A8/S8 [Official] The new Audi A8

[Design FIRST]

They literally have nothing to lose here. Totally ripping it all up and starting over with an EV replacement may be the way to go. Again, nothing to lose now.

M

...or going a route that accomodates BEVs, PHEVs and EREVs. Especially VAGs significant investment in Rivian and its "re-created" Scout brand present plentiful food for speculation. EREVs appear to be attracting quite a bit of attention more recently-and that especially in China and North America.

 

[mr.Mister]

For me, there's only one A8 i would have in my collection and thats the first one pre-facelift.
Its the definition of understatment.
The new ones are fugly for my taste, too much lines everywhere and those big grills...thanks, but no thanks.
Unfortunately, i have the feeling that the new one comming will have the same problems + big battery in the chassis, so it will be even thicker and even less coherent in terms of design.

The car industry kills our emotions towards new cars.
Its so sad.

 

[emet]

I love the first A8, it's still my favorite one, but I think D4 gen is also good looking and well designed one, inside and out.
I still don't ubderstand how they could f**k up design of the D5, especially the Huuuuuge front overhang. Facelift with A3 headlights is even worse. It's kind of sad, because other than that it's a very good car.

 

[Design FIRST]

I wonder whether an Audi derivative of the upcoming Porsche luxury/sport crossover codenamed "K1"...

will be the vehicle that succeeds the D5 A8 (following perhaps the D5s ultimate facelift) in the EU and North American markets. With the soon to be presented A7 model line growing in exterior dimensions and the traditional luxury 4 door sedan increasingly losing its allure, this could be the path that Audi will be taking. In addition, the once enthusiastically promoted Grandsphere concept, which was hailed to be an accurate precursor for "the next A8-the luxury segment eTron", seems to have totally disappeared from the radar. However, rumours remain persistent that SAIC is actively assisting development of a "Chinese market only" large electric luxury sedan for Audi.

 

[MercFan]

I love the first A8, it's still my favorite one, but I think D4 gen is also good looking and well designed one, inside and out.
I still don't ubderstand how they could f**k up design of the D5, especially the Huuuuuge front overhang. Facelift with A3 headlights is even worse. It's kind of sad, because other than that it's a very good car.

I don't understand one thing: why have I never seen a message about a long overhang in the BMW thread? Or Mercedes?

 

[Gor134]

You must be blind.. it was a long topic of discussion in the G60 5er thread.

The issue is the dash-to-axle ratio is short on the A8 which gives it the nose-heavy long overhang look. The closest RWD BMW to get to it is the new 5er, with it's very FWD-esque design imo.

 

[Tuffode]

I don't understand one thing: why have I never seen a message about a long overhang in the BMW thread? Or Mercedes?

Basically every time a new BMW is spied for the first time, the first thing people (including me) complain about is an excessive front overhang.

Audi's do have a longer overhang, but it works with the car. One of the main distinguishing things about an Audi is that the engine is over the front axle, so it makes sense. BMW and Mercedes don't have an excuse, a RWD car should have short front overhangs.

 

[Shellshock]

Any news about a new A8?

 

[Gor134]

Probably another facelift after the Q9 launches next year

 

[Jonathan19]

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[Rolf]

The power of Audi Quattro. Who said you cant take luxury saloons offroad?

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[Design FIRST]

Audi Has No Idea What To Do With The A8 | Carscoops

It had originally planned to replace the A8 with an all-electric luxury sedan and crossover but those projects are now dead

www.carscoops.com

My humble suggestion:

Just give the project to SAIC AUDI and let them develope the car. That is where the by far most significant potential market is anyway.

 

[Rolf]

Audi Has No Idea What To Do With The A8 | Carscoops

It had originally planned to replace the A8 with an all-electric luxury sedan and crossover but those projects are now dead

www.carscoops.com

My humble suggestion:

Just give the project to SAIC AUDI and let them develope the car. That is where the by far most significant potential market is anyway.

The A8 is the car that put Audi on the map as a innovative luxury car and so let them use SAIC AUDI to innovate the styling of the A8 again.

 

[Merc1]

They literally have nothing to lose with this car. Tear up the script and start over. Bold styling, V8, V6, EV powertrains for the right markets and over the top luxury would put the car back on the map and ditch the stupid platform it’s on now. Start completely over. It a major advantage vs the S Class which I feel can’t do anything to drastic.

M

 

[GTA45E]

Agreed, Audi needs a fresh start. The designers could base the next-generation A8 off the Bentley Flying Spur chassis and come up with something quite extraordinary. If the A8 came along with new underpinnings, it would not sit well with the current lineup as it is.

 

[Design FIRST]

Agreed, Audi needs a fresh start. The designers could base the next-generation A8 off the Bentley Flying Spur chassis and come up with something quite extraordinary. If the A8 came along with new underpinnings, it would not sit well with the current lineup as it is.

Interesting was the intracorporate confrontation that Audi and Porsche were embroiled in during the conceptual development phase of the D5 A8. Porsche executives were pushing Audi executives to utilize the Panamera derived MSB rather than the Audi signature MLB architecture. Audi executives prevailed and those still around may now bitterly regret it.

Anyhow, the segment that the current D5 A8 finds itself in is becoming increasingly irrelevant in the EU while remaining far more relevant in China. And it is there, IMHO, where a market viable successor should be developed (of course with major support from VAGs' European designers and engineers) and manufactured. Joint ventures with the likes of SAIC, FAW, Anhui JAC and Xpeng would help bring this into relatively swift fruition.

 

[Rolf]

The current A8 has already been out for 8 years and could probably last another 2 years max and Audi should then bring out a much needed replacement in 2027 so working with SAIC or XPeng would bring this out sooner if required, with their EV and software tech and some much needed revamp on the brand styling scheme. This styling revamp could lay the road down for the other new models so Audi could have a major refreshed model line up by 2030

 

[Design FIRST]

... so working with SAIC or XPeng would bring this out sooner if required, with their EV and software tech and some much needed revamp on the brand styling scheme. This styling revamp could lay the road down for the other new models so Audi could have a major refreshed model line up by 2030

Alas, being German I know. My countrymen/women so often have a haughty "we know everything better than anybody else" attitude. And this often obstructs cooperation leading to valuable constructive input as well as the implementation of such. This has been long evident regarding myriad issues. And there have long been examples that display that we are often not exactly the "sharpest tools in the shed". And most certainly not the the quickest. But maybe...slowly but surely...we'll get to that more rational, more focused, more efficient future. We're beginning to finally see first signs of that. Embracing partners that have repeatedly proven that they "REALLY know their shit !".

 

[Rolf]

Alas, being German I know. My countrymen/women so often have a haughty "we know everything better than anybody else" attitude. And this often obstructs cooperation leading to valuable constructive input as well as the implementation of such. This has been long evident regarding myriad issues. And there have long been examples that display that we are often not exactly the "sharpest tools in the shed". And most certainly not the the quickest. But maybe...slowly but surely...we'll get to that more rational, more focused, more efficient future. We're beginning to finally see first signs of that. Embracing partners that have repeatedly proven that they "REALLY know their shit !".

No kidding about German people been smart and intelligent, I have met many Germans over the years in the engineering industry and they were very innovative in their fields. But in the motoring industry they will now have to adapt to been more agile and quicker to bring out new innovations in EV powertrains and safety tech in order to match the lightning quick pace of the Chinese car brands. Instead of the usual every 4 years facelift as they have done over the years, it would have to be a every 2 year upgrade at least for the charging and battery tech.

 

[Design FIRST]

No kidding about German people been smart and intelligent, I have met many Germans over the years in the engineering industry and they were very innovative in their fields. But in the motoring industry they will now have to adapt to been more agile and quicker to bring out new innovations in EV powertrains and safety tech in order to match the lightning quick pace of the Chinese car brands. Instead of the usual every 4 years facelift as they have done over the years, it would have to be a every 2 year upgrade at least for the charging and battery tech.

One very positive sign is that Germans, young entrepreneurial start-ups as well as large high technology enterprises are increasingly embracing cooperation with partners in countries in which the most innovative of high technology is highlighted. China, Israel and North America. The young talent pool in Germany is formidable. But the afore mentioned partners can push things into market-ready fruition rapidly.