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134-638: The name Phaeton derives from Phaëton , the son of Phoebus (or Helios ) in Greek mythology , by way of the phaeton auto body style and the type of horse-drawn carriage that preceded it. Production ended in March 2016 and an all-electric second generation was slated to be produced. Starting in April 2017, the Transparent Factory Dresden began assembling the e-Golf instead. The Phaeton

268-574: A cloverleaf designed reflector, incorporated into the main headlamp housing. The D3 series S8 features a 5.2-litre all- aluminium alloy four-valves per cylinder V10 petrol engine . This engine, a first for Audi, is often incorrectly referred to as a derivative of the Lamborghini 5-litre V10 engine fitted to the first-generation Gallardo . The 5.2-litre V10 in the S8 is based on Audi's 4.2-litre V8 FSI . Lamborghini replaced its own 5-litre engine with

402-549: A first aid kit located in the rear centre armrest. In 1999 for the 2000 model year came a minor front-end restyle, with new, larger, clear headlights , a revised grille, and lower front valance with standard projection fog lamps. In the interior, the seats received a new, horizontal stitch pattern. Also, the 3.7-litre V8 FWD model was dropped, leaving the 2.8 V6 model and the long-wheelbase and short-wheelbase 4.2-litre quattro. These restyled cars also featured revised external door handles and an integrated radio antenna. For 2000,

536-411: A W12 engine rated at 331 kW; 444 hp (450 PS) and 580 N⋅m (428 lbf⋅ft) of torque, emergency exit system featuring pyrotechnic blown-out doors, fire extinguisher system with spray jets located in the engine compartment, underbody and in the wheel arches; smoke extractor in passenger compartment, run flat tires, bullet proof windows, the full protection plus package and LED flashers in

670-417: A freshened centre console with revamped controls and materials. New Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) V6 petrol engine with greater power and fuel efficiency (206 kW / 280 PS) which satisfy Euro-5 emissions standards is also available. Other changes to the car for 2009 included: three new types of alloy wheels (17, 18 and 19 inch), a slightly modified radiator grille , three new exterior colours,

804-480: A god could be deceived like that. Seneca speaks of Phaethon, the "youth who dared drive the everlasting chariot, heedless of his father's goal." Hyginus wrote that Phaethon, son of Helios / Sol and Clymene, secretly mounted his father's car without said father's knowledge and leave, but with the aid of his sisters the Heliades who yoked the horses. Being inexperienced, Phaethon drove the chariot too high, and it

938-486: A horse named Sirius next to him and shouting instructions and advice on how to drive the car, an element not found in subsequent treatments of the myth. "This said, his son undaunted snatched the reins, Then smote the winged coursers’ sides: they bound Forth on the void and cavernous vault of air. His father mounts another steed, and rides With warning voice guiding his son. ‘Drive there! Turn, turn thy car this way." Surviving fragments do not clearly paint Zeus as

1072-530: A lover of the goddess, as suggested by Wilamowitz . Another explanation on how Phaethon could possibly be marrying the goddess of beauty is that Aphrodite had planned Phaethon's destruction from the very beginning, as revenge against his father for revealing to Hephaestus , her husband, the goddess' affair with Ares , the god of war. Henri Weil suggested that Phaethon is to marry one of the Heliades , and James Diggle , while deeming this suggestion unprovable,

1206-476: A metal 'Audi exclusive' commemorative logo at inner door trims. The vehicles went on sale on the 18 October 2009 as 2010 model year vehicles. In North America , only the 4.2 V8, 5.2 V10, and 6.0 W12 petrol engines were available. The 4.0 TDI was discontinued when the 4.2 TDI was introduced. The third-generation Audi A8 ( Typ 4H ) is based on the Volkswagen Group MLB platform , but retains

1340-466: A short-wheelbase for the first three generations, being joined by a long-wheelbase variant for the fourth generation. In 1982, Ferdinand Piëch signed an agreement with Aluminum Company of America . The objective was to design and develop a car that would be substantially lighter than any other vehicles in its class (to compensate for the fact that standard all-wheel drive was around 100 kg (220 lb) heavier than competitors' rear-wheel drive). In

1474-497: A single day. Despite Helios' protests and advice against, Phaethon does not back down from his initial wish, and thus Helios reluctantly allows him to drive his chariot. Placed in charge of the chariot, Phaethon was unable to control the horses. In some versions, the Earth first froze when the horses climbed too high, but when the chariot then scorched the Earth by swinging too near, Zeus decided to prevent disaster by striking it down with

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1608-487: A swan he retained memories of Phaethon's fiery demise, and the bird would thereafter avoid the sun's heat. Virgil instead writes that Cycnus mourned for Phaethon well into his old age, thereupon he was turned into a swan, his white hair becoming the bird's white feathers upon transformation. Pausanias and Servius explicitly name Apollo as the god who turned Cycnus into a swan, after having blessed him with talent in singing at some time before; Apollo then placed him among

1742-449: A thunderbolt. The element of Helios knowing what's in store for his child, but being unable to thwart it, is present in several tellings; Statius writes that "with tears did he warn the rejoicing youth of treacherous stars and zones that would fain not be o'errun and the temperate heat that lies midway between the poles; obedient was he and cautious, but he cruel Parcae would not suffer him to learn." Valerius Flaccus gives attention to

1876-585: A thunderbolt. Phaethon fell to Earth and was killed in the process. Phaethon was said to be the son of Clymene the Oceanid and Helios, god of the sun. Alternatively, less common genealogies make him a son of Clymenus by a different Oceanid, Merope, of Helios and Rhodos and thus a full brother of the Heliadae , or of Helios and Prote. According to a scholion on the Odyssey , Phaethon's mother Clymene

2010-643: A total cost of $ 700 million (£418.1 million). The Audi A8 ( Typ 4D) was presented in February 1994 and debuted at the 1994 Geneva Auto Show in March, with full-scale factory production commencing in June 1994, although it was not until October 1996, for the 1997 model year that it became available in North America. Unlike its predecessor, the Audi V8 model, which was built on an existing steel platform,

2144-434: 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

2278-455: A wife to Helios, their son Phaethon born in marriage, and Clymene is actively present in persuading Helios to let their son drive the chariot. A very common element of the story is that Phaethon's sisters, the Heliades , mourn his death by the river and transform into black poplars , shedding tears of amber for their lost brother. According to Pliny the Elder , it was Aeschylus who introduced

2412-690: Is a limited (800 units total) version of the A8L 3.0 FSI with multitronic and the A8L 6.0 W12 quattro for the Chinese market, commemorating Audi's 100th anniversary. It includes a horizontal chrome-plated front grille (from the A8L 6.0 W12 quattro), "V6" metal logo at the upper left of the air-inlet grille (A8L 3.0 FSI), LED daytime running lights, 19-inch 12-spoke polished aluminium alloy wheels, heated steering wheel in grey leather with beige stitching, Bang & Olufsen advanced audio system, Alcantara equipment bag, Assam ash red veneer, floor mat with aluminium trim and

2546-434: Is automatically activated when a speed of more than 120 km/h (75 mph) is maintained for more than 30 seconds. In September 2005 Audi became the first car maker to offer the 1,000-watt 14-channel ICEpower sound system option from Bang & Olufsen . Changes include: New Optional Features: The A8 L W12 quattro Security is an armoured vehicle with B6+ and B7 (European standard) ballistic ratings. It includes

2680-505: Is available with standard luxury amenities, including dual-zone climate control , wood and leather interior trim, 14-way power and heated seats, and an enhanced Bose audio system. In 1998, upon assuming office, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder chose the A8 to be his official state car, marking a break from tradition, as his predecessors had preferred Mercedes-Benz S-Class models. Upon being re-elected to second term in 2002, he moved on to

2814-455: Is badged as the "4.2 TDI" and is based on the "4.0 TDI" badged 3.9L turbodiesel engine. It uses two turbochargers and two intercoolers , with each turbocharger functioning exclusively for one bank of four cylinders . The adaptive air suspension gives the vehicle clearance a range from its normal 120 mm up to 145 mm in lift mode and down to 95 mm in the Autobahn mode, which

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2948-516: Is convinced of it being the case. Clymene reveals her son his true parentage, perhaps to help him overcome his reluctance to get married. Although doubtful at first, his mother's words convince him and agrees to travel east to find his divine father and have his parentage confirmed. What happens next is that someone, perhaps a paedagogus , arrives in the scene to inform the audience of Phaethon's disastrous ride. According to his account, Helios actually escorted his son on his doomed journey, riding on

3082-420: Is highest, where to look down on earth and sea often alarms even me and makes my heart tremble with awesome fear. The last part of the track is downwards and needs sure control. Then even Tethys herself, who receives me in her submissive waves, is accustomed to fear that I might dive headlong. Moreover, the rushing sky is constantly turning, and drags along the remote stars, and whirls them in rapid orbits. I move

3216-420: Is not a bit discouraged by his worried father's words, and then pressures him more, as does Clymene; with great reluctance, Helios consents, and gives his son a very extensive and detailed speech about all the dangers and the hazards of the ride. He then dresses Phaethon up in his own robes, helmet and solar crown and gives him the reins. With a final warning from his father, Phaethon yokes the horses and ascends in

3350-493: Is not too rich in details. Naming no mother, Palaphaetus speaks of Phaethon as a son of Helios who had the irrational desire to drive his father's chariot, but had no knowledge of how to handle the reins. Unable to keep balance he was swept off course by the wild horses and drowned into the Eridanus river. Unlike several other retellings, a party behind Phaethon's death is not named, as Zeus takes no action to stop Phaethon and save

3484-673: Is not, as the name suggests, a differential lock at all. Sensors monitor wheel speeds across an individual driven axle, and if one wheel is rotating substantially faster than the other (i.e. slipping) the EDL system momentarily brakes it. This effectively transfers power to the other wheel. Volkswagen was developing an electric version, but replaced it with their MEB2 platform for 2020. Phaethon Phaethon ( / ˈ f eɪ . ə θ ən / ; Ancient Greek : Φαέθων , romanized :  Phaéthōn , lit.   'shiner', pronounced [pʰa.é.tʰɔːn] ), also spelled Phaëthon ,

3618-409: Is the son of Eos , Helios' sister and the goddess of the dawn , whom she had by her lover Cephalus , an Athenian prince. The late Roman author Hyginus however attributes a version of the story to Hesiod. According to Hyginus, Hesiod wrote that Phaethon was the son of Merope , an Oceanid , and Clymenus, a son of Helios by an unnamed woman or goddess. Phaethon, upon learning that his grandfather

3752-529: Is the Sun, put his chariot to bad use, and scorched the Earth, turning the Indians black in the process. He was struck by a thunderbolt, and fell dead on the river Eridanus. Even the firmest believers of Hyginus find the attribution of the tale to Hesiod hard to accept. A fragment from Hesiod very possibly connects Eridanus to amber. it is uncertain, but possible, that the fragment also connected Eridanus and amber to

3886-541: Is the king of the Sun and is at war with the Moon , ruled by King Endymion . Nonnus ' late version of the story is one of the two extensive narratives to survive, the other being Ovid's. Unlike other versions, Nonnus' is one of the few where Phaethon is a legitimate offspring of a married couple, with his motivation shifting from need to prove his parentage to him wanting to imitate his idolized father. In Nonnus' account, found in his epic Dionysiaca , Hermes tells Dionysus

4020-517: 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. In 2005, new internal combustion engines became available. In very limited numbers

4154-485: Is the son of the Oceanid Clymene and the sun god Helios in Greek mythology . According to most authors, Phaethon is the son of Helios, and out of a desire to have his parentage confirmed, travels to the sun god's palace in the east. He is recognised by his father and asks for the privilege of driving his chariot for a single day. Despite Helios' fervent warnings and attempts to talk him out of it, counting

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4288-533: Is there too, perhaps alluding to some obscure version where she played a role in the story, as is Iris , the rainbow and messenger goddess. Another figure, perhaps Isis , is also present. An Apulian crater of c. 360-350 has a scene with named characters Merops, Clymene and Melanippus (TrGF adesp . 5f). The myth of father and son was immortalized in Corinth (where Helios had a significant cult), where Pausanias describes two gilded chariots, one carrying Phaethon

4422-565: Is widely thought to be that before becoming chancellor, he previously served as the Minister-President of Lower Saxony in 1990–1998, where Volkswagen is headquartered in the city of Wolfsburg and is a major employer in the state, also Lower Saxony state government owns several shares in Volkswagen AG. The vehicle was unveiled at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show . Update included new LED daytime running lights , as well as

4556-422: The Heliadae ), here the daughter of Asopus , the river god. The scholiast follows the version of Phaethon being raised by his mother; when he learns the truth, he seeks out Helios and asks him to drive his chariot. Helios allows him not due to some promise or vow he made to his son, but rather because of his son's persistence, despite knowing what would follow. In accordance with other authors, Zeus strikes him with

4690-589: The Lenaea festival, nothing of which survives to us. With Aeschylus being the earliest (as far as it can be determined) that Phaethon's story would have been known, the next mention possibly came from a lost work of Philoxenus of Cythera (435~434 – 380~379 BC), a dithyrambic poet. Pliny the Elder mentions him second (after Aeschylus) among the authors who spoke of the myth of the Sun god's son. Pliny also names Nicander and Satyrus as other authors who knew of Phaethon. In Plato 's Timaeus , Critias tells

4824-498: The Torsen T-1 50:50 dynamic centre differential , and from 2007 for the 2008 model year , utilising the Torsen T-3 asymmetric dynamic centre differential, with a "default" torque distribution of 40 percent to the front axle and 60 percent to the rear. If the road conditions change, the purely mechanical differential responds without any delay; it can divert up to 85 percent of power to the rear wheels, and as much as 65 percent to

4958-771: The Volkswagen Group already had a direct competitor in the full sized luxury segment, the Audi A8 , the Phaeton was intended to be more of a comfort-oriented limousine, like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Lexus LS , whereas the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series are more performance-oriented. Piëch also wanted to move the VW brand upmarket, with the Phaeton serving as the brand's flagship model. Initial development of

5092-986: 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

5226-407: The "VW badge on the hood may not say 'premium' to many auto shoppers" but they were impressed at how the Phaeton drove. In January 2011, Volkswagen reported the possibility of bringing the Phaeton back to the United States in the car's next product cycle. In Autumn 2013, The Economist placed Phaeton into the report on Europe's biggest loss making cars. In October 2014, Top Gear Magazine placed

5360-608: The 1999 facelift, 20-inch polished nine-spoke RS wheels became an option. In 2002, 18-inch nine-spoke RS wheels became a no-cost option. At the same time of the A8's facelift in late 1999, the S8 received the same cosmetic upgrades. This update marked the release of the S8 to the North American market. Production of the D2 series S8 ended in September 2002. The D2 series S8 featured an uprated, 250 kW (335 hp) version of

5494-692: The 2003 and 2004 model years when front wheel drive was available with the 3.2 litre engine. Vehicles manufactured for sale in the North American market were only available with the 4.2 litre V8 and 6.0 litre W12 engine , both of which were electronically limited to 210 km/h (130.5 mph). The Phaeton features a Bosch ESP 5.7 Electronic Stability Programme , with Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR) traction control system , Electronic Differential Lock (EDL), Engine Braking Control (EBC), with emergency Brake Assist (BA). The electronic differential lock (EDL) employed by Volkswagen

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5628-472: The 4.2-litre V8 with four valves per cylinder. From late 1999, Audi increased this to five valves per cylinder with power increased to 265 kilowatts (355 hp) and 430 newton-metres (317 lb⋅ft). From launch in 1996, European-market models came standard with a six-speed manual transmission. A sports-recalibrated version of the ZF 5HP24 five-speed tiptronic automatic, featuring "Dynamic Shift Programme" (DSP)

5762-403: The 5.2-litre engine from Audi R8 for the second generation Gallardo and its successor, Huracán . A sports-optimised ZF 6HP26-A61 six-speed tiptronic automatic transmission with "Dynamic Shift Programme" (DSP) and "sport" mode, with steering wheel mounted paddle-shifters, is the only offering. Output is transmitted via Audi's quattro generation IV all-wheel drive system, initially using

5896-453: The A8 L W12, the S8 has sportier mechanical features such as a firmer suspension, larger wheels, and ceramic brakes. The shorter wheelbase and 10-cylinder engine save weight for better handling, but at 5.4 seconds from 0–60 mph (97 km/h) the S8 trails the W12. The S8, like its related A8, utilises a multi-link suspension layout front and rear, with pressurised air springs. However, for

6030-417: The A8 debuted on the then-new Volkswagen Group D2 platform , an all aluminium monocoque , marketed as the "Audi Space Frame" (ASF), which helped to reduce weight and preserve structural rigidity. The saloon/sedan was offered in both the A8 (standard wheelbase), and the A8 L extended or long- wheelbase (LWB) version. The A8 L adds 5 inches (127 mm) of rear legroom. Updates to the car in 1997 included

6164-468: The A8 has been offered with either front- or permanent all-wheel drive and in short- and long-wheelbase variants. The first two generations employed the Volkswagen Group D platform , with the current generation deriving from the MLB platform . After the original model's 1994 release, Audi released the second generation in late 2002, the third in late 2009, and the fourth and current iteration in 2017. Noted as

6298-514: The A8R was produced for 2005. Using the 3.7 Quad cam V8, 6HP transmission. Although similar to the standard A8 it had an upgraded alloy trim vent package, Wood steering wheel and wood grain Transmission selector, other mechanical differences are not disclosed. The A8R was produced to commemorate Audi's past Le Mans success. For European and Asian market customers, the entry-level 3.0-litre V6 engine

6432-630: The Audi Space Frame aluminium construction of the previous A8, making it the lightest all-wheel drive car in the full-size luxury segment, while also giving it best-in-class fuel economy. The quattro all-wheel drive system splits torque with a default bias of 40 percent front and 60 percent rear. The vehicle was unveiled at Design Miami 2009 on 30 November 2009, followed by the 2010 North American International Auto Show . Early models include A8 4.2 FSI quattro (372PS), A8 3.0 TDI quattro (250PS), A8 4.2 TDI quattro (350PS). A8 3.0 TDI (204PS)

6566-580: The Earth pulling the stars along with him, the Seasons abandon their posts in fear, and the Earth raises her hands in supplication as she burns. In the end Phaethon falls from the chariot, himself on fire too, and dies. The Eridanus mourns him along with the Heliades . According to Clement of Alexandria "... in the time of Crotopus occurred the burning of Phaethon, and the deluges of Deucalion ". In The Twelve Caesars , Suetonius attributes to

6700-618: The Earth. While sailing up the Eridanus river on their way back, the Argonauts reach the outfall of the deep lake where Phaethon fell after he was struck with a lightning bolt. During the day, the crew of the Argo was tormented by the nauseating stench from Phaethon's corpse, still smoldering after all this time, and at night they had to listen to the lament of his sisters, now turned into poplar trees and shedding tears of amber. Phaethon,

6834-578: The European market until October 2006, when all assembly of the Bentley products was transferred to Crewe , England. The Phaeton body was fabricated and painted at the Volkswagen works at Zwickau , Germany, and the completed bodies were transported approximately 100 km by special road transport vehicles to the main factory. Most Phaeton engines, the W12 being the notable exception, were built at

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6968-425: The Heliades' role and fate in the myth is not mentioned in any of the surviving fragments of Phaethon , Euripides briefly brings up the Heliades and their shedding of amber tears for their brother by the Eridanus in another play, Hippolytus . Ovid vividly describes the sisters cry and mourn for their brother by the banks of the Eridanus for four months unmoving. Then, as they try to move, find themselves rooted to

7102-500: The North American A8 line-up was expanded to include the A8 L. In 2001, Audi introduced its new W12 engine , a compact 6.0-litre unit developed by effectively mating two VR6 engines together at the crankshaft. The engine quickly became available in the A8, though only to European and Asian customers. From its introduction through its discontinuation in 2003, only 750 of the D2 "W12" models were produced. 2001 also marked

7236-507: The Phaeton on its list of "The worst cars you can buy right now." In 2008, Volkswagen released the first update to the Phaeton. Subtle design changes were made by the introduction of chrome fog light covers and cherry red rear lights. The CD-based navigation system was upgraded to a DVD system, and the 3.0 V6 TDI engine had its power increased from 222 to 230bhp. The German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder chose Phaeton to be his official state car in his second term from 2002 to 2005. The reason

7370-477: The Phaeton's top speed was electronically limited to 250 km/h (155.3 mph). Other requirements were that the car should have a torsional rigidity of 37,000 N·m / degree , and that the electric motors that perform various functions in the vehicle be hidden for a cleaner look. At the 1999 International Motor Show Germany , Volkswagen presented the Concept D , which was essentially a hatchback prototype of

7504-531: The Phaeton, given the internal project code VW611, began with Piëch giving his engineers a list of ten parameters the car needed to fulfill. Most of these specifications were not made known to the public, but a number of them were told to automotive reporters. One of them was that the Phaeton should be capable of being driven all day at 300 km/h (186 mph) with an exterior temperature of 50 °C (122 °F) whilst maintaining an interior temperature of 22 °C (72 °F). Piëch requested this even though

7638-533: The Phaeton, with very similar design, V10 TDI engine, air suspension and all wheel drive. The Phaeton used a special version of the Volkswagen D platform , designated D1 . The D1 variant was shared with the Bentley Continental GT and Bentley Flying Spur , and was differentiated from the other D platform model, the Audi A8 , by using all-steel construction, whereas the A8 continued to use

7772-486: The S8, the effective spring and damper rates are noticeably firmer, along with re-engineered suspension mounts. The brake system consists of radially ventilated discs all round. The discs are clamped with gloss-black painted dual-piston calipers up front, and a single-piston sliding caliper at the rear, coupled to an electro-mechanical parking brake. A Bosch ESP 5.7 (later upgraded to ESP 8.0) electronic stability control , with ABS, brake assist, and EBD complete

7906-563: The Sun god and his wife, brought up in their father's house, rather than product(s) of an extramarital liaison. After his death, Phaethon was conveyed to the stars by his father as a constellation. The constellation associated with Phaethon was the Auriga , or the Charioteer. The satirical author Lucian of Samosata treated the myth in a comedic matter in his Dialogues of the Gods . In

8040-454: The Sun. When the god swore by the river Styx to grant him whatever he wanted, he insisted on being allowed to drive the Sun chariot for a day. Apollo tried to talk him out of it by telling him that not even Jupiter (the king of the gods) would dare to drive it, as the chariot was fiery hot and the horses breathed out flames. He said: The first part of the track is steep, and one that my fresh horses at dawn can hardly climb. In mid-heaven it

8174-522: The VW/Porsche/Audi engine plant in Győr , Hungary. Sales of the Phaeton fell far short of expectations. Its biggest market was China, followed by South Korea. In 2002, the manufacturer stated the annual capacity of the new Phaeton plant at Dresden was 20,000; by September 2006 a four-year total of 25,000 had been built, with production running at approximately 6,000 cars annually. The domestic market

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8308-643: The addition of six interior airbags . The A8 was designed as a competitor to fellow German rivals Mercedes Benz S Class and the BMW 7 Series . It also competed against the British Jaguar XJ and the Japanese Lexus LS . In 1997, Audi introduced the first series production electronic stability control (ESP) for all-wheel drive vehicles (Audi A8 and Audi A6)– the world's first production cars with both front and rear side airbags . For 1997,

8442-490: The all-aluminum "Audi Space Frame" chassis. Certain systems, such as the automatic transmission and some engines , are shared with the A8. Compared to the Audi A8L 4.2 litre FSI quattro, the Phaeton is 545 lb (247 kg) heavier but is still competitive with the lighter A8 in most driving tests, due to the Phaeton's increased engine power (335 hp versus 330) and a shorter axle ratio (3.65:1 versus 3.32). However,

8576-533: The ambush, and apparitions of wild beasts! Even if you keep your course, and do not steer awry, you must still avoid the horns of Taurus the Bull, Sagittarius the Haemonian Archer, raging Leo and Lion's jaw, Scorpio's cruel pincers sweeping out to encircle you from one side, and Cancer's crab-claws reaching out from the other. You will not easily rule those proud horses, breathing out through mouth and nostrils

8710-399: The brake system. Optional "Audi ceramic" carbon fibre-reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) composite front and rear brakes are available, which use radially vented, and floating SGL Carbon discs, with anthracite grey painted twelve-piston fixed Brembo monobloc alloy calipers. Standard alloy wheels consist of 20-inch "S design" alloy wheels. The A8L Centennial Limited Edition (奧迪A8L百年限量版)

8844-454: The bride seems to be this fragmentary play's greatest mystery. Euripides seems to have made Aphrodite the bride of the unfortunate youth; if that is the case, then it would seem that Euripides combined the stories of two Phaethons, that of the son of Helios who drove his father's car and died, and that of Phaethon the son of Helios' sister Eos whom Aphrodite abducted to be a watchman of her shrines, and whom late antiquity writers described as

8978-506: The catastrophe, smote Phaethon with a thunderbolt and brought the Sun to its course. Phaethon fell into the Eridanus river, dead. His sisters mourned him, and turned into black poplar trees. The influence of Euripides' lost play can be easily recognized in Ovid 's own version of the myth . Another possible inspiration of Ovid's version might have been Nicander , who is known to have written about Phaethon in some work, perhaps attested in

9112-575: The characteristic Audi "S model" vertical strut detail which is highlighted in a chrome finish. "S8" badging is displayed front and rear, whilst "V10" badges are displayed on each front wing above the side-repeater indicators. The rear boot-lid incorporates a subtle rear spoiler, and the rear is finished with four chromed oval exhaust tailpipes. Adaptive Xenon -plus high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamps include static turning lights, along with "swiveling" dynamic cornering lights. Daytime running lamps are five light-emitting diodes (LEDs) incorporated into

9246-573: The chariot with disastrous results. Philostratus , who follows the typical premise of Phaethon's tale (son of Helios who asks his father to drive his chariot and ends up burning the Earth) describes in great detail the extent of the catastrophe, putting more detail in the picture and the visual representation rather than the action; the Night drives away the Day from the noonday sky, the Sun's orb plunges into

9380-552: The company to announce that sales in the North American market would end after the 2006 model year. The W12 engined models have depreciated significantly, and sell for a small fraction of their original cost. The Phaeton debuted at prices comparable to similar offerings from Mercedes-Benz , BMW , Lexus and the Volkswagen Group's own Audi A8 (which shared its powertrain with the Phaeton). Motor Trend suggested that

9514-435: The culprit of Phaethon's death; but next Clymene orders slave girls to hide Phaethon's smoking body from Merops (who is still unaware both of Phaethon's true parentage as well as his fiery death), pointing to Zeus having indeed played a role in the boy's death. Merops discovers his son's charred corpse, and the truth, a bit later. The only other tragedy about the myth is Theodorides' now lost Phaethon , performed in 363 BC at

9648-433: The debut of the high-performance S8 variant in North American markets. It produced 360 hp. In 2002, the A8 L received standard xenon high-intensity discharge lamp (HID) headlights, and a heated steering wheel. A tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), an updated Symphony II stereo, and new exterior colours were also added. For 2002, all A8 variants received a trunk/boot interior release lever to facilitate escape in

9782-427: The earth on some mission but then meets and falls in love with Opora. His unfulfilled love makes him burn hotter, which results in the humans suffering under the great heat he causes. They pray to the gods, and eventually Boreas the god of the north wind orders his sons to deliver Opora to Sirius while he uses cold wind blasts to cool the earth. To commemorate the event, Sirius would continue to burn hot each year during

9916-465: The emperor Tiberius the following repeated remark about the future emperor Gaius Caligula : "That to allow Gaius to live would prove the ruin of himself and of all men, and that he was raising a viper for the Roman people and a Phaethon for the world". A scholiast on Homer's Odyssey provides a different parentage for Phaethon, making him the son of Helios and Rhodos instead (thus full brother to

10050-529: The end, after many complaints, from the stars in the sky to the Earth itself, Zeus strikes Phaethon with one of his lightning bolts, killing him instantly. His dead body falls into the river Eridanus , and his sisters the Heliades are turned to black poplar as they mourn him. Phaethon's tale was commonly used to explain why uninhabitable lands on both sides of extremity (such as hot deserts and frozen wastelands) exist, and why certain peoples have darker complexions, while his sisters' amber tears accounted for

10184-525: The engine bay for a differential and other components required to power the front wheels. In fact, Audi's 6.0-litre W12 is slightly smaller (by overall dimensions) than the 4.2-litre V8. This model was also the first to be offered with LED running lights. In addition to the added powertrains, Audi restyled the D3 platform A8 range slightly in 2005, giving all variants a taller, wider trapezoidal single-frame grille. The top-of-the-line W12 engined W12 version

10318-420: The event an individual became trapped within. Factory production of this generation ceased at Number 105,092 on August 4, 2002. In 1997, IVM Automotive of Munich, Germany built a two-door Audi A8 Coupé. The car was unveiled at the 1997 Geneva Motor Show . Audi contracted IVM to build the prototype , and was considering production of the vehicle. The coupé had a re-engineered aluminium body, shorter than

10452-562: The extent of the disaster. Zeus is displeased to hear it, unconvinced that he would not know that an inexperienced driver like Phaethon would not be able to control the steeds. Helios then asks Zeus to be merciful, as his son has already been punished (being dead) and he himself is in great mourning. Zeus disagrees that this punishment is enough, returns Helios his damaged chariot which is in need of repair, and threatens to strike him with one of his thunderbolts should he ever do such thing again. In True History , another work of Lucian's, Phaethon

10586-573: The exterior mirrors. Buyers are also offered facility to dispatch two drivers on a special training course. The A8L W12 was featured as the protagonist's car in the Transporter film series. The S8 high-performance sports variant, now called the "Audi S8 5.2 FSI quattro", was announced in the last quarter of 2005 and full production started in June 2006 and ended in September 2009. The S8 includes subtle detailing to distinguish it from its related A8. The trapezoidal "single-frame" grille bears

10720-407: The fires burning in their chests. They scarcely tolerate my control when their fierce spirits are hot, and their necks resist the reins. Beware, my boy, that I am not the source of a gift fatal to you, while something can still be done to set right your request! Phaethon, however, was adamant, and thus Apollo was forced to relent. When the day came, the fierce horses that drew the chariot felt that it

10854-468: The first mass-market car with an aluminium chassis, all A8 models have used this construction method co-developed with Alcoa and marketed as the Audi Space Frame. A mechanically upgraded, high-performance version of the A8 debuted in 1996 as the Audi S8 . Produced exclusively at Audi's Neckarsulm plant, the S8 is fitted standard with Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system. The S8 was only offered with

10988-423: The front wheels. The S8's top speed is electronically limited to 250 km/h (155 mph). Audi's factory performance claims indicate a 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) time of 5.1 seconds whilst consuming 98  RON unleaded petrol. The S8 has similar performance to Audi's own top-of-the-line A8 L W12 , though the W12 is more expensive, has more torque, and built on a longer wheelbase. Compared to

11122-463: The ground, unable to leave. Their mother Clymene finds them, and although she tries to free her daughters by breaking off the forming branches and snapping the barks, she is unable to help them and the metamorphosis is completed. The Odyssey scholiast writes that Zeus, feeling pity for them, changed them into the amber-crying poplar trees, and allowing them to retain the memories of their old lives and sorrows. According to Quintus Smyrnaeus , it

11256-474: The harvest season, explaining the intense heat of the dog-days of summer, attributed to Sirius by the ancients. In addition, some ancient authors used 'Sirius' (meaning "scorching") as an epithet for Helios himself. Audi A8#D3 The Audi A8 is a full-size luxury sedan manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994. Succeeding the Audi V8 , and now in its fourth generation,

11390-442: The introduction of a new removable touch screen remote for rear passengers. Before the Phaeton was discontinued in 2016, development of the second generation had already begun, with a near-production prototype already completed, which Volkswagen revealed in 2022. As of 2007, powertrain options for the Phaeton included the following engines . 4motion permanent four-wheel drive was the only driveline system available, except for

11524-581: The late 1980s, it was decided that the target vehicle would be a successor to the V8 (Typ 4C) flagship introduced in 1988. By 1990, a final design by Chris Bird and Dirk van Braeckel was chosen and frozen for series production in mid-1991. In September 1993, the Audi Space Frame (ASF) Concept was unveiled at the 1993 Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA) as a D2 Typ 4D prototype in polished aluminum. Pilot production began in December 1993 and development ended in early 1994, at

11658-519: The lost Heteroeumena (loosely translating into "transformations"). In the version of the myth told by Ovid, Phaethon is the son of Clymene and Phoebus Apollo, and Phaethon would often boast about being the son of the sun-god. Phaethon, challenged by Epaphus and his playmates, sought assurance from his mother that his father was truly Apollo. She gave him the requested assurance and told him to turn to his father for confirmation. He asked his father for some proof that would demonstrate his relationship with

11792-705: 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

11926-466: The new A8 was available with either front-wheel drive (FWD), or the Torsen -based quattro permanent four-wheel drive . The FWD models are powered by a 2.8-litre V6 engine , producing 142 kW (193 PS; 190 bhp), and a 3.7-litre V8 engine producing 169 kW (230 PS; 227 bhp), while the quattro received a 4.2-litre V8 producing 221 kW (300 PS; 296 bhp). The A8

12060-531: The new Passat. The interior benefited from some new technologies, but retained the 2009 MY layout. The Phaeton was offered in two wheelbase lengths (standard and long) and two seating layouts (standard five seats and optional four seats with full centre console). In the five-seat version, the front seats can be adjusted 12 ways. Standard features include all wheel drive, air suspension, and four zone automatic climate control. A multifunction steering wheel can be ordered in leather or wood leather. The W12 engine option

12194-566: The new leather colour, the new wood trims, white switch illumination instead of red, accent and switch trim in the new "Warm gray" colour, an upgraded car key, makeup mirror in the rear on the LWB version, dampers optimised for low-friction, Carbon fibre-reinforced Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic composite brakes (front) on the Phaeton W12 , as well as a rearview camera ( Rear Assist ) and blind spot warning system Side Assist . The vehicle

12328-433: The next generation A8's sister model Volkswagen Phaeton . In 1999, Audi's flagship received side curtain airbags , new colours, and restructuring of option packages. The North American "warm weather package" added a solar sunroof which allows the interior ventilation fans to run, keeping the interior cool while the car is parked with the engine turned off. Changes to all models included a larger passenger-side mirror, and

12462-401: The numerous dangers he would face in his celestial journey and reminding Phaethon that only he can control the horses, the boy is not dissuaded and does not change his mind. He is then allowed to take the chariot's reins; his ride is disastrous, as he cannot keep a firm grip on the horses. As a result, he drives the chariot too close to the Earth, burning it, and too far from it, freezing it. In

12596-423: The opposite way, and its momentum does not overcome me as it does all other things, and I ride contrary to its swift rotation. Suppose you are given the chariot. What will you do? Will you be able to counter the turning poles so that the swiftness of the skies does not carry you away? Perhaps you conceive in imagination that there are groves there and cities of the gods and temples with rich gifts. The way runs through

12730-407: The other Helios, adorning a gateaway near Corinth's market: On leaving the market-place along the road to Lechaeum you come to a gateway, on which are two gilded chariots, one carrying Phaethon the son of Helius (Sun), the other Helius himself. The lesser-known myth of Sirius the dog star god and the harvest goddess Opora share some elements with the myth of Phaethon. In that myth, Sirius visits

12864-479: The other gods, including Jupiter who used threats, returned to his task. The detail of Phaethon questioning the parentage he otherwise took pride in being the result of Epaphus' words is also present in the works of Servius , who wrote that Epaphus, now presented as the succeeded king of Egypt, mocked Phaethon for being born out of adultery; the outcome is largely the same, as Phaethon travels east to meet his father, gets Helios to promise him any favor, and then drives

12998-550: 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 120 mm (4.7 inches) to the rear legroom and 11 mm (0.43 in) 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,

13132-548: The production A8 saloon. Like the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class , there was no central "B" pillar, giving the car a seamless design with a gradually sloping roofline. The car included custom leather seats which could seat four. Ultimately, Audi decided not to put the A8 Coupé into production, citing lower-than-expected sales figures for the similar BMW 8 Series (E31) and Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupé . Only one A8 Coupé

13266-407: The rear compartment. It features a W12 engine, a reinforced chassis, six speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, individual climate control for each passenger, front and rear wine coolers, a minibar, multi color mood lighting, a cigar humidor, two 17 inch monitors, DVD changer in the trunk, second DVD player in the rear cabin, and a Bluetooth enabled computer with a broadband connection. The vehicle

13400-699: The river's rich deposits of amber . Ancient Greek Φαέθων , Phaethon , means "radiant", from the verb φαέθω , meaning "to shine." Therefore, his name could be understood as, "the shining/radiant (one)" Ultimately the word derives from φάος , phaos , the Greek word for light, from the Proto-Indo-European root *bheh 2 - , 'to shine.' Details vary according to version, but most have Phaethon travel far east to meet his father, sometimes in order to get him to assure his paternity. There, he asks Helios for permission to drive his father's Sun-chariot for

13534-447: The short dialogue, Zeus angrily berates Helios for letting his inexperienced son drive his chariot, which almost resulted in the world being destroyed. Helios acknowledges his error, but claims he was pressured by Phaethon and Phaethon's mother Clymene both (another implication of the union between Helios and the mother of Phaethon being marital in nature, not an affair, and thus making their child legitimate), and could have not foreseen

13668-489: The sisters played a significant role; two of the surviving fragments (F 71 and F 72) focus on grief, mourning, and lamentation. He seems to have transferred the location of Phaethon's fall in Iberia , west of Italy. By contrast, Euripides ' version of the story, the now lost tragedy Phaethon , while similarly fragmentary, is much better preserved, with twelve fragments surviving covering some 400 lines of text. According to

13802-414: The sky, as his mother Clymene cheerfully waves him goodbye, still unaware of the danger that awaits her son. Like in all other versions, his ride is a disaster, as he burns the Earth. Zeus then kills him with a lightning bolt, and places him among the stars as the constellation Auriga , the charioteer of the heavens. Nonnus's version of the events is similar to that of Lucian, as both make (or imply) Clymene

13936-512: The son of Helios , while still a youth persuaded his father to retire for a single day and give to him his chariot. His father eventually yielded to his son's wishes, and gave him his quadriga. The boy was unable to control the reins, and the horses left their accustomed course, setting ablaze the Heavens (creating the Milky Way ) and the Earth (creating uninhabitable land) alike. Zeus , seeing

14070-492: The son of Helios, having yoked the steeds in his father's chariot, because he was not able to drive them in the path of his father, burnt up all that was upon the earth, and was himself destroyed by a thunderbolt. Now, this has the form of a myth, but really signifies a declination of the bodies moving in the heavens around the Earth, and a great conflagration of things upon the Earth, which recurs after long intervals. Like other authors of around this period, Palaephatus 's version

14204-465: The stars, as the constellation Cygnus , "the swan". Cycnus' profession as a musician seems to be a direct reference to the swan song swans are famous for. On one of the earliest extant artistic attestations of the myth, a cast taken from an Arretine mould now housed in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston , Phaethon is shown fallen from the car, a wheel lying next to him while another is being collected by

14338-410: The story of Atlantis as recounted to Solon by an Egyptian priest, who prefaced the story by saying: There have been, and will be again, many destructions of mankind arising out of many causes; the greatest have been brought about by the agencies of fire and water, and other lesser ones by innumerable other causes. There is a story that even you [Greeks] have preserved, that once upon a time, Phaethon,

14472-485: The summary of the play, Phaethon is the son of Helios by an Oceanid named Clymene , who nonetheless hid the boy's true parentage and claimed he had been fathered by her nominal husband Merops , the king of Aethiopia (Merops and Clymene are an interesting swap of the names in Hyginus' Hesiodic version, Merope and Clymenus). The main conflict of the play is the upcoming marriage of an unwilling Phaethon. The identity of

14606-431: 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

14740-487: The tears of the Heliades; what is certain however is that Hesiod was not connecting Eridanus, amber and perhaps the Heliades, to the myth of Phaethon. A now-lost tragedy by Aeschylus , titled Heliades ("daughters of the Sun") was written covering the subject of this myth. Very little of this play survives now, and the form of the myth as assumed by Aeschylus is impossible to know. It would seem that in Aeschylus' play,

14874-452: The technology later available on the series production A8 D3, including: Multi Media Interface , 6-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles, V8 biturbo engine (RS6), 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, driver identification systems with fingerprint scanner . As with

15008-759: The tragic story of Phaethon. Helios and the beautiful nymph Clymene fall in love and get married with her father Oceanus' blessing, and together they have Phaethon. Phaethon is raised by his parents, in the company of Oceanus and the Oceanid nymphs. As a boy, he would mimic his father and his daily journey by driving a wagon of his own design, with burning torches standing in for the fire. When he grows up, he begs his father to let him drive his chariot, but Helios refuses, arguing that sons are not necessarily fit to follow on their fathers' footsteps (bringing up how Ares , Hephaestus , Apollo and Hermes do not hold lightning bolts like their father Zeus does). Phaethon nevertheless

15142-502: The transformation of the sisters into poplar trees. Their number and names vary; a scholiast on Homer gives an alternative parentage where Phaethon and his three sisters (Phaethusa, Lampetia and Aegle) are the children of Helios and Rhodos , here the daughter of Asopus . Hyginus names seven; Merope, Helie, Aegle, Lampetia , Phoebe , Aetherie and Dioxippe. Ovid has at least three, but only two (Phaethusa and Lampetia) are named. Servius only mentions Phaethusa and Lampetia. Although

15276-418: The water goddess Tethys , his grandmother, as Valerius Flaccus wrote. The god behind Phaethon's death, Zeus, is seen hurling his thunderbolt, while Helios appears on horse-back, with a spare horse by his side (matching Euripides' telling where Helios accompanies his son in the sky), having caught two of the horses and now directing his attention to the other two (like Lucretius describes him doing ). Artemis

15410-582: The weight gives the Phaeton considerably worse acceleration and poorer fuel economy compared to the A8. The Phaeton had the longest wheelbase in the Volkswagen passenger car line. Development of the vehicle led to over one hundred individual patents specific to the Phaeton. Distinctive features include a draftless four zone climate system and standard Torsen based 4motion four-wheel drive . For high ride comfort, it introduced Adaptive Air Suspension with Continuous Damping Control (CDC)-(Skyhook suspension). The same suspension system, with firmer settings,

15544-410: The wrecked chariot itself, and how Tethys, who is Phaethon's grandmother as well as the goddess who receives Helios in the western ocean as he sets, picks up the fragments of yoke and axle, and one of the horses too ( Pyrois ) who is fearful of a father's wrath. Cicero , another Roman author, describes Sol as being "tricked" into letting his son drive his chariot, expressing surprise and disbelief that

15678-450: Was Helios who turned them into trees, for their honor to Phaethon, and Hyginus wrote that they were transformed into trees for yoking the chariot without their father's consent. The part concerning the Heliades might have been a mythical device to account for the origin of amber; it is probably of no coincidence that the Greek word for amber, elektron ( ἤλεκτρον ), resembles elektor ( ἠλέκτωρ ), an epithet of Helios. The poplar tree

15812-467: Was conceived by Ferdinand Piëch , then chairman of Volkswagen Group , who wanted a car that would surpass the German prestige market leaders, Mercedes-Benz and BMW , in part as a response to Mercedes' and BMW's decision to compete in Europe directly with Volkswagen by introducing the A-Class and BMW 3 Series Compact . It was officially revealed at the 2002 Geneva International Motor Show . Although

15946-483: Was considered sacred to Helios, due to the sun-like brilliance its shining leaves have. Later authors, particularly the Romans, mention the story of Cycnus , a man who was Phaethon's lover and deeply mourned his death and was turned into a swan, birds who are known for mourning the loss of their mates for days. In Ovid's account, the gods turned the inconsolable Cycnus into a swan soon after Phaethon's own death; even as

16080-399: Was deleted from the European and international markets except China where it was still offered until the end of Phaeton production in 2016. A further, minor facelift was introduced in 2014, including exterior alterations to the front fog lights and darkened rear lights. The interior was also updated including a new gear lever, gloss black accents around the gear lever and steering controls and

16214-472: Was empty because of the lack of the sun-god's weight and went out of control. Terrified, Phaethon dropped the reins. The horses veered from their course, scorching the Earth, burning the vegetation, bringing the blood of the Ethiopians to the surface of their skin and so turning it black, changing much of Africa into a desert , drying up rivers and lakes and shrinking the sea. Earth cried out to Jupiter who

16348-509: Was ever built. The single prototype, painted in a colour called "Ming Blue pearl", remains the property of IVM Automotive, and resides in Munich. Its last public appearance was in 2002 on a series of test drives. Audi introduced the S8 4.2 quattro into the European market in 1996. The S8 followed the naming convention of other high-performance Audi "S" models such as the Audi A6 -derived S6 and

16482-469: Was fear that made him plunge into the Eridanus; when Zeus struck him with a thunderbolt, the Earth began to burn. Zeus then, pretending to want to put out the fire, let loose all the rivers everywhere, causing the flood that drowned everyone except for Deucalion and Pyrrha . Phaethon secretly stealing the chariot, and his sisters helping him out perhaps implies the existence of an early version, where Phaethon and his (full) sisters are legitimate offspring of

16616-412: Was forced to intervene by striking Phaethon with a lightning bolt. Like a falling star, Phaethon plunged blazing into the river Eridanus . The epitaph on his tomb was: Here Phaethon lies who in the sun-god's chariot fared. And though greatly he failed, more greatly he dared. Apollo, stricken with grief at his son's death, at first refused to resume his work of driving his chariot, but at the appeal of

16750-465: 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

16884-459: Was introduced in the technically similar Audi A8 in November 2002. The Phaeton was the first Volkswagen with radar adaptive cruise control : automatic distance regulator (ADR). Additionally, the 5.0 L V10 TDI engine option in Phaeton marked the first ever use of a V10 engine in a production sedan. The Phaeton Lounge was a concept car based on a lengthened version of the Phaeton with seating for four (two pairs of seats facing each other) in

17018-623: Was not an Oceanid, but rather a mortal woman, a daughter of Minyas , who married Helios. Although Helios himself is present in their works, for the two earliest ancient Greek authors, Homer and Hesiod , the chariot and the four horses that pull Helios each morning do not seem to exist at all; the oldest work in which they appear being the Homeric Hymns . Neither seems to know Phaethon as an individual, as "Phaethon", meaning "the radiant" seems to be exclusively an epithet used for Helios by them. The only Phaethon Hesiod seems to recognize

17152-644: Was released a year later and was the only transmission available in most other markets. A retuned, 20-millimetre (0.8 in) lowered sports suspension included a 30 percent stiffer spring rate and 40 percent more compression damping in the shock absorbers . Speed-sensitive " servotronic " power assisted steering was also standard. The brakes featured Bosch 5.3 anti-lock braking system (ABS), with electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD), and worked radially ventilated front discs . From 2002, an upgraded Bosch 5.7 electronic stability programme became standard fitment. The second-generation Audi A8 ( Typ 4E) built on

17286-551: Was replaced with a new 3.1-litre unit (badged as "3.2") featuring Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI), which it shared with the Audi B7 A4 and Audi C6 A6 . The top-of-the-line W12 version debuted that year. The advantage of the W12 engine layout is its compact packaging, allowing Audi to build a 12-cylinder sedan with all-wheel drive, whereas a conventional V12 could only have a rear-wheel drive configuration as it would have no space in

17420-612: Was similar in vein of Mercedes-Benz AMG models. In some markets such as the UK, the S8 was only available with the automatic transmission. Cosmetically, Audi differentiated the S8 from the A8 with solid aluminium alloy door mirror housings, chrome-effect beltline and lower front grille trim, and polished twin exhaust pipes, along with subtle "S8" badging. 14-way power adjustable and heated sports front seats with memory function were fitted as were heated rear seats. Standard alloy wheels were 18-inch cast aluminium alloy "Avus" six-spoke style. After

17554-489: Was the Phaeton's strongest, with 19,314 Phaetons delivered in Germany alone by January 2009. Production decreased to 10,190 cars in 2012 and 5,812 in 2013. In Phaeton's production run that lasted 15 years, 84,253 units were built. In Canada, 93 Phaetons were sold in 2004, and in the first eight months of 2005, only 21 found owners. In the United States market, 1,433 Phaetons were sold in 2004, and 820 were sold in 2005, leading

17688-423: Was the first model to be equipped with this grille; V8 engined models were fitted with the new grille the following year. The W12 variant was known for its appearance as the hero car in Transporter 2 , and its sequel, Transporter 3 . The D3 generation A8 introduced the 235 kW (315 hp) 4.1-litre Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) V8 engine (subsequently uprated to 240 kW (322 hp)). It

17822-530: Was unveiled in 2005 Middle East International Motor Show. The Phaeton was hand assembled in an eco friendly factory with a glass exterior, the Transparent Factory ( German : Gläserne Manufaktur ) in Dresden , Germany. This factory had a capacity of producing 20,000 vehicles a year, and was planned to expand to 35,000 vehicles a year. It also assembled Bentley Flying Spur vehicles destined for

17956-462: Was unveiled in the 2010 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition. The car for 2011 got a new front fascia to more closely resemble the Volkswagen styling direction first seen on the Golf Mk VI. This included new LED running lights, bi-xenon headlights and a new bumper with LED fog lights. The rear LED clusters were altered to mimic those found on facelifted Touran, Sharan, the new Touareg and

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