Audi A8, a Driving Wi-Fi Hot Spot

Gadgets | May 25th, 2010 by Staggs

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The last place to have Internet readily available wherever you are is that car that you have. But now, given you have enough money, you can get the new 2011 Audi A8 with a built-in Wi-Fi hot spot that can connect anything from your laptop to an iPad, up to eight devices wirelessly. The device works by connecting a cellphone SIM card into the car or by connecting the phone wirelessly via Bluetooth. The device will then be able to use the cellphone service to give the wireless Internet connectivity. Other products that allow this sort of connectivity require their own data connection plan, but because it is connecting to the cellphone or SIM card directly, there is no need to have another charge added to your phone bill.

The 2011 Audi A8 is the first car to offer a factory installed wireless Internet device. While the function is optional, I’m sure that plenty of the people buying this car will opt to have it. Audi tends to stay at the forefront of technology and as more people sign up for data packages for their cellphones this is a great way to give people what they want. Once a user has connected, the device can serve wireless Internet at speeds of up to 7.2 mbps that is WAP2 encrypted. The wireless transmitter is located at the top of the car near the antenna. You think this is cool, what else is this car packing…

What else is in this car?

Its a technophile’s dream car. With its subtle exterior, the complex innards of the A8 are nonetheless out of this world. The engine is a 372-horsepower, 4.2-liter V-8 that can launch the car from 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds. Its frame is made out of some space material (high-strength aluminum) that is better than steel, yet 40% lighter. The four-wheel-drive is dictated by Audi’s Quattro technology to keep all of the wheels from spinning without traction, giving more to play with around turns and off the line. This car goes 155mph when it becomes limited by a governor.

The basic sound option is a 14-speaker Bose system that will probably melt your heart. The upgrade, however, is a Bang & Olufson system with 19 speakers that will pound out 1,460 watts – soul melting audio. This of course is controlled by the Multi-Media Interface, MMI, a touchscreen device that rises from the dashboard that allows access to not only audio, but just about everything. The MMI is the driver’s GPS, information center, and mechanic, allowing just about anything to be controlled and programmed. Need to go off-roading (we wouldn’t want to do this in a car like this)? There is a function that allows you to adjust ride height of the car, inflating and deflating the air suspension for optimal performance.

The Audi A8 really is luxurious, but it comes at a hefty price. While the 2011 model has not yet been priced, the previous year’s base price is roughly $75,000, and can go as high as nearly $100,000 for the most advanced options Audi has to offer: including a neat solar sunroof that powers a ventilation system to circulate air when the car is off… that way its always comfortable, and never too hot for the leather interior.