SPIED?! Is THIS The All-New Audi A8? If So, Is It A STUD or DUD?

One car we’ve been following very closely is the all-new Audi A8. There’s a multitude of reasons for this but here’s the two primary factors: 

1) The A8 will mark the beginning of the eagerly anticipated Marc Lichte era of design — it’s said to be far more emotional and take the four rings to an all-new, provocative level. 

2) We’re confident the A8 will debut a slew of Audi’s latest, ground-breaking technology. 

The initial spy shots we’ve seen, however, don’t seem to paint the picture we were hoping for. That’s because the camouflaged monster looks like a slightly warmed over current-gen A8. While we were expecting something significant it’s just not there and it lacks panache. 

Well, flash forward to present day. All-new images have surfaced on the net and we’re a bit curious: Do YOU think it depicts a STUD or a DUD?

In addition, do YOU see ANY design cues from other luxury automakers right now? Is this a GOOD or a BAD thing?







2014 Los Angeles Auto Show #LAAS

TheSteve - 7/12/2016 1:51:13 AM

+2 Boost

That inspires me... to visit a Mercedes showroom.

IamEvilHomer - 7/12/2016 10:13:06 AM

+3 Boost

Am I missing something? Isn't that the Audi concept car prologue that has been out for a few years?

Agent00R - 7/12/2016 3:00:04 PM

+3 Boost

The two images at the end of the story are all-new images on the 'net. We're not sure if they're real or if it's a rendering.

It's clearly not the Prologue coupe or Prologue Avant we've previously seen.

runninglogan1 - 7/12/2016 1:59:54 AM

+2 Boost

Awesome renderings! If the final product looks anything like this - wow! Unfortunately, these seem like nothing more than speculative renderings. Those tiny side mirrors hardly seem production ready.

carloslassiter - 7/12/2016 6:41:08 AM

+2 Boost

I think that's the A4. I mean A6. A3? Not sure.

PUGPROUD - 7/12/2016 7:30:21 AM

+1 Boost

Ditto. If I were running Audi design I would keep shape of grille but each series would have a significantly different center pattern... horizontal bars for A4, vertical bars for A6, cross hatch design for A8, wire mesh for A5 and RS. Same with tail lights. Fine to have body shapes identify brand but grille and lights should distinguish series to create interest in each.

MDarringer - 7/12/2016 8:25:51 AM

+2 Boost

If that is accurate then all Mark Lickme did was graft an even bigger mouth onto the deadly dull A8 and call it good. This shows that Audi is clueless as to how to battle the S Class.

TomM - 7/12/2016 8:37:39 AM

+2 Boost

I agree that this is just more of the same. Why buy an A8 - when it is just a bigger A3

And Audi - as a second tier premium charges too much for its cars to compete on its own level - it certainly cannot claim to be a top level premium when its largest selling car is basically a fancy VW.

Audi (and VW) produce reasonable 3 year cars - but once they are off warranty - they are horrendous - the costs of the repairs make them cars to avoid.

nguyenvuminh - 7/12/2016 9:17:39 AM

+2 Boost

It looks good.

carsnyc - 7/12/2016 10:11:16 AM

+2 Boost

It's no ugly, just uninspiring.

GermanNut - 7/12/2016 10:56:12 AM

+2 Boost

This is just the Prologue Concept. Everyone has already seen this vehicle before and is just commenting again on the same exact car. It's not going to be the next A8 exactly.

Autospies just needed a new article to post and figured it would rehash these previous images to stir the pot when many of its commenters forgot they had already seen this exact car.

Agent00R - 7/12/2016 3:00:23 PM

+3 Boost

The two images at the end of the story are all-new images on the 'net. We're not sure if they're real or if it's a rendering.

It's clearly not the Prologue coupe or Prologue Avant we've previously seen.

GermanNut - 7/12/2016 10:57:02 AM

+1 Boost

Regarding Audi's reliability track record, some of the commenters here are misinformed and posting inaccurate information. Audi placed first in the 2016 Consumer Reports ranking and scored 'Better than Average' while BMW scored 'Average' and Mercedes-Benz scored 'Worse than Average'.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cars/which-car-brands-make-the-best-vehicles/

In J.D. Power's 2016 Dependability Study, Audi also scored higher than its competitors with just 134 problems per 1,000 vehicles while Mercedes-Benz had 139 and BMW was at 142.

http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/2016-us-vehicle-dependability-study-vds

Regarding Audi's pricing, the prices are creeping higher and higher to the point where they are as expensive or more expensive than the comparable BMW. Just look at the new 2017 A4 and Q7 as examples. Furthermore, Audi's sales in the United States are up 3.5% YTD while BMW is down 9.0%

MDarringer - 7/12/2016 3:58:05 PM

+1 Boost

Talk to someone at the dealer level. Audi's are still pretty horrific.

GermanNut - 7/12/2016 4:01:26 PM

+1 Boost

I'd rather go by reliable industry publication data than an individual dealer's opinion or service history.

MDarringer - 7/12/2016 4:16:42 PM

+1 Boost

@GermanNut...yeah talking to the people who service any brand is totally unreliable information as is the service history of any model within a brand.

GermanNut - 7/12/2016 5:14:42 PM

+2 Boost

Why don't you try going to an Audi dealer and asking them for their service history breakdown by model and see how far you get?

llaroo - 7/12/2016 11:43:44 AM

+3 Boost

So,

if you throw a Ford Fusion ( front end ), Lincoln Continental ( whole damn thing ) and a new Jag XF tail light into a blender, apparently this is what you get.

I love Audi - this needs to evolve more.

skytop - 7/12/2016 12:38:37 PM

+1 Boost

Cannot beleive Audi is copying the goofy Xmas tree headlight look of Acura. I guess original German styling is now a thing of the past.

GermanNut - 7/12/2016 4:03:55 PM

0 Boost

It's funny that your basing you opinion off some unverified rendering that is not connected to Audi whatsoever.

emiliojose - 7/12/2016 5:19:48 PM

0 Boost

I personally like it. It looks like it's been setup so that with some tuning it will be a great modern-looking alternative to the old-luxury look of the S-class. I don't mention BMW because the last 7 is mediocre at best..jaguar and lexus have nothing to battle this car thus Merc is the only possible comparo.

cidflekken - 7/12/2016 7:51:56 PM

+4 Boost

Granted this is only a rendering, but this design would be perfect for VW, as a full-size alternative to the Continental and CT6, starting at about $48k. This would NOT be competitive in the high-end luxury segment with the S-Class.
That being said, based on the camo'd version spied, the true new A8 will more closely resemble the current car than this rendering does.

dumpsty - 7/13/2016 3:53:56 PM

+1 Boost

If this is a 90%-95% production version & I can get those huge wheels....I'd take it.