SPIED: Audi's All-New A8 Gets Started With Development — FIRST Shots HERE!

It seems like the Audi A8 just made its debut only so long ago. How time flies...

You have to keep in mind that the current-gen A8 is coming off a mid-life refresh. That means the clock is ticking and the four rings' R&D team has to start cracking the whip. Having just finished driving the all-new Mercedes-Benz S-Class, it's clear Audi will need to do something BIG to combat Mercedes' effort.

**See Agent001's photos of the 2015 Audi A8 and S8 from Aspen

While details are slim — it's way too early in the development to derive anything — these photos do help us get a rough idea of what to expect. The all-new chassis appears to be sporting the current-gen body style without major modifications. Perhaps it's not the all-new A8 at all.

If you look closely at its hind quarters you will note that it is not equipped with the typical exhaust, which is interesting. To me, this hints at two possibilities:

1) What we're looking at is not an all-new A8 mule, it's actually a current-gen A8 equipped with a small displacement engine for developmental purposes; or,

2) This is the all-new A8 and it's petite exhaust is what to expect coming down the pipe as automakers try to boost their fuel economy figures.

Have any thoughts, Spies?


**To see the FULL collection of spy shots, click "Read Article" below!

Read Article

scenicbyway12 - 7/12/2014 11:21:41 AM

+4 Boost

Only six more years and three more design change before it hits the market.

MattDarringer - 7/12/2014 11:26:49 AM

-1 Boost

VWAG is the stupidest automotive company on the planet. They have the Panamera platform that is an amazing car despite the hideous body. That platform is by far their best premium platform yet they persist in doing a separate aluminum A8 that is just as heavy as its steel competitors. They also persist in doing the Phaeton that NO ONE on the planet wants. The A8 will be another pointless dud because it will still be FRONT WHEEL DRIVE with quattro grafted in to mask the downsides of the FWD chassis.

Building the A8 as well as a new Bentley Continental and Flying Spur off the Panamera chassis is a no brainer but VW has no brains so it won't happen.

TheGenius - 7/12/2014 2:10:34 PM

+2 Boost

Yes professor platform expert,

Thats why they were 3rd globally in terms of volume last year yet had the highest revenues and profit of any automaker VW ($254B/$29B); Toyota (221B/$13B); (GM $152B/$6B). Maybe you can share your knowledge of platforms with them and make them a better company. I am impressed you know more about the Panamera platform that the people who build them for a living.

MattDarringer - 7/12/2014 3:36:44 PM

+2 Boost

I would never trust the rants of a person who crowns himself "The Genius" and your hubris shows your lack of vision. The Panamera platform WAS designed to be flexible enough to become other products. If you're such a genius and if VW is so brilliant then explain the business case for having three separate "same" sized platforms (Panamera/A8/Phaeton). Anyone with a brain can see that this duplication of effort is idiocy.

PS: You can't be a genius with an IQ of 70. Just saying...

TheGenius - 7/12/2014 7:56:54 PM

0 Boost

lol..Hope you can read.. its above..$29Billion is the business case not the ability to type a few words on a page..

MattDarringer - 7/12/2014 10:44:05 PM

+3 Boost

Gloriously you continue to be irrelevant

carloslassiter - 7/14/2014 7:24:37 AM

+3 Boost

Is this the new A8, or a A6 or A4?