Next Ingolstadt flagship to be Level 3 autonomy capable upon arrival.
While Mercedes-Benz is beaming with pride with the amount of advanced driver assistance systems they’ve managed to pack into the revised S-Class, Audi appears to be one step ahead. Its A8 flagship limousine, set to be launched before year end, will be capable of Level 3 autonomy at city speeds, allowing drivers to completely relinquish control of the vehicle within specific conditions.
This outdoes the system currently bundled with the S-Class, which is classified as Level 2 autonomy (requiring the driver to keep their eyes fixed on the road ahead, and prepared to take over at any time). The system Audi plans to pack into the new A8 will offer full-on Level 3 tech, which will permit drivers to take their eyes off the road, their hands off the wheel, and their feet of the pedals at speeds under 60km/h. The system will trigger an audible warning between 8- to 10-seconds ahead of time should the driver be required to take over, giving plenty of time for drivers to put away the newspaper or seal the Thermos.
Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said that the only thing stopping the A8 from running totally autonomously is government legislation. Speaking at an Audi press conference, Stadler then said that with European and British governments working to change or draft legislation to permit autonomous vehicles to run on public roads, the A8’s systems should see plenty of use in the near future.
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