2013 AUDI A8 Owners Manual

When stopping at a traffic signal or stopp ing
i n city traffic, the parking brake can be ap­
p lied . The vehicle does not have to be held
with the footbrake. The park ing brake elimi­
nates the tendency to creep with a drive range
engaged. As soon as you dr ive off as usual,
the park ing brake is released automatically
and the vehicle starts to move .
Starting on slopes
When starting on inclines, the start ing ass ist
prevents the vehicle from unintentionally roll­
i ng back. The braking force of the parking
brake is not released until sufficient dr iv ing
force has been bu ilt up at the whee ls.
O') Tips
For safety reasons, the park ing brake is re­
leased automatically only when the dr iv­
er's safety belt is engaged in the buck le.
Starting off with a trailer
To prevent rolling back unintentionally on an
incline, do the following:
.. Keep the switch(®) pulled and depress the
acce lerator. The park ing brake stays applied
and prevents the vehicle from rolling back­
ward .
.. You can release t he sw itch C®l once you are
s u re that yo u are develop ing eno ugh f or­
wa rd momentum at the wheels as you de­
press the accelerator.
D epending on the weight of the r ig (veh icle
and trai le r) and the severi ty of the in cli ne, you
may roll backwards as you sta rt. Yo u can pre ­
ve nt roll ing backwards by holding the parking
brake switch C®) p ulled out and acce lerating -
just as you would when starting on a hill with
a conventional hand brake.
On th e ro ad 87
Emergency braking
In the event that the conventional brake sys­
tem fails or locks .
.. In an emergency, pull the sw itch(®) and
cont inue to pull it to s low your ve hicle down
w ith the park ing brake.
.. As soon as you release the switch C®> or ac-
celerate, the b ra ki ng process stops.
If you pu ll the switch C®> and hold it above a
speed of about 5 mph (8 km/h), the emergen­
cy brak ing f unction is initia ted . T he ve hicle is
braked at all fou r whee ls by activating the hy­
d raulic brake sys tem. The brake pe rform ance
is simila r to making an emergency stop~ .&..
In order not to act ivate the emergency brak­
ing by mis take, an audib le wa rn ing tone (buz­
z er) so unds whe n the switch(®) is pulled . As
soon as the sw itch<®> is re leased, or the accel­
erator peda l is depressed, emergency braking
stops.
_& WARNING
Emergency braking should only be used in
an emergency, when the normal foot bra ke
has fa iled or the brake pedal is obstructed.
Using the parking brake to pe rform emer­
gency b rak ing will slow your vehicle down
as if you had made a full bra ke application .
T he laws of physics cannot be su spended
even wi th ESC and i ts asso ciated compo­
nents (ABS, ASR , ED L) . In corners and
when road or weather con ditions are bad,
a full brake application can ca use the vehi­
cle to sk id or the rear end to break away -
risking an accident.
Start-Stop-System
Description
Applies to veh icles: w ith Start -Stop-System
The Sta rt -Stop -Sys tem can help incre ase fuel
e conomy and redu ce CO2 emissions.
In the Start-S top-mode, the engine shuts off
a utomat ically when the veh icle is stopped,
s u ch a s at a t raff ic lig ht. The igni tion rem ains
lill-

88 On the road
switched on during this stop phase. The en ­
gine will be automatically restarted when
needed.
The last Sta rt-Stop -System setti ng (on/off us­
ing the button
l(A) ,.,I) wi ll be restored when the
ignition is turned on. The LED in the
l(A) "'I but­
ton turns on when the Start-Stop -System is
switched off manua lly.
Basic requirements for the Start-Stop
mode
- The driver's door is closed .
- The driver' seat be lt is latc hed.
- T he hood is closed.
- T he veh icle must have been driven faster
than 2.5 mph (4 km/h) since the last stop.
- A trai ler is not hitched to the vehicle.
A WARNING
-Never let the vehicle roll with the engine
switched off. You could lose cont rol over
the vehicle . This can lead to a coll ision
and serious injuries .
- Th e brake booster and the steer ing sup­
port do not work while the eng ine is
switched off. More force is required to
stop and to steer the vehicle.
- To reduce the risk of injuries, make sure
that the Start-Stop-System is turned off
when working in the engine compart­
ment¢
page 89.
(D Note
Always switch off the Start-Stop -System
when driv ing th rough water~
page 89.
Starting/stopping the engine
Applies to vehicles: w ith Start -Stop -System
Fig. 88 Instrument clus ter: engine sw itche d off (s top
phase)
.. Slow the veh icle to a stop using the brake
and keep pressing the brake pedal. The en­
g in e will sw itch off. The
D] indicator light
appears in the information line in the instru­
ment cluster display.
.. When you take your foot off the brake ped ­
al, the engine restarts. The indicator light
turns off.
Additional information
The engine will switch off in the P, D, N and S
positions as well as in manual mode . In the P
pos ition, the engine wi ll also remain off if you
take yo ur foot off the brake pedal. The engine
starts again when you select another selector lever position and take your foot off the brake
pedal.
If you select the R position during a Stop
phase, the engine will start again.
Shift from D to P quickly to prevent the engine
from starting un intentionally when sh ifting
through R.
You can determine for yourself if the engine
will stop or not by reducing or increasin g the
amount of force you use to press the brake
pedal. For example, if you only lightly press
on the brake pedal in stop-and and-go traffic
or when turning, the engine will not switch off
when the veh icle is stationary. As soon as you
press the brake down ha rder, the engine wi ll
swit ch off. ..,

@ Tips
When you stop and the start-stop-system
turns the engine off, the ignition remains on. Make sure that the ign ition is switched
off before exiting the vehicle.
General information
App lies to vehicles: with Start-Stop-System
The standard Start-Stop-mode can be cancel·
led for different system-related reasons.
Fig. 89 Instrument cluster : eng ine-Stop temporar ily
u navailable
Engine will not switch off
Before each stop phase, the system checks if
certain cond itions have been met . For exam­
p le, the engine will
not be switched off in the
following situations:
- The engine has not reached the minimum
required temperature for Start -Stop-mode .
- The interio r temperature selected by the A/C
system has not been reached.
- Th e outside temperature is extremely h igh/
low.
- The windshield is being defrosted
9page 81.
- The parking system* is switched on.
- The battery charge level is too low .
- The steering wheel is sharply turned or there is a steer ing movement.
- After engaging the reverse gear.
- On sharp inclines .
The
(jj indicator light appears in the informa­
tion line in the instrument cluster display
9fig. 89.
On the road 89
Engine automatically restarts
The stop phase is interrupted in the following
situations, for example. The engine restarts
without any action by the driver.
- The interior temperature varies from the
temperature selected in the A/C system.
- The windsh ield is being defrosted
9page 81.
-The brake pedal is pressed severa l times in a
row.
- The battery charge level becomes too low .
- High power consumpt ion.
@ Tips
If you shift into the D, Nor S positions af­
ter sh ifting into
reverse, the vehicle must
be driven faster than 6 mph (10 km/h) in
order for the engine to sw itch off aga in.
Switching the Start-Stop-System on/off
manually
App lies to vehicles: wi th Start-Stop-Sys te m
If you do not wish to use the system, you can
switch it off manually.
Fig. 90 Center console: Start-Stop-System button
.,. To switch the Start-Stop-System off/on
manually, press the
l "'I button. The LED in
the button turns on when the system is
sw itched off.
@ Tips
If you switch the system off during a stop
phase, the engine will start again auto­
matically.

90 On the road
Messages in the instrument cluster
display
Applies to vehicles: with S ta rt-Stop-System
Start-S top sy stem de activated: Pl ea se re­
s ta rt engine manually
This message appears when specific condi­
tions are not met dur ing a stop phase and t he
Start -Stop -System will
not be ab le to restart
the engine.
If the D or R se lector lever posi­
t ions were engaged,
P will be selected auto ­
m atica lly. The engine must be started with
the
! START ENGIN E STOPI button .
Start-Stop system : Sy stem fault! Function
un available
There is a malfunc tion in the Sta rt-Stop-Sys­
tem . Dr ive the vehicle to an au thorized repair
fac ility for servicing as soon as possible to cor­
rect the malfunction.
Speed warning system
Introduction
The speed warning system helps you to stay
under a specified maximum speed .
The speed warning system warns you if you
are exceeding the maximum speed that you
have set . You will hear a warn ing tone when
your speed exceeds the stored value by ap­
p rox imately 3 mph (3 km/h) . An indicato r
l ig ht . (USA models)/ . (Canada mode ls) i n
the ins trumen t clus ter display also t urns on at
the same time . The ind icator light
a;m
turns off when the speed decreases below the
stored maximum speed.
Se tting a thresho ld is re commended if yo u
wo uld like to be reminded when you reach a
certain maximum speed. Situations where you may want to do so include driv ing in a country
with a general speed Limit or if there is a
specified max imum speed for winter tires .
@ Tips
Even though your vehicle is equipped with
a speed warning system, you should st ill watch the speedome
ter to ma ke s ure you
are not dr iving faster than the speed limit .
Setting the threshold
You can set, chang e and delet e the threshold
in the MMI.
• Select: I CAR I func tion button > Car sy stem s
contro l but to n > Driver a ssist > Speed warn­
ing .
You can set any threshold betwee n 20 mph
(30 km/h) and 150 mph (2 40 km/h). Se tting s
can each be adj usted in incremen ts of
5 mph
(10 km/h).
Cruise control
Switching on
The cruise con trol sys tem makes it possible to
drive at a constant speed starting at 20 mph (30 km/h) .
Fig. 91 Contro l leve r wit h set b utton
Fi g. 92 D isp lay : Se lecte d sp ee d
• Pull the lever to position@~ fig. 91 to
s w itch the system on.
• Dr ive at the speed you w is h to set .
.,. Press button @to set that speed.

The stored speed and the indicator light
A;(l)~i4 (US mode ls) 8 (Canad ian mode ls) ap­
pear in the instrument cluster d isp lay
¢ fig. 92. The display may vary, depending on
t he type of d isplay in your vehicle.
The speed is k ept constant via an engine out­
put adjustment or act ive brake intervention .
A WARNING
-Always pay attention to traffic even when
the cruise control is switched on . You are
always responsible for your speed and
the distance between your vehicle and other vehicles.
- For safety reasons, the cruise control
should not be used in the city, in stop­
and-go traff ic, on twisting roads and
when road conditions are poor (such as
ice, fog, grave l, heavy rain and hydro ­
planing) -risk of accident .
- Turn off the cruise control temporari ly
when entering turn lanes, highway exit lanes or in construction zones.
- Please note that inadvertently "rest ing "
yo ur foot on the accelerator peda l causes
the cruise control not to brake. This is
because the cruise control is overridden
by the driver's acce leration.
- If a brake system malfunction such as
overheating occurs when the cruise con­
trol system is sw itched on, the braking
function in the system may be switched
off. The other cruise control functions re­
main active as long as the indicator light
[~jlQ~i4 (US models) I ii (Canad ian mod­
els) is on.
The brake lights illuminate as soon as the brakes decelerate automat ically .
Changing speed
" To increase/dec rease the speed in incre­
ments , tap the lever in the
0 10 d irection
¢ page 90, fig. 91 .
On the ro ad 91
" To increase/decrease the speed quick ly,
hold the lever in the
0 10 direction until
the desired speed is displayed.
You can also press the accelerator pedal down
to increase your speed, e.g . if you want to
pass someone . The speed you saved earlier
will resume as soon as you release the accele r­
ator pedal.
If, however, you exceed your saved speed by
6 mph (10 km/h) for longer than S minutes,
the cruise contro l wi ll turn off temporari ly.
The green symbol
A;(l )~i4 (US models) 8 i n
the d isplay is replaced with a white symbol.
The saved speed remains the same .
Presetting your speed
You can preset your desired speed while the
vehicle is not moving .
" Switch on the ignition.
" Pull lever into posit ion
(D ¢ page 90,
fig . 91 .
" Press the lever in the 0 or 0 direction to
increase or decrease your speed .
" Release the lever to save that speed.
This function makes it possible, for example,
to save the speed you want before dr iving on
the h ighway. Once on the highway, act ivate
the cru ise con trol by pulling the lever toward
(D .
Switching the system off
T e mpor ary dea ctivat ion
" Press the brake pedal , or
" Press the lever into position @(not clicked
into place)
¢ page 90, fig. 91 , or
" Drive for longer than 5 minutes at more
than 5 mph (10 km/h) above the stored
speed.
S w itching off complet ely
" Press lever into position @(clicked into
place), or
" Switch the ignition off .

92 On the road
The system retains the saved speed if you de ­
activate the cr uise contro l tempo rari ly. To re­
sume the saved speed, release the b rake pe d­
a l and pull the lever to position @.
Sw itching the ign ition
o ff e rases the saved
speed.
A WARNING
Yo u should only return to t he saved speed
if it is not too fast for t he current traffic
conditions - risk of an accident!

Audi adapt ive crui se c ontrol an d bra kin g guard 9 3
Audi adaptive cruise
control and braking
guard
Introduction
App lies to vehicles: with Audi adaptive cruise control
The adaptive cruise control system assists the
driver by regu lating vehicle speed and helping
to maintain a set distance to the vehicle
ahead, within the limits of the system . If the
system detects a moving vehicle up ahead,
adaptive cruise control can brake and then ac­
celerate your vehicle. This helps to make driv­
ing more comfortable both on long highway
stretches and in stop-and-go traffic.
The braking guard system can warn you about
an impending collision and initiate braking
maneuvers ¢
page 99.
Adaptive cruise control and braking guard
have technical limitations that you must
know, so please read this section carefully, un­
derstand how the system works and use them
properly at all times.
General information
General information
Applies to vehicles: with Audi adaptive cruise control
Fig. 93 Front of the vehicle: sensors and video came ra
The areas that contain the radar and ultrason ­
ic sensors and the v ideo camera ¢
fig. 93
must neve r be covered by stickers or other ob­
jects or obstructed with dirt, insects, snow or
ice that will interfere with the adaptive cruise
control system and braking guard. For infor­
mation on cleaning, refer to ¢
page 218. The same applies for any modifications made in
the front area.
T he function of the adaptive cru ise contro l
system and braking guard is limited under
some conditions:
- Objects can on ly be detected when they are
w ith in sensor range
¢page 95, fig. 96 .
-The system has a limited ability to detect
objects that are a shor t distance ahead,
off
t o the side of your vehicle or moving into
your lane.
- Some kinds of ve hicles are hard to detect;
for examp le motorcycles, vehicles with high
ground clearance or overhanging loads may
be detected when it is too late or they may
not be detected at all.
- When driving through curves
¢page 94 .
- Stationary objects¢ page 94.
& WARNING
Always pay attent ion to traffic when adap ­
tive cruise control is switched on and brak­ ing g uard is active. As the driver, you are
still respons ible for starting and for ma in­
taining speed and distance to other ob­
jects . Braking guard is used to assist you .
The driver must always take action to avo id
a collision. The driver is always responsible
for braking at the co rrect time.
- Improper use of adaptive cru ise control
can cause collisions, other acc idents and
serious pe rsonal in jury.
- Never let the comfort and conven ience
that adaptive cruise control and braking
guard offer d istract you from the need to
be alert to traffic condit ions and the
need to rema in in full control of your ve­
hicle at all times,
- Always remember that the adaptive
cruise control and braking guard have
limits -they will not s low the vehicle
down or maintain the set distance when
you drive towards an obstacle or some­
thing on or near the road that is not
mov ing, such as vehicles stopped in a
traffic jam, a stalled or disabled vehicle .
I f registered by the radar sensors,

94 Audi adapti ve cruise control and bra king gu ard
vehicles or obstacles that are not moving
can trigger a collision warning and if con­
firmed by the v ideo camera, an acute col­
lis ion warn ing .
- For safety reasons, do not use adaptive
cruise co ntrol when driving on roads with
many curves, when the road surface is in
poor condit ion and/or in bad weather
(such as ice, fog, gravel, heavy rain and
hydroplan ing) . Using the system under
these cond it ions cou ld result in a co lli ­
sion .
- Swi tch adap tive c ruise control off tempo­
rar ily when driv ing in turning lanes, on
expressway exits or in construction
zones . This prevents the vehicle from ac­
celerat ing to the set speed when in these
situations.
- The adapt ive cruise control system wi ll
not brake by itse lf if you put your foot on
the accelerator pedal. Doing so can over­
ride the speed and d istance regulation .
- When approaching stationary objects such as stopped traff ic, adaptive cruise
co ntrol will not respond and braking
guard w ill have limited function.
- The adapt ive cruise control system and
braking guard do not react to people, an­
imals, objects c rossing the road or on­
coming objects .
- The function of the radar senso rs can be
affected by reflective objects such as
guard rai ls , the entrance to a tunnel,
heavy rain or ice.
- Never follow a ve hicle so closely that you
cannot stop your vehicle safe ly. The
adaptive cruise contro l canno t slow or
brake the vehicle safely when you follow
another vehicle too closely. Always re­
member that the automatic braking
function cannot br ing the vehicle to a
sudden or emergency stop under these condit ions.
- To prevent unintended operation, always switch ACC off when it is not being used. (D Note
The sensors can be displaced by impacts or
damage to the bumper, wheel housing and
underbody. That cou ld affect the adaptive
cruise control system and brak ing guard.
Have your authorized Aud i dea ler or au ­
thorized Audi Service Facility check their
funct ion .
In curves
Applies to vehicles: with Audi adaptive cru ise contro l
I
Fig. 9 4 Exampl e: dri ving in to a curve
When d riving into a curve c> fig. 94 and out of
a curve, the ad aptive cruise control may react
to a vehicle in the next lane and apply the
brakes. You can override or prevent the brak­
i ng by pressing the acce lerator pedal b riefly .
' Stationary objects
Applies to vehicles: with Audi adaptive cruise control
Fig. 95 Exampl e: objec t ch anging l anes and sta tio nar y
object
T he adaptive cru ise control system only reacts
to objects that a re mov ing o r that the system
has already detected as moving . For examp le,
if a vehicle @, which has already been detect-
ed by the adaptive c ruise contro l, tu rns or
ch anges lanes and another stationary vehicle .,.