Rearview mirror: Audi A8 (D3) - 2002 to 2009

Although the current A8 is only into its third generation, Audi was synonymous with luxury saloons in the past with the Horch brand. The brand was one of the four that formed Audi and its prestige was as highly regarded as Maybach during its heyday.

The 1989 V8 quattro was the only Audi to use its engine configuration as its name. It was also the first quattro model to offer an automatic gearbox. The V8 quattro was marketed as the brand's flagship saloon, sitting above the aerodynamic 100 and 200 models.

The V8 quattro was rarely sold outside of Europe and the US, and was never officially offered here in Singapore. Just like its A8 successors, the V8 quattro looks understated and subtle on the outside and some will even say that it looks like an enlarged 100/200. The V8 lifted the brand's image in markets where it was sold and proved to be a cornerstone for the brand's current virtues and values as a maker of solidly built, high quality luxury saloons.

Interestingly, Audi developed the V8 quattro for racing in the DTM, the premier touring car series in Germany, where it battled with much smaller E30 BMW M3s and the Mercedes-Benz 190E Evolution IIs from 1990 to 1992. Famous names such as Hans Stuck, Frank Biela and Walter Rohrl are just several that had raced the V8 quattro in the competitive DTM with Stuck taking the 1990 title and Biela victorious in 1991.

At the Frankfurt Motorshow in 1993, Audi showed off the very shiny ASF concept. ASF stands for Audi Space Frame and the concept saw the debut saw the debut of aluminium construction for Audi models that now include the Mk II TT, the three generations of the A8 and the R8.

The ASF eventually morphed into the first generation A8 (D2) that made its world debut in the following year. The production A8 utilized the concept car's ASF aluminium monocoque which reduces weight without sacrificing structural rigidity. The D2 was the first production car to be built entirely on an aluminium platform. Like the newer generation A8 model, the D2's styling was subtle and understated, especially when compared to the Mercedes S-Class of that period. Both V6 and V8 engines were available and buyers have a choice of a front-wheel drive power train and V8 engines for quattro models.

The hot S8 appeared in the same year as the regular models and it can be distinguished by its larger alloy wheels and very subtle aero kit on the outside. Underneath the hood, the S8 featured a naturally aspirated 4.2-litre V8 with 335bhp. In addition to the more powerful engine, the S8 featured uprated suspension and brakes. The D2 S8's biggest claim to fame was in the 1998 film Ronin with Robert De Niro in the lead role.

At the 2001 Frankfurt Motorshow, Audi showed off the Avantissimo concept based on the D2 A8. The Avantissimo was a vision for a large estate car, a possible Avant version of the A8 which has not happened. Instead, the Avantissimo's styling cues appeared on the D3 A8 as well as the C5 A6 Avant.

Credits: Story by Raymond Lai Photos by Audi and Raymond Lai