I find this project quite feasible. VW Group lacks a car between A8 and Bentley Conti FS. Large Porsche beyond Panamera, or sub-Continental Bentley does not make sense, while Audi A9 sounds perfect. Sooner or later BMW will defrost the BMW CS project. And I'm sure Mercedes is thinking to offer something between S, CL and Maybach 57.
Not like the current one. What about the next one? :t-hands: http://www.germancarforum.com/a4-s4-rs4/35572-audi-a4-first-images-next-generation.html#post485856
I neither see it happening, specially, as you say, when the Panamera is not that expensive to make a gap for the A9 (in fact, the Panamera is not more expensive than an A8). And there also the Conti GT.
All that VAG needs is a Porsche 928, a very sporty GT to accompany the Bentley CGT in that price bracket.
I've been an avid reader of German-language automotive publications for many, many years (decades, in fact). Autozeitung is indeed one of the magazines that I purchase regularly. And as much as I would applaud an automobile such as the Audi A9, I am also more than sceptical that such a car will ever become a reality. I recall reading in AZ many years ago that Audi was developing a traditional coupe based on the C4 Audi 100 to compete with the W124C M-B E-Class coupes of the time. Never came to be. About 10 years ago according to AZ back then, Audi was well into the development stages of an automobile that would usher the reemergence of the Horch brand-a super-luxo 4 door sedan to be positioned above the A8. Nope. A traditional coupe based on the B5 Audi A4 as AZ speculated ? Sorry. A future A9 would be a very tempting proposition as a halo car, a true flagship, for Audi. I'd love to see it, but I don't think that it'll happen. But it does appear to be a fact that the VW Group is currently developing a new modular chassis system monikered MSB (Modularer Standard Baukasten)-for large automobiles, RWD as well as AWD. It will be used as a platform for large Audi, Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini automobiles. Panamera successor for example. Or future Audi A8 and Bentley Conti. Lambo Estoque perhaps. Porsche engineers are allegedly very involved in the developement of the MSB platform.
I remember reading an article in Automobile Mag that, under VW's umbrella, that Porsche would not continue with the Panamera after this one and only generation. SInce it's on a different platform from other VW AG's offerings, it makes no financial sense. Now, with the Panamera's success, things may have changed, but that's what I read a few months ago. If that's the case, then I see a good case for the A9. With that said, I feel like VW's future strategy for its ever-expanding higher-end portofolio is going to be like what GM did (well, still does) and badge-engineer the snot out of their platforms. Especially, if there's a shred of truth in this article by 4titude: http://www.fourtitude.com/news/publish/Features/article_6323.shtml But I have higher hopes for VW products.
I would say an A9 would be inevitable. Why? @ Paris insider rumours point to a Bentley 5dr Coupe , if they go ahead with that then to spread the cost and make the platform more cost effective then I imagine A9 will be given the go-ahead. It is no secret that VW's Phaeton replacement or additional variant? will return to it's original idea a sleeker 5dr coupe as showcased by the 1999 Concept D. To which VW intend to re-invent it as opulent as a Mulsanne. Then Lamborghini and then Porsche might use said platform for the Estoque and Panamera replacement respectively.
A feasible prospect if you ask me. Bently, Porche and Lamboghini to collaborate with Audi and possibly VW in platform sharing. Bently and particularly Lamboghini using exotic and expensive material based derivatives of the platform.
It looks as though I may very well be forced to eat crow with regard to my original scepticism. Audi appears to be seriously exploring the possibilities of bringing an A9 to fruition. That said, I'll contently admit to being proved incorrect as I would applaud such an automobile from Audi. I do however remain more than sceptical about reports stating that this car will be based on the A8s' ASF, MLP related matrix. The development of the upcoming MSP matrix under the supervision of Porsche has been confirmed and it would surely make a very appropriate basis for the A9, as well as a Lamborghini Estoque, the Bentley Conti GT successor and the Bugatti Galibier. And with the new A6/A7 being so close to the A8 in content, I could easily envisage the A8s' successor to be be MSP matrix based. The 4WD Quattro argument favoring the MLP over the MSP (RWD as well as 4WD) doesn't really appear to hold water. Porsche is quite capable when it comes to 4WD know-how.
Thats a good point Jimmy. Something to consider, the Panamera platform was launched in early '09 and assuming that Porsche will have a 7-8 year platform lifecycle, development of the new MSP platform won't commence until early 2012 (assuming a 4-year development period) with release being 2016-7. By then, launching the A9 would be far too late. Based on the above, i think it would be most appropriate for the A9 to be built-off the current A8-MLP platform.
Good information, UCG ! I actually thought that the time required to develope a new platform would have been considerably diminished over the course of the past few years, especially due to the ever increasing utilization of computers/computer simulations in the design and testing process. 2016/17 is indeed some way off. Could it perhaps be the case that the upcoming VW-Group MSP matrix is indeed an evolution of the current Panamera platform ? This may afford the group the opportunity to bring these cars to the market a bit sooner. That would be pretty cool, methinks.
It is possible but i don't think it'll happen. The Panamera platform is made out of steel and i would imagine that Audi and Lamborghini would desire an aluminium-intensive platform for the A8 and Estoque. Also, yes you are correct that development periods have been decreasing with advances in technology. However, manufacturers still need to make money so its desirable for them to stretch-out the lifecycle of vehicles so as to obtain the maximum economic benefits of a platform.
