A8/S8 [Official] The new Audi A8

[W201]

It sure looks better in real life pics.

Leather airbag cover is a nice touch.

 

[Yaz]

Does that mean it's officially the replacement to the S?

 

[Mick Briesgau]

It sure looks better in real life pics.

Leather airbag cover is a nice touch.

The look and feel of the “valcona” leather = nappa is good. To me it seems to be of high quality, certainly on par with the W222. The car I drove had the 2nd leather upgrade package, which means leather airbag cover, middle console, armrests and upper part of the doors, upper dashboard. It also did have the alcantara package (roof, pillars and hoodshelf).

Does that mean it's officially the replacement to the S?

Not yet, but it’s going to be close. I took the testdrive more out of curiousity than because of the A8 being a real serious candidate. After spending circa 400 kilometer in it, I am, yes, think it’s fair to say I’m rather flabbergasted... or just plainly impressed.
It’s drive is very comfortable, in some situations even more than the S. Driving on a Dutch highway at speeds between 100 km/h and 140 km/h it tops the S; so wonderful wafty (is that English?), lovely flying carpet feeling. Short bumps, manhole covers, frost road damage, it takes with less élégance than the S.
Inside it’s quiet like in a cathedrale at sunday morning. The world outside is non-existent.
The interior seems to be well screwed together. As far as I can see, top notch materials used. The sreens bother me and I just don’t like them (fingerprints and distraction). On the other hand, at first you put everything in your position, seats etc. and from that point on, you can operate the car almost completely by voicecontrol and the steeringwheel buttons. You don’t have to touch the screens.
The massage seats are the way I like them. You can choose between 3 stages of pressure: let’s say stage 1: small Thai lady, stage 2: tall blond swedish lady, stage 3: Turkish professional sportmasseur with hands that could strangle a bull.
Fuel consumption in my eyes splendid, although it was rather cold, 20” wheels and AWD. Yeah, AWD. I still don’t like it. But after driving this A8, I might get used to it.

 

[Busty]

^Very interesting, thanks. What do you think about it in terms of styling (exterior and interior)?
Since the current Audi design narrative is veeeery different from the Mercedes philosophy, I think your analysis could be quite insightful.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

^ Well, exterior is typical large Audi sedan. I like the Quattro emphasizing bulges above the wheel arches. The sharp characterline that runs across the whole side from front to the trunk, is a very good looking designfeature. Imo you have to take it in a light colour, so it’s subtle designthemes can work. The black one I drove doesn’t show them so well and looks a bit dull and even more like it’s predecessor. My choice of colour would be silver.
It has a nice stance and it’s wide, looking at it from the front and rear. It should work on the Autobahn... The large grill doesn’t bother me. The profile looks inconspicuous and low profile, which in these times isn’t bad.
The enormous front overhang and FWD proportions are the negatives.

Interior surprised me somewhat. After seeing the photos, I was pleasantly surprised that as a whole it looks very upmarket, chic, stylish (I,m searching for the right word) suiting it,s pricebracket. The horizontal outlay, the architecture of the middle console, the way both screens are integrated (I don’t like it when a screen is not nicely integrated but freestanding, put on top of the dashboard for instance, not in this class). The virtual cockpit on the other hand, was cheaplooking to me.
Allthough the interior is quite the opposite of what I,m currently driving, I do like it, very much indeed. It looks so clean, so esthetic, nothing there that could bother, only what you need. Allow me to make the following comparison: some say, the S class looks like a 19th, early 20th century brothel. Than the A8 looks like a 21st century brothel, disguised as a modern club.
As already mentioned, used materials, the way it’s all screwed together, in my non-professional eyes look and feel top. For some strange reason even the used glossy, black plastic parts on the console and dashboard, aren’t really disturbing the overall good impression.
The new A8 is a serious S class alternative.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

I'm curious regarding the SWB A8s' (or would that be S8s' ?) eye-appeal when optioned with the more "sporting" 21" or 22" rim options. Some 20-30mm lower to the ground and a wider track could offer quite an athletic appearance.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

when does this A8 go on sale in the States? I just read somewhere it's late 2019. That can't be right....can it?

 

[Merc1]

I think it's late 2018.

M

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I think it's late 2018.

M

It's a similar case with Australia. Almost 1 year after it's revealed it turns up in the showroom. That's just stupid. Why does it take Audi so long to roll out their vehicles.

 

[Star&Car]

It will go on sale in a few days in China.SLOW,even considering for their largest market.

 

[sako97]

A8 W12 will be phased out before the end of this generation.

“We will not have the 12-cylinder forever,” Peter Mertens, Audi’s R&D boss, told journalists at the recent Geneva auto show. “There are customers who really want the 12-cylinder and they are happy with it and are going to get it. But this is going to be the last installation.”

Audi’s New A8 Will Be the Last with a W-12; V-10’s Future Looks Shaky

 

[Monster]

It's a similar case with Australia. Almost 1 year after it's revealed it turns up in the showroom. That's just stupid. Why does it take Audi so long to roll out their vehicles.

In the case of Australia, I don't think it is a big enough market, I have seen about twelve previous gen A8 on the road in the past 7 years. I see more S class in a week than that.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

Quite frankly, I would not at all be surprised were the current D5 the last A8 that represents the general paradigm created with the first A8 back in 1994 (based on the IAA 1993 ASF Concept). The development of the current iteration proved to be a headache in terms of monetary investment and intracorporate conflict.

I have a hunch that its' successor will be an EV underpinned by VAGs' PPE platform (developed under Porsche supervision and related to the J1 platform of the Porsche Mission E). Perhaps an "eTron 9" of sorts, based on the recently (officially) announced Audi eTron GT 4 door liftback coupe. Only somewhat larger, somewhat more upright with a 2 1/2 box, seperated trunk "sedoupe" architecture.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

A personal and obviously subjective "in the metal" observation:

The new D5 Audi A8s' exterior already looks remarkably "stale" parked directly next to the new second-gen A7 Sportback.

Odd since both Marc Lichte design team penned cars were created within a close time proximity.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

Quite frankly, I would not at all be surprised were the current D5 the last A8 that represents the general paradigm created with the first A8 back in 1994 (based on the IAA 1993 ASF Concept). The development of the current iteration proved to be a headache in terms of monetary investment and intracorporate conflict.

I have a hunch that its' successor will be an EV underpinned by VAGs' PPE platform (developed under Porsche supervision and related to the J1 platform of the Porsche Mission E). Perhaps an "eTron 9" of sorts, based on the recently (officially) announced Audi eTron GT 4 door liftback coupe. Only somewhat larger, somewhat more upright with a 2 1/2 box, seperated trunk "sedoupe" architecture.

I can't help but think, that the best application for the electrical propulsion is in the luxury class. In it the bigger weight is not an issue, even sometimes it might be an advantage, the higher price of this propulsion is not that prominent here, the cars would be much quieter and comfortable and will have huge torque. But there is no luxury car with EV drive yet? Why? (I don't consider the Model S as a luxury car)

 

[Busty]

A personal and obviously subjective "in the metal" observation:

The new D5 Audi A8s' exterior already looks remarkably "stale" parked directly next to the new second-gen A7 Sportback.

Odd since both Marc Lichte design team penned cars were created within a close time proximity.

Quite the opposite with me. While I find the overall shape of the A7 a compelling exercise in what you would call the ‚sedoupe‘ segment, I just can‘t bring myself to like its taillights. Imo, they are just not Audi and look unfinished. The A8, on the other hand, plays its role convincingly (exterior-wise). It is not very innovative in style but very bold and exudes lots of presence.

 

[Centurion]

I have a hunch that its' successor will be an EV underpinned by VAGs' PPE platform (developed under Porsche supervision and related to the J1 platform of the Porsche Mission E). Perhaps an "eTron 9" of sorts, based on the recently (officially) announced Audi eTron GT 4 door liftback coupe. Only somewhat larger, somewhat more upright with a 2 1/2 box, seperated trunk "sedoupe" architecture.

That's a highly plausible scenario. VAG could do a "Phaeton" with the D5 and keep it in production way past the life expectancy of 7 years, for developing markets. In some countries charging an electric barge from empty to full in 15min won't be possible in 10 years - especially without cutting the power for other properties within a 1km radius.

 

[Centurion]

12 cylinder engines in luxury cars are famed for their endless thurst, refinement throughout the rev range and silence. In 7 years, electric drive trains will be vastly superior in all three.

Audi A8 last to run with the W12 engine

 

[sako97]

Easily the worst looking exhaust finishers I’ve seen. What is going on here...

 

[SKY]

The car looks terrible in this set of pics...