2021 AUDI A8 transmission

Driving

Combustion engine startup
Applies to: vehicles with plug-in hybrid drive
A haptic pressure point indicates when the com-
bustion engine will be started. The pressure point
is variable and depends on the high-voltage bat-
tery charge level.
@ Recuperation
@ Power by electric motor
@) Pressure point
@ Power by combustion engine
© Maximum acceleration
Maximum acceleration
If you press the accelerator pedal all the way
down, the motor’s full power will be used and
you will reach maximum acceleration, also called
“kick-down”.
Applies to: vehicles with boost function: The elec-
tric motor can switch on for a brief period if the
accelerator pedal is pressed all the way down in
the “D” and “S” driving program. The availability
of this function depends on the charge level of
the high-voltage battery and the temperature of
the drive system components, among other
things.

Z\ WARNING
The driving wheels could spin and the vehicle
could swerve on slick or slippery road surfaces
when using kick-down, which increases the
risk of an accident.

Parking lock emergency release

B4mM-0189




@

@

Fig. 96 Footwell: releasing the parking lock using the
emergency release
112
The emergency release is located under the floor
mat on the driver's side. Read and follow the im-
portant instructions about towing > page 325.
Releasing the parking lock using the
emergency release
> Secure the vehicle against rolling > page 108.
> Pry the cover off at one of the openings using
the screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit
=> page 317.
> Insert the socket wrench from the vehicle tool
kit into the opening.
> Turn the socket wrench clockwise () until it
stops and press it downward @) until it locks in-
to place.
> Leave the socket wrench inserted.
Resetting the parking lock
> Grasp the socket wrench with both hands and
carefully pull it upward to remove.
> Install the cover.

Z\ WARNING
— The parking lock must be released using the
emergency release before towing the vehi-
cle.
— Only use the parking lock emergency release
if the vehicle is secured against rolling
= page 108. An unsecured vehicle may roll,
which increases the risk of an accident.
— Only activate the emergency release while
on a level surface or a slight slope.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, you must
not drive when the emergency release is ac-

tivated.
i Transmission: malfunction! Safely stop vehi-
cle

Do not continue driving. Stop the vehicle as soon
as possible in a safe location and secure it so it
does not roll > page 108. See an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility for as-
sistance.
Bi Transmission: too hot. Please stop vehicle >

4N0012721BF
Driving

Do not continue driving. Select "P" and contact an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility for assistance.
5 Transmission: too hot. Please adapt driving
style
The transmission temperature has increased sig-
nificantly. Drive very cautiously or take a break
from driving until the temperature returns to the
normal range and the indicator light turns off.
[@] Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving. See owner's manual
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. You may continue driving. Drive to an au-
thorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility soon to have the malfunction corrected.
[@] Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving with limited function. Please contact
Service
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency
mode. This mode only shifts into certain gears or
may no longer shift at all. The engine may stall.
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the
malfunction corrected.
[8] Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving with limited function. No reverse
gear
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency
mode. This mode only shifts into certain gears or
may no longer shift at all. The engine may stall.
You cannot engage the reverse gear. Drive to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
[8] Transmission: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving in D until engine is off
There is a system malfunction in the transmis-
sion. The transmission is switching to emergency
mode. If you turn the engine off, you will not be
able to select any other gears after restarting the
engine. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or au-
thorized Audi Service Facility immediately to have
the malfunction corrected.
fal Selector lever: malfunction! You can contin-
ue driving. Please contact Service
There is a system malfunction in the selector lev-
er. Drive immediately to an authorized Audi deal-
er or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction repaired.
& Selector lever: malfunction! Gear change on-
ly possible if using both shift paddles.
There is a system malfunction in the selector lev-
er. You can continue driving with restricted func-
tion. The selector lever is not working. Gears can
only be selected by tapping both shift paddles at
the same time when the vehicle is stationary. The
“P” gear is automatically engaged when you turn
off the engine. Drive to an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility immediately to
have the malfunction corrected.
i P button: malfunction! Auto P when engine
off. Please contact Service
There is a malfunction in the "P" button on the
selector lever. The “P” gear is automatically en-
gaged when you turn off the engine. Drive to an
authorized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service
Facility immediately to have the malfunction cor-
rected.
fel Danger of rolling away! P not possible.
Please apply parking brake
— The parking lock was released using the emer-
gency release > page 112. Or:
— The parking lock can no longer be engaged.
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility immediately to have
the malfunction corrected. Secure the vehicle
against rolling before exiting the vehicle
=> page 108.
Move selector lever to automatic position
The transmission has switched out of tiptronic
mode. Switch back to automatic mode with the
selector lever > page 111.
113

4N0012721BF
Driving dynamic

on curves. The vehicle is very responsive to steer-
ing. The settings depend on the selected Audi
drive select* mode.
Messages
t-3} Sport differential: malfunction! Please con-
tact Service
Drive immediately to an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility to have the
malfunction repaired.
r3] Sport differential: temperature too high.
Please adapt driving style
The transmission temperature has increased sig-
nificantly due to the sporty driving manner. Drive
in a less sporty manner until the temperature re-
turns to the normal range and the indicator light
switches of.

Z\ WARNING
Contact an authorized Audi dealer or author-
ized Audi Service Facility if the sport differen-
tial is faulty or malfunctioning. The repair
must be performed by trained personnel us-
ing
the correct oil in order to ensure safety.

Electronic Stabilization
Control
Electronic Stabilization Control (ESC) supports
driver safety. It reduces the risk of slipping and
improves driving stability. ESC detects critical sit-
uations, such as if the vehicle is oversteering or
understeering, or if the wheels are spinning.
The brakes are applied or the engine torque is re-
duced in order to stabilize the vehicle.
The following stabilization functions are integrat-
ed into the ESC, among others:
Anti-lock braking system (ABS)
ABS prevents the wheels from locking when brak-
ing. The vehicle can still be steered even during
hard braking. Apply steady pressure to the brake
pedal. Do not pump the pedal.
A pulsing in the brake pedal indicates that the
system is acting to stabilize the vehicle.
Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR)
ASR reduces drive power when the wheels begin
spinning and adapts the power to the road condi-
tions. This will increase the driving stability.
Electronic Differential Lock (EDL)
The EDL applies the brakes to wheels that are
slipping and transfers the drive power to the oth-
er wheels. This function is not available at higher
speeds.
In extreme cases, EDL automatically switches off
to keep the brake on the braked wheel from over-
heating. The vehicle is still functioning correctly.
EDL will switch on again automatically when con-
ditions have returned to normal.
Selective wheel torque control
Selective wheel torque control is used when driv-
ing on curves. Braking is targeted toward the
wheels on the inside of the curve as needed. This
allows more precise driving in curves.
Power steering
The ESC can also support vehicle stability
through steering.

ZA\ WARNING
—The ESC and its integrated systems cannot
overcome the limits imposed by natural
physical laws. This is especially important on
slippery or wet roads. If the systems begin
acting to stabilize your vehicle, you should
immediately alter your speed to match the
road and traffic conditions. Do not let the in-
creased safety provided tempt you into tak-
ing risks. This could increase your risk of a
collision.
— Please note the risk of a collision increases
when driving fast, especially through curves
and on slippery or wet roads, and when driv-
ing too close to objects ahead. There is still
a risk of accidents because the ESC and its
integrated systems cannot always prevent
collisions.

129

4N0012721BF
Driving information

Traffic light information
Applies to: vehicles with traffic light information

Fig. 114 Instrument cluster: traffic light information dis-
play
The traffic light information gives you a speed
recommendation in order to reach the next traffic
light when it is green @, or it informs you of the
wait time at the next red light 2). Once traffic
light
data is received, the traffic light information
will be displayed in the instrument cluster and in
the head-up display*. If the vehicle is in an area
with traffic light information but cannot receive a
traffic light signal, then a gray traffic light sym-
bol will be displayed @).
General information
The traffic light information is subject to system
limitations and may be unavailable or only parti-
ally available in the following situations:
—If the permitted speed limit is exceeded
— If driving below a certain speed limit
— If the next traffic light is less than approxi-
mately 100 feet (30 m) away
—If the estimated wait time at a red light is less
than four seconds
— If there is no traffic light data available
— If emergency response vehicles or public transit
systems are active
— If traffic lights are in construction zones or be-
ing serviced
— If there are warnings from the camera-based
traffic sign recognition*
— If the camera-based traffic sign recognition* is
malfunctioning or not available
—If the data connection has been interrupted
— If data transmission is deactivated in the priva-
cy settings
— If the subscription has expired
If this is the case, the menu item will be grayed-
out or it will not be possible to select it.

ZX WARNING
— When traffic light information is shown, al-
so always pay attention to the traffic situa-
tion, the distance to other vehicles, and the
area around the vehicle. The driver is always
responsible for assessing the traffic situa-
tion.
— Always adapt your speed to the current
weather, road and traffic conditions. The dis
played information must never cause you to
ignore legal traffic regulations and pose a
safety risk.
— Regardless of the traffic light information,
you should always monitor your speed using
the speedometer and make sure you are ad-
hering to the legal speed limit.
— The traffic light information does not adjust
your vehicle's speed to the speed recom-
mendation shown in the display.
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 150.
(i) Tips
— Traffic light information was only available
in select cities at the time this manual was
printed.
— Traffic light information is not available na-
tionwide.


— The functions depend on the navigation da-
ta* being up-to-date and correct identifica-
tion by the traffic sign recognition*.
— Incorrect values from the camera-based
traffic sign recognition* or outdated naviga-
tion system* map data can result in missing
or incorrect display images.
— Certain traffic lights can automatically ad-
just to the current traffic situation. If this
occurs, the display of traffic light informa-
tion can change suddenly.
157

Driving information

— The traffic signs on the road always take pri-
ority over the display. The driver is always
responsible for adhering to the regulations
applicable in the country where the vehicle
is being operated.
— Units of measurement and language set-
tings are displayed based on how they were
set in the MMI system settings > page 263.
Applies to: vehicles with traffic light information
Switching traffic light information on and
off
The system can be switched on and off in the
MMI > page 153.
Accessing traffic light information
> Select in the instrument cluster: vehicle func-
tions tab > Traffic signs.
@) Tips
If another tab or another function is selected
in the instrument cluster, the traffic light in-
formation will appear in the status bar on the
instrument cluster.
Messages
Applies to: vehicles with traffic light information
Malfunction! See owner's manual
The system could not be configured, for example
due to a network malfunction. Switch the igni-
tion off and shut down the vehicle to restart the
system. Wait several minutes until the vehicle
has shut down completely and then switch the
ignition back on.
Function currently unavailable. See owner's
manual
There is a temporary system malfunction. Check
if one or more of the following situations applies
and correct the issue if necessary:
— Traffic light information is switched off
— Data transmission is deactivated
— The vehicle is not equipped with traffic sign rec-
ognition.
158
— There is no valid license
— Traffic light information is not available in that
area
Lap timer
Introduction
Applies to: vehicles with lap timer
You can record and evaluate lap times with the
lap timer. You can operate the lap timer using the
multifunction steering wheel > page 13.
Opening the lap timer
> Select in the instrument cluster: Vehicle func-
tions tab > [=] button > Lap times.
An additional indicator will appear in the head-up
display”.

ZA\ WARNING
Your focus should always be on driving your
vehicle safely. As the driver, you have com-
plete responsibility for safety in traffic. To re-
duce the risk of an accident, only use the lap
timer functions in such a way that you always
maintain complete control over your vehicle in
all traffic situations.
Gi) Tips
You can retrieve information from the trip
computer while the lap timer stopwatch is
running.
ey Rael)
Applies to: vehicles with lap timer

Requirement: the lap timer must be open
> page 158.
Timing laps
> To start timing manually, select Start lap 1 in
the menu.
> To start timing automatically as soon as you be-
gin
to drive, select Start lap 1 by driving off or
Start by driving off in the menu.
> To start timing a new lap after driving a lap, se-
lect New lap in the menu. This starts timing
the next lap at the same time.

Parking and maneuvering

cannot be guaranteed for all types of mobile de-
vices. The availability depends on the following
factors, among others:
— Brand and build version of the mobile device
— Version of the mobile device operating system
— Software version of the app used
— Individual settings on the mobile device

ZA\ WARNING
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 150.
— There is a risk of an accident if an incompati-
ble mobile device is used. If there is a dis-
play indicating that functionality is restrict-
ed, the vehicle’s reaction speed may be im-

ZA\ WARNING
Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 150.



paired due to reduced transmission speed.

Parking options?)2)
Applies to: vehicles with remote park assist plus
Depending on the vehicle equipment, you may
have the following options when using remote
controlled parking:
Driving into parking spaces
— Parallel parking on the left or right side of the
street @ > page 196, fig. 145
— Driving forward or backing into perpendicular
parking spaces (2)/@) > page 196, fig. 145.
— Parking in one-car or two-car garages) 6)/@)
=> page 196, fig. 146
Exiting parking spaces
— Leaving perpendicular parking spaces @
=> page 197, fig. 147.
— Exiting parallel parking spaces @).
— Exiting one-car or two-car garages?) @).

D_ System availability may be limited depending on the mar-
ket.
2) In preparation at the time of printing.
3) Applies to: vehicles with remote park assist plus with ga-
rage function
204

G) Tips
— When parking in garages, you can be
straight in front of the garage or at a slight
angle in front of the garage. You will have
the best results when you align and stop
your vehicle as straight as possible in front
of the garage.
— If there is enough space in a two-car garage,
the system automatically selects the park-
ing position in front of the vehicle that the
driver has selected.

Parking with the my. app)2)
Applies to: vehicles with remote park assist plus
[raz-o341]
Fig. 151 Upper display: remote controlled parking - pre-
paring the vehicle
Requirements
> The setup has been completed.
> You are logged into the vehicle with your myAu-
di user.
> Bluetooth is switched on in the mobile device
and in the MMI > page 264.
» A suitable parking space has been found anda
parking option selected, for example in a ga-
rage (4).
> The vehicle must initially be stationary.

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Emergency call

Emergency call
Overview
Applies to: vehicles with emergency call function
An emergency call is a combination of data trans-
mission and a phone call. The data transmission
from your vehicle forwards important informa-
tion, such as the vehicle and position data, to the
emergency call center.
Depending on the country and the vehicle equip-
ment, the following functions may be available:
With the emergency call, you can call for help in
dangerous situations as quickly as possible. Use
this function when emergency help is needed
=> page 227.
— Audi connect emergency call (TPS emergency
call). This eCall system uses emergency call
centers operated by third party providers.
With online roadside assistance, you can request
assistance if there is a breakdown or a minor acci-
dent > page 228.

ZA\ WARNING
In areas with poor GPS reception or outside
the coverage range of the respective cell
phone service provider, some functions and/or
services may not be available, it may not be
possible to send or receive data, or functional-
ity may be limited.
@) Tips
To see which data can be transmitted, visit
your Audi country or sales region website at
www.audi.com.


Emergency call
Applies to: vehicles with emergency call function
The services are provided through a SIM card in-
stalled in the vehicle. Services are provided as-
suming that the cell phone network required for
the installed SIM card is functioning and availa-
ble for use. The services made availably by Audi
are only available within the mobile phone net-

work coverage area for the mobile phone service
provider selected by Audi.
@ Tips
—The emergency call function cannot be deac-
tivated in the Infotainment system settings.
— The availability of the TPS emergency call is
limited to certain times.
—The costs for call and data connections for
TPS emergency calls is included in the price
of the services.
Applies to: vehicles with emergency call function
A TPS emergency call can be made manually or
automatically > page 227.
Making an emergency call
Applies to: vehicles with emergency call function
tS oS 3
=| s a
oo
Fig. 157 Front headliner: cover for the emergency call but-
ton
Manual emergency call
Requirement: the ignition must be switched on.
> Tap the cover (@) to open it.
> Press and hold the emergency call button until
the LED () blinks. The emergency call will be
made.
> If the emergency call button is pressed by mis-
take, then press it again immediately and hold
it until the LED stays on. The emergency call
will be canceled.
Automatic emergency call
The vehicle electrical system initiates an auto-
matic emergency call under certain circumstan-
ces, for example if an airbag deploys. The LEDin >
227

Emergency call

the emergency call button (2) will blink. The
emergency call will be made. The emergency call
cannot be canceled.
LED status
— Green - The emergency call function is availa-
ble.
— Red - There is a malfunction in the emergency
call function. Contact an authorized Audi dealer
or authorized Audi Service Facility. Note the
messages about the availability of the emer-
gency function > page 228.
— Off - The emergency call function is not availa-
ble, perhaps because no network is available.
Warnings
If there is a critical system failure in the emer-
gency call systems, the vehicle occupants will re-
ceive the following warning: see > page 228, LED
status and > page 228, Messages.
@ Tips
If the emergency call is canceled due toa
poor connection, then the system automati-
cally tries to connect again.
Messages
Applies to: vehicles with emergency call function

BS Emergency call function: malfunction! Lim-
ited availability. Please contact Service
If this indicator light turns on and this message
appears, the emergency call function is restrict-
ed. For example, you cannot call the emergency
call center, but data may still be transmitted un-
der certain circumstances. Drive to an authorized
Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility im-
mediately to have the malfunction corrected.
& Emergency call function: malfunction! Func-
tion unavailable. Please contact Service
If this indicator light turns on and this message
appears, you cannot make an emergency call.
Drive to an authorized Audi dealer or authorized

D_ The availability of the services offered depends on the
country and may change in the future.
228
Audi Service Facility immediately to have the
malfunction corrected.
Online roadside
assistance
Applies to: vehicles with online roadside assistance
An online roadside assistance call )) is a combina-
tion of data transmission and a phone call. The
data transmission from your vehicle forwards im-
portant information to the Audi service center,
such as the vehicle and position data.

Calling online roadside assistance
Applies to: vehicles with online roadside assistance

Fig. 158 Front headliner: online roadside assistance but-
ton
Calling online roadside assistance
> Press the button @). The LED in the button
turns red. The online roadside assistance call
will be made.
> If you press the button @) by mistake, then
press it again.
Audi incident assistance
A minor accident may be detected by the vehicle
electrical system. You are able to select between
online roadside assistance and an emergency call
in the MMI.