Audi has put safety at the fore front of this design. The frame is super strong, but with aluminum's ability to absorb energy better than steel, it offers superior safety characteristics. It offers increased torsional and bending rigidity. It is one solid automobile. Audi also offers a plethora of air bags, eight in all, including a side curtain system to protect driver and passenger's heads.
All seat belts are three point.
For 2000, Audi has stretched the frame and wheelbase by 5.1 inches with wheelbase now measuring 118.5 inches with an overall length up by a like amount at 203.3 inches. The body has received some minor freshening with reshaped bumpers, new headlamp assemblies, a sharper, larger grille and a new rear deck lid. The changes are subtle, so recognizing the differences will take some doing. It's a good thing Audi didn't do anything else, because they could have ruined one of the best looking, more tasteful designs on the highway. When the A8 first appeared at the auto shows nearly five years ago, I thought it was the most beautiful luxury car on the market, with simple, elegant lines.