A8/S8 [Official] The new Audi A8

J.E · Oct 29, 2021

I like the rims.

Ozy · Oct 29, 2021

PanterroR said:
You really want a stupid answer to your stupid question or...?

Well that would make it a stupid answer to a stupid question to a stupid statement, why not continue the chain ?

Merc1 · Oct 29, 2021

Youch it's pretty ugly. The Maybach looks better inside and especially out.

M

Merc1 · Oct 29, 2021

It is a cleaner interpretation of luxury though compared to the Maybach.

M

SCOTT27 · Oct 29, 2021

Personally would just go for the Flying Spur.

Mick Briesgau · Oct 29, 2021

Never liked the long version of the A8. Side profile is incredible ugly. No referral to history (Horch) or a fancy interior can change that. Nice colour though, gives some seventies vibes.

Rolf · Oct 29, 2021

It looks terrible, the exterior looks a bit cheap with this large H badges and front end changes spoil the car. Definitely not a Maybach rival.

Robi777 · Oct 29, 2021

I like the more vertical grille, I found the the pre-facelift one to be just slightly too wide in it’s middle part (if that makes sense). But I’m less pleased with the headlamps. It works as a design but reminds too much of A3s and A4s. I would have prefered a cleaner design like the current headlamps. And as for the rear I like the minimal touches they gave it. The updated light strip freshens up the design a bit yet it still carries on the theme of the initial design which was IMO one of the strong points of this car and looks very fresh even after 4 years. And also the proportions of the Horch look surprisingly good. I feared that we might be in for a shoe-shaped car when I first saw the spy pics but it acutally looks very good.

Deleted member 57437 · Oct 30, 2021

SKY said:
This thing needs to be pulled out of production.

The current A8 is such a fail. This FL makes it even worse looking.

The facelift does seem superfluous.

The segment in general appears to be undergoing a significant transition. With large, luxury SUVs' encroaching the territory and the Taycan now regularly "out-registering" the traditional luxury sedans here in Germany (with the eTron GT becoming more commonplace as well), time will tell whether the more conventional luxury sedan can regain lost terrain. The acceptance of the EQS, i7 and production version of the Grand Sphere (aka A9 eTron) will be most crucial. The upcoming Polestar 5 (Precept) may be quite successful as well. Well...save the i7 with its 3-Box architecture,, the others aren't really "conventional" after all.

It does surprise me a bit that Audi appears to be determined to permit the D5 to soldier on. I suppose that it must, somehow, remain "commercially viable" and hence not a "fail" per se. And, to me, the SWB D5 S8 can be quite the stealhy looker.

empower77 · Oct 30, 2021

Oida said:
The facelift does seem superfluous.

The segment in general appears to be undergoing a significant transition. With large, luxury SUVs' encroaching the territory and the Taycan now regularly "out-registering" the traditional luxury sedans here in Germany (with the eTron GT becoming more commonplace as well), time will tell whether the more conventional luxury sedan can regain lost terrain. The acceptance of the EQS, i7 and production version of the Grand Sphere (aka A9 eTron) will be most crucial. The upcoming Polestar 5 (Precept) may be quite successful as well. Well...save the i7 with its 3-Box architecture,, the others aren't really "conventional" after all.

It does surprise me a bit that Audi appears to be determined to permit the D5 to soldier on. I suppose that it must, somehow, remain "commercially viable" and hence not a "fail" per se. And, to me, the SWB D5 S8 can be quite the stealhy looker.

The Taycan is a very very very different segment from these D- max segment limos… the Taycan is a B segment car at best. But that does bring an interesting point; maybe this segment is dying completely…

Deleted member 57437 · Oct 30, 2021

empower77 said:
The Taycan is a very very very different segment from these D- max segment limos… the Taycan is a B segment car at best. But that does bring an interesting point; maybe this segment is dying completely…

The German federal transportation authority, Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), broadly interprets the category Oberklasse. There, one will find the Taycan and eTron GT as well as the "Premium Three" large luxury sedans and luxury-sport SUVs' . Quite the rich stew actually.

hounted · Oct 30, 2021

I think that the A8 should continue, but go full ellectric. Both the A6 concept, E-tron GT showed that audi does beautiful cars when not chained to those FWD proportions. A classical 3 box design but with the freedom to balance overhangs, bonnet length just for design sake. Without the worry where to fit the mechanicals... Next to the EQS which looks meh and I7 which will look like the next 7 series, so a facelift of the current car from the A pillar backwards, with a citroen/hyundai split headlights front and i4 interior, a truly new, well proportioned classic sedan would attract a lot of costumers for this segment.

klier · Oct 30, 2021

hounted said:
A classical 3 box design but with the freedom to balance overhangs, bonnet length just for design sake. Without the worry where to fit the mechanicals...

Yeah, proportions linked to superior engineering become rather meaningless in the EV era. So much so, that the entire shape of cars as we know them will radically change. Like that New BMW Vision Circular whatever. The 3 box sedan is on the endangered list, no doubt about that. Probably critically endangered in 10 years, when it will be SUV and crossover on modern skateboard platforms...

But then against sedans were already close to extinct in the EU expect for the German Bimmers, Mercs and Audis. Nothing else basically is a sedan over here.

Deleted member 57437 · Oct 31, 2021

Oida said:
The German federal motor vehicle registration * authority, Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA), broadly interprets the category Oberklasse. There, one will find the Taycan and eTron GT as well as the "Premium Three" large luxury sedans and luxury-sport SUVs' . Quite the rich stew actually.

*=correction.