Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Audi
Third-gen Audi A8 to be "stronger, sharper, more precise"
From the first lozenge-shaped A8 that hit American shores in 1997, Audi's flagship sedan has slowly been asserting itself more and more. The current A8 W12 is almost always given credit for its beautiful-yet-subtle design and a glorious interior. American buyers, however, haven't thrown money at it like they do the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S Class. Audi is out to change that with the 2011 A8.
Among the changes, Audi is trumpeting improvements to the car's handling, the area in which it has traditionally lost ground to its European luxo-sedan brethren. The rear-biased quattro system will also be enhanced with Audi's "sport differential" torque-vectoring system, and if other markets clamors for it, Audi will offer the front-drive A8 outside of Europe. Inside, expect a raft of changes to the interior and a "more innovative" MMI system.
As before, the A8 will come in regular and long wheelbase versions, and provide a wide range of engines for world markets, from a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel through to the S8's V10. The transmission will be the same 8-speed ZF unit used by the 2009 BMW 7 Series.
All of it will be wrapped in sheetmetal that Audi says will be "stronger, shaper, more precise," a design that will make efforts to highlight the car's aluminum build technology. Said head designer Stefan Sielaff, the car will present "a strong three-dimensional theme," and be "the first of a new styling language at Audi." We can't wait to see it. Thanks for the tip, Other Man!
[Source: Car and Driver]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
calguy 11:16AM (12/31/2008)
Time to spice up the recipe. Looks as if the verve of the Estoque is rubbing off on Audi. Veering towards a styling deviation from the A4 & A6 clones (which are ok looking, no doubt) will be a good thing.
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Mazda FTW! 11:17AM (12/31/2008)
"Said head designer Stefan Sielaff, the car will present "a strong three-dimensional theme,"
FINALLY! I'm tired of driving around in my two-dimensional car.
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Mobius_1 12:41PM (12/31/2008)
Well, I can't wait for their first "fourth dimension" car, wouldn't it be nice to travel through time.
Jeff 11:24AM (12/31/2008)
Third Generation? Wait what did the first look like?
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Quattroporte 11:38AM (12/31/2008)
The first generation was this one dimensional blandness.
http://www.netcarshow.com/audi/1998-a8/1600x1200/wallpaper_04.htm
But, the second generation, the two dimensional one, I rather liked.
http://www.netcarshow.com/audi/2004-a8_4.2_quattro/1600x1200/wallpaper_07.htm
But what do I know, I liked the Phaeton.
http://www.netcarshow.com/volkswagen/2009-phaeton/1600x1200/wallpaper_02.htm
Jeff 6:29PM (12/31/2008)
ewww. omg, that horrible first generation vehicle. fails in comparison to the current one.lol
Chase 11:28AM (12/31/2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgBgnoEY4iM
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veerappan 11:41AM (12/31/2008)
I like Audi A8 very much.
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Michael 11:54AM (12/31/2008)
The current A8 is absolutely fantastic.
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larry a 12:01PM (12/31/2008)
my dad has an 05 a8 L, its nice, but some things arent holding up, the plastic threshhold keeps coming loose audi wanted 450 bucks to fix it we told them to go F themselves and we'd get some superglue on the way home, all the rubber on the buttons are coming off, the MMI has broke once cost a grand to get it replaced, and the serpentine belt just broke. but besides all of that the car has been great, rides really nice, the transmission shifts really smooth, my biggest qualm with the car is its steering feel and i believe they fixed that on the updated one.
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Liquidretro 1:01PM (12/31/2008)
Also being an 05 A8L owner there is no reason your belt should break if you get maintenance performed when the manual says. I hope your engine is not permanently damaged.
larry a 1:49PM (12/31/2008)
no hes taken the car in for all the scheduled maintence since the day he got it, his car has 55k miles, it was making an odd noise from the engine, we took it in and the serpentine belt had to be replaced, the car runs fine now and the noise is gone, have you had any issues with your A8?
larry a 12:10PM (12/31/2008)
"American buyers, however, haven't thrown money at it like they do the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S Class. Audi is out to change that with the 2011 A8"
interesting, they said they limited the production of the A8 so its not something you see every day, I see at least 5 or 6 7 series and S classes every day, and maybe 2 A8s a week.
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JDMlover 12:14PM (12/31/2008)
Nice.
But i think the Next Lexus LS will be much better...and look better with more technology and luxury....honestly i dont see how they can make the LS600 or LS460 any better.....maybe a F version ?
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Mazda FTW! 12:24PM (12/31/2008)
Or perhaps some more character, non-derivative styling and/or driving prowess?
Anti-believer 1:30PM (12/31/2008)
Bascially, they are saying it will be a stretched A4 as it has been for years!!!
WOW! I'm not excited.
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alain 2:31PM (12/31/2008)
by stretched a4 do you mean style wise? the current audi grill came out on the A8 W12 years ago, when the 4.2 A8 still had the normal grill for its year.
platform wise you are completely wrong. the A8 has always been all aluminum, and very light for its size, some where around 4500 - 4800 lbs if i am not mistaken.
Kitko 2:01PM (12/31/2008)
In other words - current model and the previous one were junk
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Anti-believer 3:10PM (12/31/2008)
Alain,
you idiot of course I mean design/style wise. Plenty of people know that a4 and a8 aren't on the same platform, silly.
GEEZ!
A8/Phateon sucks!
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Michael 3:20PM (12/31/2008)
You know that the A8 and the Phaeton aren't on the same platform, either, right?