SPIED: First 2011 Audi A8 Caught Driving In California

Hey, I grew up in Glendale!

whats sad about this car is that it is a little boring i agree with dl767captain...(below). This car has not had a full major overhaul like its competetitors in this class. The design is very dated and very boring if you ask me. All I see that changed was the headlights and the A4 rear end and the grille is a little wider as far as the interior goes its exactly the same as the old model the DVD screen still pops up out the middle the seats look the same even the gauge cluster looks the same......I am going to say like i said before this new A8 doesnt impress me there is NO TYPE OF WOW factor its just a facelifted A8 no more no less IMO.....Audi you need to stop playing games and get Bangle lets play follow the leader. I was an A8 fan when the overhauled the same exact shape in 2004.....now they facelift it and call it new what a cheap way out.

say what you will about the design, the car had a complete overhaul, are you serious?

ok the A8 has had an overhaul as in what??????
the rear has different tail lights (A4)
the front has a bigger grille and new headlights

I will put it this way I can tell when the S550 came out that it was overhauled and we know the same for the BMW 750. as for this SO-CALLED overhauled A8 it just looks bigger than the previous model i dont see NO OVERHAUL at all or at least explain to me whats been overhauled as far as the interior and exterior

so you are saying it's the existing platform with updated styling? I think you need to look at the 2 next to each other, nothing is the same, it's bigger, new engine/trans/suspension/body/interior/electronics....etc...

again you are entitled to your opinion on the styling but it's a totally new car...maybe bland to some (especially in certain colors) but not ugly to some (7er, especially in certain colors). Did you see the comparison in the german mag?

If you like the new Jetta this should be appealing. It really looks like a stretched new Jetta. Having family resemblance from the low brand to the high brand is the toylex formula and does look as though vwaudi is following that template.

can someone tell me the difference and tell me what been overhauled in the interiror.....I had this conversation with an "AUDI BUFF" a friend of mine in NY and he can see the difference.....PLEASE TELL ME WHAT THE F$%K IS SO DIFFERENT.

HERE IS A 2011 NEW AUDI A8:

http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/news/car/09q4/2011_audi_a8-official_photos_and_info/gallery/2011_audi_a8_interior_28european_spec_29_photo_7/3054390-1-eng-US/2011_audi_a8_15_cd_gallery.jpg

HERE IS A 2008 AUDI A8:

http://www.gotbroken.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/2008-audi-a8-42-tdi-quattro-cockpit-interior-view-588x422.jpg

hmmmmmm... is it just me... or does it look boring? (aside from the led strips)

Ya it just seems a little bland to me, I mean I do like it and everything, but it just doesn't seem like such a big step forward as the LS, S Class, or 7 Series was from their previous version.

Aha The A8 is very interesting.
When you kneel down in front of the grille, the vehicle looks very strong and imposing, but from other angles, it looks droopy. The interior looks spacious in some live pictures while awfully claustrophobic in other similar pictures. The new generation change is definitely much more conservative than the A8's competitors', and that's the problem with flagships... designers struggle with their beauty while maintaining their status of being the boss.

Oh, and it definitely doesn't help looking like the "lesser" models; Criticisms:
- Lexus lacks corporate design until recently
- BMW is maintaining a corporate design
- Mercedes is experimenting with the past and present
- Audi has a template.

@001: Still testing the RX? Or is that yours? aha my bad. I forgot. Anyways, how is the RX? I spy the Heads-Up Display; I'm certain it's not a base model (;

Beautiful made but Audi sedan designs are getting long in tooth. Time to be a bit more daring.

i agree can anyone say BANGLE.........

I saw one of these in Manhattan driving along 2nd Avenue last week. I didn't realize they were not out yet. I'm not sure about the design direction on the grill. Doesn't look rite.

Not really spied, the car has already been revealed. May not be for sale here but it's here for the technician training, etc...

Looks too much like the outgoing model. Should have been more different. Very conservative approach by Audi but still looks nice and no-nonsense/non-offending design.

JUGNU

If it was not for the LED lights you would have never seen this car or noticed it until it passed you.

Those headlights will go down as the ugliest in history.

Otherwise, it's just bland and boring, like the last model. And like every other audi.

Hey, 001, good eyes.... the LED DRLs are really nice on this new A8.... By the way, how do you like the RX350 you're driving [in the above shots]?

DUD, and LED's dont make it interesting either.

I've seen a few already in Manhatten. The best view of one i got was when he was making a turn from 23rd st onto 6th ave in heavy traffic. Looks good in black. It had tlc plates so i'm sure they bought a fleet of them.

My initial impression on the photographs is that the car look rather boring from every ANGLE. And the Chrome piece that goes across the rear bumper looks real TACKY and CHEAP.

If you read Gearge Kacher's article in "Car" magazine(I beleive its the issue that pays tribute to Alfa Romeo) he shows a great concern that Audi is resting on its laurels while BMW and Mercedes are cathing up in design and engine technology as well as hybrid technology. Audi is starting to fall behind. I think the A8 is an example of a very conservative update. This is one of the main reasons that Jaguar floundered for so long. They refused to move away from the retro look. Finally they are getting the message. This is reflected in their new cars and much improved sales. Audi of course is not in the same situation but they can certainly slip behind if they do not come up with some newer designs. The design of the new A8 has not gone far enough. Doing some subtle redesign of the headlamps and taillamps is not sufficient. The basic shape has not changed.

Totally agreed. It doesn't look like Audi has come out with anything truly innovative for some time. They're starting to remind me of Apple, and of their marketing "brilliance" associated with rolling out a "new" iMac or Powerbook (here we go - Apple fanatics can start slinging stones at this queue right here...)

By the way, anybody ever buy a new luxury car online? There's a new site, Priceview Autos (http://www.priceviewautos.com), that supposed to go live soon, where you can buy your ideal new car - you just click on the Buy Now button when the price point reaches a level you can live with.

No haggling with car dealerships required.

I don't want to toot my own horn, but...

http://autospies.com/news/Is-Audi-s-Trail-Of-Success-About-To-Unravel-After-Being-The-IT-Brand-56311/

TOOOOOOOOOOT!

What was Audi thinking? It does not look like a car that is in it's price range and like every other Audi in those pics it's hard to tell if it's not even an A4.

Blandsville! Audi is a joke.

No. The joke is you attacking me personally over A COMMENT ABOUT A CAR. LOL!!! Talk about insecure. Either that or you're just plain bitter towards me. Either way it isn't a good look.

And I will give you the last word again. So go ahead and continue to act like an adolescent. Which isn't surprising since your avatar is an adult adolescent. LOL!! Your behavior doesn't surprise me in the least bit. Have a nice day.

Can't tell much from these pictures aside from the rear 3/4 view. Not very good 'spy' photos.