PARIS (Sept. 27, 2002) — Germany's Audi A.G. is making Groupe Michelin's PAX run-flat tire/wheel system an option on the latest version of its top-of-the-line A8, which is to be launched in Europe in October/November, Michelin announced at the Paris Auto Salon.
The car maker is the second customer for PAX, launched by the French tire group in 1998. Renault has been selling its five-door Scenic minivan with the PAX tire/wheel combo since 2001. Initially supplied as an option on the Scenic, PAX was made standard equipment on the Fairway and Sportway luxury versions of the Scenic.
The A8 is a four-door, V8-powered luxury sedan. The redesigned version launched at the Paris Auto Salon is the second generation of the model, first brought to market in 1993. The A8 features four-wheel-drive and an air-spring suspension system.