In much of the world, Audi is challenging the established luxury order, gaining ground on — and in some markets, actually taking the lead from — competitors like Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Now, with a significant update to its flagship sedan for the 2008 model year, Audi hopes to take the A8 lineup from afterthought to mainstream among U.S. buyers, as well.

An all-new version of the A8 isn’t scheduled to reach market until well into 2009, so the upcoming update starts out with the sedan that first appeared in 2004, riding on Audi’s big D3 platform. The most striking visual feature of the ‘08 is the single-frame grille, lifted nearly whole from the Nuvolari concept car. The side mirror have also been revised, while the A8 also gets new LED taillights, aluminum trim inserts and updated wheels.

Most of the changes come under the skin, however, Audi emphasizing ride comfort, safety, and handling with the 2008 A8. For one thing, the automaker claims the all-aluminum luxury “saloon” car will be perhaps the quietest on the road, thanks to the extensive use of new sound insulation.

Several high-tech features have been added, notably including the twinned side assist and lane assist systems. The former uses “intelligent” radar technology to constantly scan the car’s blind spots. If there’s an obstacle, a yellow LED lights up in the appropriate side mirror housing. If the driver then signals to change lanes, the LEDs glow brighter and begin flashing.

Lane assist, meanwhile, uses a small camera, mounted above the center mirror, to watch ahead for lane markings. Should the driver drift out of the lane, the steering wheel begins to gently vibrate.

Though a press release claims “gains in performance,” Audi also notes there are no changes to the powertrain offerings for 2008 — the current, 350-horsepower 4.2-liter V-8 will continue to power the A8 and A8 L, while the 450-hp 6.0-liter 12-banger, with its cylinders in an unusual “W” configuration, will be used on the A8 L W12. All models come with permanent all-wheel drive.

The test for determining federal mileage numbers has been revised for 2008, but so far, Audi’s updated numbers haven’t been released. By the 2007 standard, the V-8 models claimed 18 mpg city and 25 highway, while the W12 got 14/21 mpg.

At least for the upcoming model-year, there will be no TDI available for the States, though with Audi’s increasing emphasis on diesel technology, a new, super-clean diesel would seem a virtual certainly, at least with the introduction of the next-generation A8.

Other changes include revisions to the A8’s rack-and-pinion steering with variable steering ratio and Servotronic speed-dependent power assistance to deliver a more direct road feel. Meanwhile, the dampers, supports and tuning of the adaptive air suspension have also been updated, in Audi’s corporate words, to better, “follow winding country roads and effortlessly maintain a smooth straight line at high speeds.”

TheCarConnection.com will provide its own assessment, once we get our hands on a production version of the ‘08 A8.

HOSPITAL patients across the Lothians are to be offered a choice of two treatment dates under plans to slash the number of missed appointments.

NHS Lothian today announced it will begin rolling out the new system later this month, following a successful trial in a handful of departments at the Western General Hospital.

Patients who need treatment in a hospital bed, or at an out-patient clinic, will be offered a choice of dates designed to suit their work or family commitments. Around 60,000 people missed their hospital appointments last year, costing NHS Lothian 10.5 million in lost staff time. At present, any patient who does not turn up is automatically re-appointed, which increases overall waiting times for everyone on the list. Patients who fail to turn up for hospital and clinic appointments without explanation will have to return to their GP for another referral, unless it is “clinically inappropriate” to do so.

The changes are part of a national system called New Ways, which governs how waiting lists are managed. NHS Lothian is likely to be one of the first health boards in Scotland to introduce the flexible appointment set-up.

Peter Gilfoyle, the project leader for introducing New Ways to NHS Lothian, said: “New Ways introduces choice for all routine patients in agreeing appointment and admission dates, under most circumstances.”

The new arrangements will first be extended to all departments at the Western General, before the roll-out to all Lothian hospitals by the end of November.The successful pilot at the Western General involved patients in a number of specialities, including gynaecology and respiratory services.

Margaret Watt, chairwoman of the Scotland Patients’ Association, said today: “We’re really pleased to hear about this and we applaud NHS Lothian. But what is key is the sequence of events between receiving a date and the actual appointment.”

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon today also welcomed the success of the NHS Lothian pilot. “The Scottish Government is committed to supporting ways that put patients first in the health service,” she said.

POPE Benedict gave Brazil its first native-born saint yesterday and called on Roman Catholics to spurn media portrayals of life that glamorise pre-marital sex and undermine the traditional family.

The Pope said a mass for hundreds of thousands to canonise Friar Antonio Galvao, a Franciscan who lived in the 18th century and founded an order of nuns.

“The world needs transparent lives, clear souls, pure minds that refuse to be perceived as mere objects of pleasure,” he said in his sermon on a military airfield outside Brazil’s largest city on the third day of his first visit to Latin America.

“It is necessary to oppose those elements of the media that ridicule the sanctity of marriage and virginity before marriage,” he said to applause from the crowd.

Pope Benedict’s canonisation of Friar Galvao was an important part of his mission on this trip to revitalise the Church in Latin America, home to nearly half the world’s 1.1 billion Catholics.

Benedict praised Galvao for helping the poor and the sick, and for trying to be a peacemaker in his times.

During his trip so far, the 80-year-old Pontiff has firmly reinforced the Church’s opposition to abortion and called for a return to traditional family values.

But in a country where sex outside marriage is common, birth control is widely used, and divorce is not frowned upon, his message has had a mixed reception.

“This Pope is a little too rigid, especially when it comes to issues like marriage,” said Elisangela do Nascimento, 33-year-old divorced housewife from Sao Paulo in the crowd.

“We thought he was going to be a disappointment but he surprised us. People say he’s authoritarian, but he’s just a bit shy and sweet,” said Lucilene Gutierres, a 21-year-old student, who spent the night at the airfield waiting to see him.

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