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31 AUDI POWERTRAIN AD&P; ∕ NOVEMBER 2017 The electrification of the powertrain is now standard for Audi. And it is a matter of course in Formula E. The Audi A8, the flagship of the Ingolstadt-based brand's lineup, has launched in its fourth iteration, and it marks a change in the powertrain approach that has long been taken by Audi. The car is being equipped, for the first time, with an electri- fied drive—as standard. This is a mild hybrid configuration that is based off of a 3.0-liter, turbocharged V6. The engine (and we're using the German configuration information here because the U.S. numbers aren't yet available at the time of this writing) produces 340 hp at from 5,000 to 6,400 rpm and 368.8 lb-ft of torque at from 1,370 to 4,500 rpm. The engine is mated with an eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission. The mild hybrid system consists of two primary elements, a water-cooled 48-volt belt alternator starter (BAS) and a lithium-ion battery system that is located under the floor of the trunk. The primary electrical system for the A8 is 48-volts; there is a DC/DC converter to step down the power for applica- tions that are based on the 12-volt electrical system. In terms of the performance of the mild-hybrid system it allows the engine to be shut off when the vehicle is traveling at between 34.2 and 99.4 mph. The A8 will coast for up to 40 seconds before the engine is restarted. Or, the engine will fire immediately upon the driver touching the throttle. The 48-volt system also permits start/stop operation from a speed of 13.7 mph. One of the most-notable features—as it is said to be a world's first—of the A8 is what the company calls "AI traffic jam pilot." It is said to be SAE Level 3 autonomous driving capable. According to SAE: "Level 3—Conditional Automation: The driving mode-specific performance by an Automated The all-new Audi A8. For the first time, Audi is offering the car as a mild hybrid, standard. 31