Audi A8 to get active suspension

Audi has continued to tease the all-new fourth-generation A8 sedan ahead of its official reveal next week.

This time, a darkened image of the A8's full silhouette has been revealed. The side profile pic, along with other teases (involving the latest Spiderman movie) have shown glimpses of a car clearly inspired by the 2014 Audi Prologue concept.

And, like that concept, the production A8 will come fully laden with new technology.

So far, Audi has confirmed its next BMW 7 Series rival, based on the MLB Evo platform, will come with an advanced lightweight architecture which, in the pursuit of minimum weight and maximised rigidity, is an amalgam of steel, magnesium and carbon-fibre reinforced plastics.

Also confirmed for the all-new A8 is Audi's latest self-driving capability including a fully autonomous parking feature.

While rear seat passengers can enjoy a novel feet massage function - the greatest innovation will no doubt be under-bonnet developments.

All A8s will come with a high-tech 48-volt electrical system which, thanks to an enlarged alternator/starter motor, offers a near seamless start/stop facility and the ability to coast on the highway at speeds up to 160km/h.

The same 48-volt electrics are also at the heart of Audi's next innovation which promises to deliver class-leading interior comfort.

Like the recently launched SQ7, the A8 comes with a more advanced version of Audi's active chassis, one which looks at ahead and adjusts the suspension in preparation for upcoming road surfaces .

Keeping watch by scanning the road ahead is the front camera which is also used for the autonomous cruise control. As well as detecting other vehicles, it provides a live feed to the active suspension which then uses the data to read the road and spot bumps.

Reacting in a matter of milliseconds, the air suspension adapts if an oncoming pothole or bump is detected. And the new system adds an electric motor to each wheel - all powered by the 48-volt system.

Monitoring the road 18 times a second, engineers claim the A8 is comfortable even in 'Dynamic' mode and pushing on those electric motors can also reduce roll and eliminate pitch under hard acceleration and braking.

According to Audi, the A8 is so comfortable it's possible to work undisturbed in the rear of the car even when your chauffeur is driving with a "dynamic driving style".

As well as that advanced suspension, the A8 also comes with four-wheel steering which boosts agility on tight, twisty roads and blesses the big limousine with the turning circle of the smaller A4 sedan.

Safety also gets a jolt from Audi's new 48-volt electrical system.

If the A8’s network of sensors, which monitor a full 360degrees around the car, detects an imminent side impact, the active suspension jacks the air springs on the exposed side by 80mm in less than half a second.

The lift ensures any impact will likely strike the strongest part of the A8 - the side sills and floor structure.

We expect at least one final tease of the A8 ahead of its launch next week.