Audi A8 gets 48-volt mild hybrid tech

Audi has announced its next-generation A8 limousine will come with an advanced 48-volt electrical system as standard.

Drip-feeding technical information, ahead of the Mercedes-Benz S-Class rival's full reveal on July 11, the German car maker says its new A8's new mild hybrid drive consists of just two main components - a water-cooled 48-volt alternator that can also act as a starter motor.

This handy piece of hardware is matched with a small lithium ion battery that lives in the A8's boot.

The benefits of the new set up, Audi claims, is the 48-volt system provides near seamless stop-starts that act far quicker than a conventional system.

The car maker says, thanks to these quicker reactions, the set-up allows for a greater coasting range. Now, Audi says, if the engine isn't needed (like on a downhill stretch of highway) it's switched off from speeds of 55km/h to a highly illegal 160km/h.

Back in the urban jungle, Audi claims the new start/stop function is far cleverer than previous systems since it has the ability to predict when to start the engine before you even lift off the brake pedal.

That's because it uses the on-board forward-facing radar to detect if the car in front moves off before the driver notices.

Claimed to save up to 0.7L/100km, the mild hybrid drive recovers energy both under braking or when coasting.

It's not just the clever electronics that will help the next A8 improve on performance and efficiency over the current model.

Audi has also revealed the fourth-generation A8 will embrace a mixture of aluminium, steel, magnesium and carbon-fibre reinforced plastics to cut weight over the, already lightweight, full aluminium spaceframe the current car comes with.