To answer you first question, no we have not mistaken the A4 for the new A8. It's just that Ingolstadt has followed the typical German approach of "one-style fits all" with its new flagship model that looks exactly like the firm's entry-level A4 sedan. Don't get us wrong, the new A8 is in our opinion if not the, one of the most elegant and sleek proposals in the luxury sedan segment, but we were expecting something a tad more unique (in other words, more revolutionary, less evolutionary) from Audi.On the other hand, it should be noted that Audi's designers managed to achieve an exceptional drag coefficient of only 0.26, which is about the same as the smaller Toyota Prius hybrid.
Moving on to the interior, let's just say that, sans the A4-esque instrument panel, owners of the current generation A8 will feel right at home. In fact, we bet that most will have a hard time telling the two interiors apart. Nonetheless, the Germans do claim that the cabin has been further improved in terms of quality of workmanship as well as materials.
Leaving the evolutionary styling of the exterior and interior aside, the new 2011 A8 continues to make use of a lightweight aluminum body. The normal wheelbase A8 (a LWB will follow at a later date) measures 5,137 mm (16.85 ft) in length, 1,949 mm (6.39 ft) in width and 1,460 mm (4.79 ft) in height, with a 2,992 mm (9.82 ft) wheelbase.
The company has not yet released official figures for the A8, however, Audi says that the new model weighs about the same as the current A8, even though it's bigger (3 in. longer, 2 in. wider) and has more standard equipment.
Besides the low weight, the aluminum space frame (ASF) body of the A8 has other advantages with the company announcing that the static torsional stiffness has increased by 25 percent compared with the predecessor.
When the 2011 A8 arrives in European showrooms in early 2010, it will be available with a choice of two engines, a 4.2 FSI and a 4.2 TDI.
The 4.2-liter V8 petrol makes 372HP and 445 Nm (328 lb-ft) torque at 3,500 rpm, accelerating the A8 from zero to 100 km/h (62mph) in 5.7 seconds, and on to an electronically governed top speed of 250km/h (155mph).
Audi says that in the EU cycle, the petrol version returns a combined 9.5 lt/100 km (24.76 US mpg, which represents a reduction of 1.4 liters or 13 percent compared over its predecessor, despite a power increase of 22-horsepower.
The 4.2-liter V8 TDI diesel produces 350HP and a whopping 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) of torque already available at speeds between 1,750 and 2,750 rpm. The V8 diesel accelerates the A8 from rest to 100 km/h (62mph) in just 5.5 seconds.
Even though this new engine delivers 24HP and 150Nm of torque more than before, average consumption has dropped by 1.8 liters/100 km or 19 percent to 7.6 liters/100 km (31 US mpg), corresponding to CO2 emissions of 199 g/km (320 g/mile).
The two V8 engines will be joined by two six-cylinder diesels shortly after the market launch. The first 3.0-liter V6 TDI diesel makes 250HP and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) propelling the A8 from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 6.6 seconds while consuming on average 6.6 liters of fuel per 100 km (36 US mpg).
The second variant of the 3.0-liter V6 TDI produces 204HP and will be offered only as a front wheel drive model. It is said to return an average fuel consumption of 6.0 lt/100 km (39 US mpg), corresponding to CO2 emissions of 159 g/km (256 g/mile).
All engine versions will be equipped with a new, electronically controlled 8-speed tiptronic system and quattro permanent all-wheel drive (sans the basic 3.0 TDI model). As an option, Audi will offer a dynamic sport differential, which will be standard on the 4.2 TDI quattro.
In the U.S., the 2011 A8 will go on sale in late 2010 and will be offered at launch exclusively with the 372HP 4.2-liter V8 FSI petrol.
Techno gizmos include a revised MMI multimedia interface, seats with optional ventilation and massage functions, a new Audi pre sense safety system for avoiding accidents, adaptive air-suspension, a next generation nav system, night vision assistant with pedestrian marking and an adaptive cruise control with stop & go feature.
38 Comments:
first bmw, now audi. they don't need designers anymore -- all they need is one design for their entire fleet. just look at the new 5 series compared to the existing 7 series bmw, and now we have the audi "A468" sedan that comes with S/M/L sizes.
Wow, it really does look like the A4! Guess we all know what the next A6 will look like
I think they seriously messed it up with the LED headlamps on the front. The shape is absolutely dreadful. Whoever came up with that angle should be shot.
I always thought the A8 was the only really sexy car audi made (not counting the R8 of course) but this is hideous.
A4 long wheel base? Huh?
What the heck is that?? I agree we now have A468, and the headlamps are just weird to say the least...
wow, what a car, looks amazing!!! :D
what happened? those front lights r hideous why audi why?
I see a meme developing:
A468...
slab-sided and disappointing.
Those headlights ... very strange. But after a while of staring at it and trying to make sense of it, they grow on you, I suppose.
Strangely, the LED lighting is the only thing that excites me about this sedan. Overall, it's far too conservative for my tastes. I'll take a Silver 7 series please.
Exterior design is well... Ok as the A4 (agree with other comments)
Interior looks beautiful but :
- Why can't they just remove the gearbox stick completely ?
- Will the car change ambiant lights to red if driver goes past the speed limit ? :)
The exterior design leaves me a bit cold. This is a very conservative efford.I particulaly deslike the back end. Those rear lights give it á "sad" expresión to the car. It doesn´t look dinamic or sporty at all.
However, probably the best interior quality and design among luxury cars.
Gentle, subtle, elegant, a bit dull and discreet. What a expensive luxury car to be in. This is a class where vulgar and exciting style don't exist.
Y Audi que no para de copiar a BMW. Yo de verdad alucino con Audi y cómo es posible que venda esa imagen de diseño cuando no son nada originales. Esa lÃnea de cintura idéntica a las últimas realizaciones de Munich... creo que los de Ingoldstadt deberÃan ser más discretos... Y Walter Dasilva también... sino véase el ultimÃsmo Polo, parece coreano...
Anonymous... no style... they are loosing the style.(outside) No emotion, no enthusiasm...Sorry, they will sell but not history book for this design car.
LORENZO
should of stuck to the design concept drawings!
boooooooooooring...
Dear Carscoop readers:
Many apologies, somebody in my department has accidently sent you photographs of the current A4 facelift. Please be assured that the new 2010 A8 will of course be a radical and beautifully designed automobile that befits the £50,000 price tag and justifies the six years of research and multi millions of pounds spent on it.
Ex head of Audi design.
The only thing that is exciting about this new A8 is the new shape of the headlight and the interior lightning package which is all there really is to it. I guess the man responsible for the lightning was the only one who did some work. Incredibly boring design from Audi, like usual they are very predictable, this shouldn't even be news.
Same and lame design, looks as big A4, BMW 7 is better choice !!!
If you want an A8, at A4'S money, than buy an A4 an let it few days in the rain. It will grow to A8's size. And you'll have much car with less money.
1. S-Class, 2. bmw 7, 3.NEW XJ, 4. QUATTROPORTE, ......12. CITROEN C6, .........100. NEW A8.
I was hoping the new A8. But much more modest car but I had imagined.
well it looks good on sketches...and not so good in live...
Who buys this previous A8 and current A4 mixed car against a 7 or S ? WHO? dont think anybody so
If it woukd look boring it would be nice. But god those headlights look like cheap aftermarket tuning headlights made by a chinese dude in a shed.
The front of the car is just a ton of bad taste ... the rest is still borring.
One down for Audi
lukewarm and utterly uninspiring...
a complete waste of time. the XJ looks tons better
I was expecting sth more exciting. But interior is great!
So very bland... this car looks something like a Ford re-make of an S-Class Mercedes. Of course, the hideous green color in these photos only makes it look worse. I can only hope that the upcoming S8 will look much, much better.
Expensive cars have to look conservative. That keeps their value stable. Look at the Rolls!
And this car looks conservative - but sporty and "ripped" too. I like it. It fits into this world - right between high tech stealth fighters and the UFC. (Only the pink LEDs...)
The S-Class? Baroque! An oldish car for oldish men.
Only Mercedes has cars with unique styles... Audi had never had much design creativity. First, the A4 was a miniaturised A6. And now, the A8 is an increased A4. However, technologically, the A8 is impressive.
front overhang... why so long??? :/
good on sketches, but ugly style if u ask me i was hoping for a big car with a new sexy design' that would look evil! .. :( it looks like a biiig Hyundai Audi' what the fuck happened? hope not this the new design that u are gonna use on your models :/ sry audi this its FAIL!
Of course the car looks similar to the A4, it's called brand identity. You don't have to like it, but you should at least understand it! Audi's aren't Ferrari's- they are conservatively styled, technologically advanced (as evidenced by the LED headlamps) German cars!
She's technically much more advanced from previous one,but seems less sexier.
Indeed she looks more virile than former generation,yet loses some frills.
Above all,the new 4.2-litres V8 seems very potent to compete with the Mercedes S500L and the Lexus LS460,so it's a magnificent leapforward. Turbo diesels are also gems. In fact,the previous A8 4.2 with 350bhp accelerated 0-62mph(0-100km/h) in lengthy 6.7sec,slower than the well loosen-up Toyota Crown 3.0(said to be 6.09-6.26sec),while the new one records respectable 5.7sec(same as the S500L),with much improved fuel consumption and CO2 amount.
This looks more like a facelift than an all-new car...just look at the profile, it's practically the same as on the old car. Overall, the shape is OUTDATED. The engines too, are the same, only slightly tweaked...pretty dissapointing stuff i must say.
Anyway, I like the headlights, they're cool, but the tail-lights are borish to look at; probably because they are IDENTICAL to the ones on the A4 and the A6 ?! Come on Audi, is this the best you can do ??
NO SUNROOF????
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