the new A8 and the end line: "First after First after First".

Press ads extol the many virtues of the A8, including its pioneering light weight but strong all aluminium body shell and its innovative finger print recognition system. This allows personal settings for the driver’s seat, steering column, door mirrors, interior temperature and radio to be stored and memorised for up to four driver’s ideal preferences.

Specially commissioned displays of the A8 on a bed of nails and champagne flutes will be prominently located in seven railway stations and two airports across the UK. These displays convey the benefits of the A8’s special ‘PAX’ run-flat tyres, which allow the car to be driven 125 miles at speeds up to 50mph in the event of sudden tyre pressure loss, and also emphasise the car’s weight savings as a result of construction in aluminium .

Additionally, a ‘New A8’ exhibition that is free to the public will take pride of place at the Audi Forum, Piccadilly in Central London until the 13 June. Visitors to Audi’s prestigious, high-tech flagship site will gain an insight into the history of ‘Audi Firsts’ in technology and sport, and will be free to experience the ‘pure luxury’ offered by the A8. One of the key advances of the A8’s innovative design – the car’s on-board Multi Media Interface – will also be available for trial. This easy to use system provides access to an impressive array of in-car features, such as TV, radio, CD, DVD navigation, adaptive suspension settings and the Internet.

The new Audi A8 available from May 1st with 3.7-litre and 4.2-litre V8 petrol engines delivering 280PS and 335PS and priced from £51,050 to £54,980. Later this year a 4.0-litre V8 TDI diesel engine with 275PS – the first diesel unit ever to power a right-hand-drive A8 – will join the range.