What is the Cylinder Deactivation Technology in the Audi A7?

I've heard that the Audi A7 has a cylinder deactivation feature, but I'm not sure what it does or how it works. Can someone explain it to me?

Cylinder deactivation is a technology that shuts off a certain number of cylinders in the engine when they are not needed, to improve fuel efficiency. For example, when you are driving at a constant speed on the highway, the car may only need four of its eight cylinders to maintain that speed.

Think of it like having a V8 engine with the power of a V4. By deactivating cylinders, the engine is able to conserve fuel without sacrificing too much power. It's a great feature for those who do a lot of highway driving!