2021 AUDI A8 tow

Trailer towing

you are operating the vehicle. Contact an author-
ized Audi dealer or authorized Audi Service Facili-
ty for more information.
Before you start driving, check all lighting equip-
ment on the trailer while it is hitched to the vehi-
cle.
The headlight range control automatically ad-
justs the light range of the headlights.
Safety chains
Make sure the safety chains are correctly applied
when pulling a trailer. The chains should hang
enough so that the trailer can drive around
curves. However, they must not touch the
ground.
Air suspension
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
The Audi drive select* comfort mode > page 124
must be selected before you adjust the tongue
weight on the trailer and hitch the trailer >@,
=> page 126.
Likewise, the vehicle cannot be raised manually
using the Raise function > page 126.
The air suspension trailer mode must be switched
on.
Applies to MMI: select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Settings & Service > Air suspension:
trailer.
Switch trailer mode off again when you are no
longer towing a trailer.
When using rear carrier systems that are mount-
ed directly on the trailer hitch ball head, you can
also switch trailer mode off manually.
If you must drive on roads that are in poor condi-
tion, you can raise the vehicle again after hitching
the trailer or after adjusting the tongue weight
=> page 126.
Vehicle levels below the values set in the comfort
level will no longer be available, even if you are
lowering the vehicle manually.
148

ZA WARNING
Applies to: vehicles with air suspension
— Never turn off trailer mode while driving
when a trailer is hitched, because then the
restrictions for controlling the vehicle level
will be turned off.
— Driving with a trailer on unpaved roads when
the vehicle is raised may change the vehicle
handling. Adapt your speed.
— Note that the vehicle will lower automatical-
ly at certain speeds if you have lifted the ve-
hicle manually.
C) Note
— Applies to: vehicles with air suspension: Se-
lect the Audi drive select* comfort mode.
Otherwise, the tongue load specified for
your vehicle will no longer be applicable.
— Attachments retrofitted on the vehicle may
cause damage, especially on the trailer
hitch ball head. In cases of damage, have
the function checked by an authorized Audi
dealer or authorized Audi Service Facility.
@) Tips
— Block the wheels with chocks when parking
on inclines if the trailer is loaded.
— Audi recommends having the vehicle in-
spected between the inspection intervals if
you tow a trailer frequently.
— Avoid driving with a trailer during the vehi-
cle break-in period.
Pie Rie Relig
Driving with a trailer requires extra caution.

Speed
Adhere to the legal speed limits. Follow the legal
regulations that are applicable in the country
where you are operating the vehicle.
As the speed increases, the driving stability of
the trailer decreases. Therefore you should not
exceed the maximum legal speed limit when
there are unfavorable road, weather, and/or wind
conditions. This especially applies when driving
downhill.

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Trailer towing

Hill
When you start driving uphill or downhill, trailers
may tilt or sway sooner than when driving ona
level surface. If small swaying movements have
already occurred, you can stabilize the trailer by
firmly braking immediately. Never attempt to
“straighten out” the trailer by accelerating.
Conventional drive system: Downshift before
driving on hills to utilize the engine braking ef-
fect SA.
Plug-in hybrid drive system: Reduce the speed
and use the recuperation braking effect
=> page 114 to relieve the brakes > A.
Brakes
When using a trailer with overrun brakes, first
brake gently then quickly. This reduces the risk of
jerking while braking if the trailer wheels lock up.
Engine coolant temperature
Pay attention specifically to the coolant tempera-
ture display when there are high outside temper-
atures, and when driving on long inclines
=> page 14. Shift to a higher gear in a timely man-
ner.

Z\ WARNING
Constant braking causes the brakes to over-
heat and can substantially reduce braking per-
formance, increase braking distance, or cause
complete failure of the brake system.

149

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Driver assistance

Driver assistance
Cruise control system
Applies to: vehicles with cruise control system
The cruise control system assists the driver in
maintaining a constant speed above approxi-
mately 15 mph (20 km/h). The system maintains
the desired speed by braking and accelerating.
Switching the system on
Applies to: vehicles with cruise control system


ZA WARNING
— Always pay attention to the traffic around
your vehicle when the cruise control system
is in operation. As the driver, you are always
responsible for controlling your vehicle
speed and the distance between your vehicle
and
other vehicles.
— For safety reasons, cruise control should not
be used in the city, in stop-and-go traffic, on
winding roads, and when road conditions are
poor (such as ice, fog, gravel, heavy rain,
and conditions that could lead to hydroplan-
ing), because this increases the risk of an ac-
cident.
— Switch the cruise control off temporarily
when driving in turning lanes, highway exits,
or in construction zones.
—To reduce the risk of an accident, you should
only resume the stored speed if it is suitable
for the current traffic conditions.
BFV-0220



() Note
— Conventional drive system:Before driving
downhill a long distance on a steep hill, de-
crease your speed and select a lower gear.
This makes use of the engine braking effect
and reduces the load placed on the brakes.
— Plug-in hybrid drive: Before driving downhill
a long distance on a steep hill, decrease
your speed and use the recuperation braking
effect > page 114. This reduces the load on
the brakes.
@ Tips
The brake lights turn on when the brakes are
applied automatically.


Fig. 116 Operating lever: switching the system on
Requirement: the ignition must be switched on.
> To switch the system on, pull the lever toward
you to position ©.
The Gia or i$) indicator light and the corre-
sponding message will appear in the instrument
cluster.

ZA\ WARNING
If the brakes are malfunctioning (for example,
overheating) while the cruise control system
is switched on, the regulating functions may


shut off automatically.


Preselecting or activating a cruise con
speed
Applies to: vehicles with cruise control system
When the vehicle is stationary, you can preselect
the cruise control speed or activate the speed
while driving.
Requirement: the system must be switched on.
> To preselect a cruise control speed when the ve-
hicle is stationary, tap the lever toward @)/G)
=> page 163, fig. 116.
> To activate the cruise control speed, pull the
lever
toward position @ while driving.
> To set the current driving speed as the cruise
control speed, press the button @) on the lever.
The active cruise control speed is indicated with
the Gg or kl indicator light in the instrument
cluster.
163
>

Driver assistance

An additional indicator will appear in the head-up
display*.
Changing the cruise control speed
Applies to: vehicles with cruise control system
Requirement: the system must be switched on.
> To increase or decrease the cruise control speed
in small increments, tap the lever up to the
first level toward @)/G) 9 page 163, fig. 116.
> To increase or decrease the cruise control speed
in larger increments, tap the lever up to the
second level toward @)/G).
> To increase or decrease the cruise control speed
continuously, tap and hold the lever at the first
or second level toward @)/G).
Overriding or deactivating the cruise
control speed
Applies to: vehicles with cruise control system
You can override or deactivate the cruise control
system. When you deactivate the system, your
cruise control speed will be stored and you can
resume that speed.
Requirement: the system must be switched on
and the regulated speed must be activated.
Overriding
> To temporarily override the cruise control
speed, press the accelerator pedal.
> To resume the stored regulated speed, remove
your foot from the accelerator pedal.
If you override the cruise control system for a
long period of time, the cruise control system
will be deactivated. The [Ud or [RM indicator
light will be displayed and the cruise control
speed will be saved.
Deactivating
> To deactivate the cruise control speed, press
the lever toward @) (not locked into place)
=> page 163, fig. 116, or
> Press the brake pedal.
164

ZA WARNING
Resting your foot on the accelerator pedal
could override the cruise control. This will pre-
vent braking interventions by the system.
See me Lai
Applies to: vehicles with cruise control system

When you switch the system off, the cruise con-
trol speed will be erased.
Requirement: the system must be switched on.
> To switch the system off, press the lever toward
@ (locked into place) > page 163, fig. 116, or
> Switch the ignition off.
Applies to: vehicles with cruise control system
Gir / 3) Speed control system: currently un-
available. See owner's manual
If the indicator light turns on and this message
appears, the cruise control system has been deac-
tivated. There is a temporary malfunction, for ex-
ample the brakes are overheating. Switch the
cruise control system on again later.
Efficiency assist
Applies to: vehicles with efficiency assist
Efficiency assist can assist the driver with predic-
tive information in order to reduce fuel consump-
tion. Depending on vehicle equipment, the sys-
tem may access data from the navigation system,
the camera behind the windshield, and the radar
sensors.
Adjusting the efficiency assist
You can adjust efficiency assist functions individ-
ually. The settings depend on the vehicle equip-
ment.
— Accelerator pedal feedback > page 111.
— Interactive accelerator > page 111.
— Predictive messages > page 165.
— Predictive control > page 174, Adjusting the
adaptive cruise assist.

Driver assistance

Dp 4 — Lane guidance is switched on but not active.
> 4 - The limits of the system have been reached.
Take over steering.
A / en) - The indicator light turns on if the
steering intervention request is providing a warn-
ing. Always keep your hands on the steering
wheel so you can be ready to steer at any time
=>page 170.

Z\ WARNING
Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 150.
Using adaptive cruise assist
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive cruise assist


RAZ-0096


Fig. 120 Lever: using adaptive cruise assist

B4M-0232


2
zt
5
©
Fig. 121 Operating lever: changing the speed
Switching on
> To switch on the adaptive cruise assist, pull the
lever up to position @ until it engages.
Storing the speed and activating regulation
If you have switched the system on, you can set
the current speed as the “regulated speed” and
activate regulation:
168

> Press the [SET] button @). The set speed is indi-
cated with a marking in the speedometer (@)
= page 167, fig. 118 and shown in the instru-
ment cluster > /\.
> To save the speed while the vehicle is station-
ary, also hold the brake pedal down.

You can set any speed between 15 mph
(20 km/h) and the maximum possible speed
range @) > page 167, fig. 118.
Pausing cruise control
The control can be stopped at any time:
> While driving or when the vehicle is stationary:
Press the lever away from you in the direction
of the arrow. Or
> While driving: Press the brake pedal.
The A indicator light turns off.
Resuming regulation
The previously set speed can be resumed at any
time after a pause.
> To resume cruise control while driving, pull the
lever
toward you in the direction of the arrow.
> To resume cruise control when stationary, pull
the lever toward you in the direction of the ar-
row while pressing the brake pedal.
Changing the speed
> To increase or decrease the set speed in smaller
increments, briefly tap the lever toward () or
© to the first level.
> To increase or decrease the set speed in larger
increments, briefly tap the lever toward @) or
© to the second level.
> To increase or decrease the set speed quickly,
hold the lever toward G) or () until the mark-
ing in the speedometer @) > page 167, fig. 118
has reached the desired speed.
Preselecting a speed
You can also preselect the speed when adaptive
cruise assist is not active by moving the lever in
the desired direction @)/©). Activate the previ-
ously selected speed by pulling the lever toward
you in the direction of the arrow.

Driver assistance

incorrect or the navigation system map data
is outdated.
— When route guidance is switched on, the
system adapts to the route provided by the
navigation system. Driving without route
guidance or leaving a route can result in
faulty control.
Setting the distance
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive cruise assist

B4M-0234


Fig. 124 Operating lever: setting the distance
If you adjust the speed, you must also change the
time gap to the vehicle driving ahead. The higher
the speed, the greater the distance that is need-
ed.
> Tap the rocker switch to display the distance
that is currently set.
> To increase or decrease the distance in incre-
ments, tap the switch again toward @) or ().
The newly-set distance will be shown briefly, for
example with the indicator light. In the Driv-
er assistance display, a graphic display is shown
instead of the indicator lights > page 167,
fig. 119. The display matches the functions of
the indicator lights.

When approaching a vehicle driving ahead, the
adaptive cruise assist brakes to the set speed and
then maintains the set distance. If the vehicle
driving ahead accelerates, then the adaptive
cruise assist will also accelerate up to the speed
that you have set.
The following distances can be set:
172

Meaning

The time between is approximately 1
second. This setting corresponds to a
distance of approximately 92 feet
(100 m) when traveling at 62 mph
(28 m/h).
The time between is approximately 1.3
seconds. This setting corresponds toa
distance of approximately 118 feet
(100 m) when traveling at 62 mph
(36 m/h).
The time between is approximately 1.8
seconds. This setting meets the general
recommendation of “half the speed
shown on the speedometer”. This cor-
responds to a distance of approximate-
ly 164 feet (50 m) when traveling at
62 mph (100 km/h).
The time between is approximately 2.4
seconds. This setting corresponds toa
distance of approximately 219 feet
(100 m) when traveling at 62 mph
(67 m/h).
The time between is approximately 3.6
seconds. This setting corresponds toa
distance of approximately 328 feet
(100 m) when traveling at 62 mph
(100 m/h).
1D
D



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

G) Tips
— When setting the distance, the driver is re-
sponsible for adhering to any applicable le-
gal regulations.
— Depending on the selected driving program
and distance, driving behavior when acceler-
ating may vary from moderate to sporty
=> page 174, Adjusting the adaptive cruise
assist.
—The distances provided are specified values.
Depending on the driving situation and how
the vehicle ahead is driving, the actual >

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Driver assistance

distance may be more or less than these tar-
get distances.
Overriding control
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive cruise assist

[RAZ-0096]


Fig. 125 Lever: overriding the control
Requirement: the adaptive cruise assist must be
switched on.
Overriding control
You can completely override the control, for ex-
ample when passing or if you would like to accel
erate more quickly.
> To accelerate manually, pull the lever toward
you in the direction of the arrow and hold it
there, or press the accelerator pedal.
> To resume the usual cruise control, release the
lever or remove your foot from the accelerator
pedal.
When you are in the Driver assistance display,
the message Overridden will appear.
Decreasing the distance
The function decreases the set distance and pro-
vides assistance, for example when merging
when a lane is ending.
> To further reduce the distance to the vehicle
ahead temporarily, pull the lever toward your-
self in the direction of the arrow and hold it in
that position.
> To resume the system control, release the lever.
The adaptive cruise assist reduces the distance
and, if necessary, accelerates the vehicle above
the set speed. When you are in the Driver assis-

D_ This is not available in some countries.

tance display, the message Overridden will ap-
pear.

Z\ WARNING
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 150.
— Resting your foot on the accelerator pedal
could override the cruise control. Braking in-
terventions and corrective actions by the
system may not occur.
Driving in stop-and-go [3
Applies to: vehicles with adaptive cruise assist

RAZ-0398
Fig. 126 Instrument cluster: safe start monitor
Stopping with adaptive cruise assist
The adaptive cruise assist also assists you in stop-
and-go traffic. Within the limits of the system,
your vehicle may brake and remain at a stop if a
vehicle driving ahead stops.
Starting to drive with adaptive cruise assist!)
As long as the message ready to drive and A is
displayed, your vehicle will begin driving when
the vehicle ahead starts to move > /\.
If you are stopped for several seconds, your vehi-
cle will no longer drive autonomously for safety
reasons, and the message will turn off.
> To extend ready to drive for several seconds or
reactivate, pull the lever briefly towards you in
the direction of the arrow > page 173, fig. 125.
> To resume manual control of the vehicle, tap
the accelerator pedal. >
173

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Driver assistance

vehicle has been driven faster than 3 mph (5
km/h) at least once since the ignition was
switched on.
— The Audi pre sense side functions may also
switch off if there is a malfunction in the in-
tersection assistant*.
Saeed
Applies to: vehicles with swerve assist
The swerve assist can help you to steer the vehi-
cle around an obstacle detected in a critical area.
If you avoid an obstacle after the acute warning,
then swerve assist assists you by specifically
braking individual wheels and applying slight
steering adjustment to correct the steering
wheel angle as long as you are actively steering.
The swerve assist is available at speeds between
approximately 30 mph and 90 mph (50 km/h -
150 km/h).

ZA WARNING
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 150.
— Swerve assist does not react to pedestrians,
animals, crossing objects, and objects not
detected as vehicles.
@) Tips
— System functions may not be available if the
ESC is limited or switched off, or if there is a
malfunction.

— An indicator in the instrument cluster will
inform you when there is an intervention.
Se
Applies to: vehicles with turn assist
When turning left, turn assist can help to reduce
the risk of a collision with an oncoming vehicle by
using braking action to keep your vehicle in its
lane. The function is only available when the turn
signal is turned on and at speeds up to maximum
of 6 mph (10 km/h).

D In certain countries.

ZA\ WARNING
— Observe the safety precautions and note the
limits of the assist systems, sensors, and
cameras > page 150.
— The turn assist does not react to pedes-
trians, animals, crossing objects, and ob-
jects not detected as vehicles.
@ Tips
— System functions may not be available if the
ESC is limited or switched off, or if there is a
malfunction.

— An indicator in the instrument cluster will
inform you when there is an intervention.
Oe Tire PAU sm dees)
Applies to: vehicles with Audi pre sense
The system can be switched on and off in the
MMI > page 153. You can adjust Audi pre sense
functions to your preferences. The adjustment
options depend on the vehicle equipment.
> Applies to MMI: Select on the home screen: VE-
HICLE > Driver assistance > (<3) > Audi pre
sense.
Setting the prewarning
You can adjust the warning time for the prewarn-
ing» individually (Early/Medium/Late) or switch
the prewarning off.
Set the warning time for the early warning to
Early at first. If you feel that the prewarnings ap-
pear too early, then set the warning time to Me-
dium. The Late warning time should only be set
in special circumstances.
@) Tips
— If the system is switched off, it switches on
again automatically once the ignition is
switched on again).
— Switch Audi pre sense off when you are not
using public streets, when loading the vehi-
cle onto a vehicle carrier, train, ship, or oth-
er type of transportation, or when towing >
181