In Barcelona, Audi unveiled Tuesday the new flagship 2018 A8, the first Level 3 autonomous driving car to go into production, powered by NVIDIA.

The car features the AI Traffic Jam Pilot, which offers autonomy on crowded highways. The system uses a laser scanner combined with cameras to drive autonomously. It scans the entire area in front of the car. Data from sensors are processed in Zfas as the system creates a precise environment model at the rate of 2.5 billion inputs per second.

Traffic Jam Pilot can be enabled at speeds of up to 60 kilometers per hour. To engage the system, the driver presses the AUDI AI button on the center console. Once traffic dissipates, visual and auditory alerts prompt the driver to take control again.

Audi's Zfas driver assistance system powers the traffic jam assist system, for use on divided highways with on ramps and off ramps.

"The car of the future will make its occupants' life easier with the help of artificial intelligence," Audi Chairman of the Board Rupert Stadler said at the event's keynote.

Other features of the new car are the Remote Park Pilot, Natural Voice Control and Swarm Intelligence.

The A8 is packed with NVIDIA powered systems, including new user interfaces, a new MIB+ infotainment system, a new virtual cockpit, and new rear seat entertainment options.