[Year's_End]

SANTA MONICA, California — Don't look for the all-new 2010 Audi A8 at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show next month. The redesigned luxury flagship sedan isn't expected to make its official world debut until January at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show.

Last month, guests of Audi's 100th anniversary celebration were treated to their first look at the 2010 Audi A5 Sportback, but the 2010 Audi A8 did not make an appearance.

Although future A8 test mules have been spotted on German roads for some time, they were cloaked in current A8 bodies, so it's been difficult to predict the level of style changes for the new aluminum sedan. IL has now learned that the big A8 will receive more evolutionary styling rather than a radical update. With the debut of the rakish Audi A7 concept already set for late 2009, the A8 will continue to play the part of a grown-up sedan, leaving the production A7 to challenge the Mercedes-Benz CLS while it remains a Mercedes S-Class competitor.

Audi enthusiasts should expect to see a new range of engines and an eight-speed automatic transmission when the A8 hits showrooms next year.

Inside Line says: Even with a new BMW 7 Series and S-Class now on the road, CEOs should continue to hold calls to their car brokers until after the Detroit show. — Kelly Toepke, News Editor

[asian010]

eh.. its alright. i would still take the s550 over it tho.

[Year's_End]

There's nothing wrong about it. It's just that, well, there's nothing particularly unique about it. Much like the F01 I suppose.

They're both very evolutionary. I guess the LEDs will spice it up; they seem to be a saving grace for Audi when it comes to getting people's attention.

[MCMLXXXIX]

dont like
the current one is more bold
like the a6

[Year's_End]

I feel like there's some Asian influence in the design.

[DougLikesBMW]

What exactly is evolutionary here?

It does look sweet, however.

[335fourdoor]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

SANTA MONICA, California — Don't look for the all-new 2010 Audi A8 at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show next month. The redesigned luxury flagship sedan isn't expected to make its official world debut until January at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show.

Last month, guests of Audi's 100th anniversary celebration were treated to their first look at the 2010 Audi A5 Sportback, but the 2010 Audi A8 did not make an appearance.

Although future A8 test mules have been spotted on German roads for some time, they were cloaked in current A8 bodies, so it's been difficult to predict the level of style changes for the new aluminum sedan. IL has now learned that the big A8 will receive more evolutionary styling rather than a radical update. With the debut of the rakish Audi A7 concept already set for late 2009, the A8 will continue to play the part of a grown-up sedan, leaving the production A7 to challenge the Mercedes-Benz CLS while it remains a Mercedes S-Class competitor.

Audi enthusiasts should expect to see a new range of engines and an eight-speed automatic transmission when the A8 hits showrooms next year.

Inside Line says: Even with a new BMW 7 Series and S-Class now on the road, CEOs should continue to hold calls to their car brokers until after the Detroit show. — Kelly Toepke, News Editor

beautiful car.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by DougLikesBMW

What exactly is evolutionary here?

It does look sweet, however.

Everything, almost.



Barring the headlights new extruded look, and the flat-cornered grille, only minor surfacing and tweaks separate the two. Same thing happened with the F01; The design is cleaned up, tightened, and modernized.



Same goes to the rear. Major differences: Modernized lighting graphics, sloping roofline and new exhaust tips. Cleaned up, with an extra dose of tension. The taillights still look relatively similar in shape.

[MCMLXXXIX]

i have to come back lol

this is what i was thinking of for the next A8
i thought this whole style was going to go through all models like how it did for the A5 and A4

[footie]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

I feel like there's some Asian influence in the design.

It is their biggeST expanding market so it's very possible that might be influencing it's design.

[Los Angeles]

It looks pretty good but I need to see the official pics.

I wanna see it in black. S8, please. (:

[DrunkOnJ20]

Rear end looks way too stubby.

[c0nstant]

based on looks alone; id easily take this over an F01 or an S class

[footie]

Originally Posted by MCMLXXXIX

i have to come back lol

this is what i was thinking of for the next A8
i thought this whole style was going to go through all models like how it did for the A5 and A4

This doesn't match the LED lights that we know the A8 will be getting which are believed to follow the lines of the headlights, so I really doubt this image is even close to the real thing. Well at least the nose of it.

[BMW269]

Can not say it looks bad, but it is nothing special, and Audi starts to look boring. I would take a 7 or S over this any day. I yet do not know how it will look like, but I am not exited when a new Audi comes out compared to when a new BMW or Mercedes or Jaguar, Aston Martin, Ferrari, Maserati come out.

[shipill]

I like it !

[Garduna]

Looks nice, but if I had to pick this between the S or the 7..... don't know which one i'd want haha

[footie]

Originally Posted by Joey Babs

Honestly every class in the audi line up looks way too similar to the next. When i buy an A8 i dont want someone to mistake it for an A6. I wont deny it looks great but still, a little variation and risk holds more weight than conforming to the mold of every other car in your line up.

Funny you should mention that, I remember when the same was said about BMWs, then Bangle came in and f#@k everything up.

But to be honest with you, when as a brand you are always looking for a common element in the design that needs to be carried from one model to the next so they are unmistakable as that brand, which is the case with Audi and Mercedes is the shape of their grills and BMW with their distinctive kidney grills you always run the risk of people considering each model looking the same. I personally think Mercedes are the worst offender for this but then that just my opinion.

[EmPower]

Originally Posted by Joey Babs

Honestly every class in the audi line up looks way too similar to the next. When i buy an A8 i dont want someone to mistake it for an A6. I wont deny it looks great but still, a little variation and risk holds more weight than conforming to the mold of every other car in your line up.

Have you looked at the W204 C class and W212 E class? They are clones. Compare the tail lights on the E from the side profile all the way to the trunk (except for the section that extends into the trunk), and tell me that its not the same. Compare the side profile, the way the hood rests on the body and fuse the dual head lamps and tell me you dont see the C class silouhette.

Also have you seen how similar the Aston Vantage and the DB9 look?

Seriously, before you make a comment like this one, do some comparative study. The A6 and A4 are more apart than their counterparts from Stuttgart.

[MCMLXXXIX]

Originally Posted by footie

This doesn't match the LED lights that we know the A8 will be getting which are believed to follow the lines of the headlights, so I really doubt this image is even close to the real thing. Well at least the nose of it.

oh def. and its got e-class leds on the bottom grille lol. but just how its similar to the old but styled better is what i like about it. like the a6, def my fav...not much of a change but so badass looking

id take an f01 over this fursure

[Year's_End]

Oh, right. It's a photoshop. My bad...