A8/S8 [Official] The new Audi A8

[CrunchSlaughtered]

To whom, if I may ask?

VAG sold the technology from NSU to Mazda

 

[Rolf]

I don't think Audi has used carbon fiber in the A8 to reduce weight, it's used mainly in the rear panel to improve the torsional rigidity of the car by up to 24% compared to the previous car.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

I don't think Audi has used carbon fiber in the A8 to reduce weight, it's used mainly in the rear panel to improve the torsional rigidity of the car by up to 24% compared to the previous car.

You can achive the same torsional rigidity with steel, but it will be heavier(just put thicker steel). Carbon is stronger than steel, but compared to the same weight, by adding additional material you can achive the same rigidity even with wood

 

[Busty]

To whom, if I may ask?

VAG sold the technology from NSU to Mazda

Honestly, I don't know anymore whether I heard Mazda or just 'to Japan'. Since in that case the topic was a Wankel Hybrid and a full-blown E-drivetrain with a Wankel range extender, not only Mazda as Wankel pioneer makes sense but also Japan in general as it can be considered on of the 'hidden' giants in e-mobility development.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

My thoughts exactly. Only on addition: I would not be surprised it this were not only a lost but also the last generation A8 (as we know it).

I agree.

As Scott mentioned, the rumored Geneva 2018 MEB (Modular Electric System) based large VW luxury sedan concept may be viewed as a precursor of sorts for a next-gen (2025 ?) large luxury Audi sedan...or 4 door liftback coupe... Or perhaps the D5 will harald the A8s' swansong all together. In any event, it surely will not be called "PHAETON".

I assume with a large degree of certainty that the D5 A8, as well as the soon-to-be presented A6 and A7 successors will be the last of the VAG MLB Evo sedans + derivatives. MSB (Evo) and MEB are the future for the upper executive segment upwards, I suspect. In addition, other VAG subsidiaries are offering (and will offer) far more compelling luxury segment products than the D5 A8 (pssst...Panamera). And with VAG currently caught in a maelstrom of upheaval, certainly a streamlining of product offerings is an issue that is being intensively scrutinized.

As also mentioned previously, the A7 promises to be a very elegant automobile. Another substantial argument against the A8.

 

[SDNR]

What's the idea behind the overly complicated and prone to fail air vents? Why use sooooo many touchscreen and touch controls if they're not reduced in number and size? The idea behind a touchscreen is to have many controls in one place....if going to have separate touch controls for everything (like air flow) why not use regular switches which will be less likely to fail?

And Audi puts the carbon fiber in a very easy to install area (behind the rear seats), that doesn't improve anything. Why make the rear of a front heavy car lighter? This is a total fail.

Jeez guys, this is very harsh criticism.

Audi has not embarrassed itself with this new car - the CarWow review came close to calling it the best in the world.

By any measure this is an outstanding vehicle.

I have no doubt the next generation S and 7 will also have a lot of touchscreens

 

[Serpens]

I have no doubt the next generation S and 7 will also have a lot of touchscreens

Hopefully not implemented in this fashion. I find Busty’s posts to be the most disappointing; sounds like Audi had a real chance to move the HMI game but decided to go the conservative route.

 

[sako97]

It's like I come to this thread everyday to find out more underwhelming news...

I remember the days when the debut and tests of the D3 had BMW and MB quite alarmed.

 

[SDNR]

Hopefully not implemented in this fashion. I find Busty’s posts to be the most disappointing; sounds like Audi had a real chance to move the HMI game but decided to go the conservative route.

Eventually I expect the voice and gesture commands will become more ubiquitous.

 

[SDNR]

It's like I come to this thread everyday to find out more underwhelming news...

I remember the days when the debut and tests of the D3 had BMW and MB quite alarmed.

True.

But still, this new car is a serious competitor. As I said earlier, I expect a lot of D4 owners will upgrade to this new car.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

True.

But still, this new car is a serious competitor. As I said earlier, I expect a lot of D4 owners will upgrade to this new car.

I doubt that very much. It's said the average buyer in this class is conservative. This being true or not, my guess is, conservative or not conservative, you want your car to be something different, something completely new, you want to be triggered, to be seduced in to this "experience new A8". Looking at the exterior design, Audi failed. Looking at the interior Audi failed again. No one is waiting for a plastic fingerprint collector, which HMI by the way is a dangerous, attention absorbing system. In the Netherlands it's forbidden to use your smartphone in your car. The only logical step would be to forbid to use the touchscreens in your Audi, whilst driving. This is such a sad car...

 

[Monster]

Eventually I expect the voice and gesture commands will become more ubiquitous.

Voice command function has been around for nearly 20 years now as far as I know, the progress in this area is still extremely limited.

 

[SDNR]

Voice command function has been around for nearly 20 years now as far as I know, the progress in this area is still extremely limited.

At this point it is limited. I was thinking of what Alexa, OK Google or Siri are evolving towards.
One day we will be having conversations with AI.

I doubt that very much. It's said the average buyer in this class is conservative. This being true or not, my guess is, conservative or not conservative, you want your car to be something different, something completely new, you want to be triggered, to be seduced in to this "experience new A8". Looking at the exterior design, Audi failed. Looking at the interior Audi failed again. No one is waiting for a plastic fingerprint collector, which HMI by the way is a dangerous, attention absorbing system. In the Netherlands it's forbidden to use your smartphone in your car. The only logical step would be to forbid to use the touchscreens in your Audi, whilst driving. This is such a sad car...

Well I agree with that as far as car fans like us are concerned but not every buyer in this segment is seeing things as we do.

This is a segment largely made of business people and corporate professionals (also diplomats and government officials).
It is mostly a conservative market and they usually prefer vehicles to project an impression of rationality and authority - so I don't expect to see many A8s in those interesting colours we've seen.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

I doubt that very much. It's said the average buyer in this class is conservative. This being true or not, my guess is, conservative or not conservative, you want your car to be something different, something completely new, you want to be triggered, to be seduced in to this "experience new A8". Looking at the exterior design, Audi failed. Looking at the interior Audi failed again. No one is waiting for a plastic fingerprint collector, which HMI by the way is a dangerous, attention absorbing system. In the Netherlands it's forbidden to use your smartphone in your car. The only logical step would be to forbid to use the touchscreens in your Audi, whilst driving. This is such a sad car...

You are speaking about European average buyer, but in Europe are sold less than a quarter of all the A8. China is terra incognita for us about customers preferences

 

[tristatez28lt1]

I don't think Audi has used carbon fiber in the A8 to reduce weight, it's used mainly in the rear panel to improve the torsional rigidity of the car by up to 24% compared to the previous car.

In the end , this is an evolution of the old platform so platform wise we can't expect too much.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

This is a segment largely made of business people and corporate professionals (also diplomats and government officials).
It is mostly a conservative market and they usually prefer vehicles to project an impression of rationality and authority - so I don't expect to see many A8s in those interesting colours we've seen.

I always tend to forget about the diplomats and government officials, that are being driven around in these cars. Mrs. Merkel is also driven around in an A8. That could be a bigger market for it, exteriorwise, than I credit.

You are speaking about European average buyer, but in Europe are sold less than a quarter of all the A8. China is terra incognita for us about customers preferences

True, Europe is becoming more and more less interesting for the manufacturers, numberwise. Could very well be the new A8 is tailermade for the Chinese market and be a great success over there.

 

[klier]

I don't think Audi has used carbon fiber in the A8 to reduce weight, it's used mainly in the rear panel to improve the torsional rigidity of the car by up to 24% compared to the previous car.

They 100% used the CFRP to reduce weight, as there's many more, cheaper (and heavier) materials they could have used to improve torsional rigidity.

True, Europe is becoming more and more less interesting for the manufacturers

That's an awesome sentence
But seriously, EU is the richest and most important market in the world.

And the A8 is not going anywhere. Mark that down please guys.

 

[Grosser]

Don't know if anyone posted before...

 

[Deleted member 25]

Voice command function has been around for nearly 20 years now as far as I know, the progress in this area is still extremely limited.

In the automotive world yes, in the tech world, it has made giant leap thanks to machine learning.

 

[PanterroR]

Voice command function has been around for nearly 20 years now as far as I know, the progress in this area is still extremely limited.

Indeed, whenever i say to my car to show me the way to the nearest gas station, it takes me to the nearest BAR... C'mon, mate, i need to fill up my car, not myself... You know how it ends...