The development of the running gear is subject to conflicting objectives. For now, besides
"classic" aims such as function, driving safety, strength and durability, requirements such as
weight reduction, driving comfort and acoustics are increasingly gaining in importance.
At first glance, many requirements appear to be in mutual opposition. A car designed to be
very comfortable will lose out in terms of driving safety when driven at the limit.
On the other hand, a car with very sporty tuning will achieve considerably higher cornering
speeds, and will reach its limit much later. However, this sporty tuning necessarily entails limi-
tations when it comes to comfort.
In the Audi A8 MY 2003, a newly developed, fully bearing air suspension system is used.
In conjunction with the CDC status-dependent electronic damping control, this ensures that
the main - and partly conflicting - requirements are satisfied in an optimum manner within the
limits of the laws of physics.
