In January 2011, German automaker Audi released a television advertisement showcasing the new A8.

File: Audi A8 III 4. 2 TDI quattro front 20100416. jpg | Presidential car

Agent Smith's vehicle of choice, as seen in The Matrix Reloaded is a black Audi A8 with black tinted windows and medium sized five-spoke aluminium wheels.

Although the Volkswagen group already has a direct competitor in the full-sized luxury segment, the Audi A8, the Phaeton is intended to be more of a comfort-oriented limousine like the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Lexus LS, while the Audi A8 and BMW 7 Series are more sport-oriented.

Certain systems, such as the automatic transmission and some engines, are also shared with the Audi A8.

Compared to the Audi A8L 4. 2 FSI quattro, the Phaeton is 545 pounds heavier but is still competitive with the lighter A8 in most driving tests, due to the Phaeton's increased engine power ( 335 hp versus 330 ) and a shorter axle ratio ( 3. 65: 1 versus 3. 32 ).

The Phaeton debuted at prices comparable to similar offerings from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus and the Volkswagen Group's own Audi A8 ( which shared its powertrain with the Phaeton ).

The GMC Granite won the EyesOn Design " Excellence in Design Award " for concept vehicles debuted at the Detroit show and the Audi A8 received the top honor for production vehicles.

The W8 was used in the B5. 5 Volkswagen Passat and the W12 is used in the Volkswagen Phaeton, the Volkswagen Touareg, the Audi A8, and the Bentley Continental GT — though in the latter application, the engine has been highly modified by Bentley, and fitted with twin turbochargers.

Fortune stated that the first Maybach models had poor driving dynamics compared to its contemporaries from Rolls-Royce and Bentley, as " Mercedes took an aging S-class chassis and plopped an absurdly elongated body on it ... rather than develop a new car from the wheels up, as BMW did with Rolls-Royce, or cleverly use the underpinnings of an existing model like the Audi A8 for a new Bentley ".

In 1994, the latest generation ( C4 ) of the Audi 100 was facelifted and re-badged as the Audi A6, to fit in with Audi's new alphanumeric nomenclature ( as the full-size A8 had just been introduced ).

This engine was intended to be a test bed for Volkswagen Group's new W engine technology, which would later make an appearance on the W12 in the Phaeton and Audi A8, and the W16 engine in the Bugatti Veyron.

The Audi A8 is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan car manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi since 1994.

Succeeding the Audi V8, and now in its third generation, the A8 has been offered with both front-or permanent all-wheel drive — and in short-and long-wheelbase variants.

Notable for being the first mass-market car with an aluminium chassis, all A8 models have utilised this construction method co-developed with Alcoa and marketed as the Audi Space Frame.

A mechanically-upgraded, high-performance version of the A8 debuted in 1996 as the Audi S8.

The Audi A8 ( Typ 4D ) debuted in Europe in 1994, with factory production commencing June 1994, although it was not until the 1997 model year that it became available in North America.

Unlike its predecessor, the Audi V8 model, which was built on an existing steel platform, the A8 debuted on the then-new Volkswagen Group D2 platform, an all aluminium monocoque, marketed as the ( ASF ), which helped to reduce weight and preserve structural rigidity.

In 1997, IVM Automotive of Munich, Germany built a two-door Audi A8 Coupé.

* Audi A6, an executive luxury car produced by Audi from 1994 to present

The Volkswagen Group also adopted it in the Golf Ecomatic in 1994 and in the Volkswagen Lupo " 3L " and the Audi A2 " 3L " in 1999.

* B5 platform, the series designator for Audi A4 from 1994 – 2001

The styling of the Audi TT began in the spring of 1994 at the Volkswagen Group Design Center in California.

The Audi 100 and Audi 200 are mid-sized automobiles manufactured for model years 1968 – 1994 by Audi, a division of the Volkswagen Group.

After the original model's 1994 release, Audi released the second generation in 2002, and the third and current iteration in 2009.

The Audi A4 is a line of compact cars produced since late 1994 by the German car manufacturer Audi, a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group.

The first generation Audi A4 ( known internally as the Typ 8D ) debuted in 1994, with production starting November 1994.

* Audi A4, a 1994 Audi luxury compact executive car

The factory opened in 1994, at first producing inline-four engines for the Audi marque.

* Audi V8L 1990 – 1994

The Audi V8 was replaced by the Audi A8 in 1994, although the model would not be sold in North America until 1997.

The Audi V8 ( Typ 4C ) is a four-door, full-size, luxury sedan, built by Audi in Germany from 1988 to 1993, as the company's flagship model.

The Audi V8 was specifically designed to be a top of the range ' flagship ' car and included a number of luxury features as standard equipment, including leather seating and Audi's famous quattro all wheel drive system ( see standard features list ).

This can range from cheap vinyl imitation leather, found on some low cost vehicles, to real Napa leather, found on certain models of luxury car brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi.

European luxury carmakers such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz still offered wagons in their North American lineup, using the labels " Avant ", " Touring ", and " Estate " instead of wagon.

The Audi 50 was discontinued in 1978 as Audi concentrated on larger luxury models.

* Audi V8, a 1988 large luxury saloon / sedan

* Audi A5, a 2007 luxury coupé

Top-selling re-badged luxury cars following this trend include the Lexus ES, Acura TL, and Audi A3.

The Sportback concept, a luxury five-door fastback model, was regarded as a preview of two future models: the Audi A5 Sportback variant and the Audi A7.

Other manufacturers have given badge engineered cars distinct branding and style, high-quality interior materials, wide range of convenience features, and performance powertrains, as these are key to distinguishing them from mass market equivalents and making these appeal to consumers ; successful luxury cars following this formula include the Lexus ES, Acura TL, and Audi A3.

The Mercedes-Benz GLK ( codename X204 ; Geländewagen Luxus Kompaktklasse ) is a compact luxury crossover released as a 2009 model elsewhere and as a 2010 model in North America after its public debut at the 2008 Beijing Auto Show alongside the competing Audi Q5.

Sneddon signed a record contract with Mercury Records and was given a luxury penthouse, Audi car and more as part of his prize.

The Audi Q7 is a full-size luxury crossover SUV unveiled in September 2005 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.