New Audi A8, A7, A6 official sketch reveals evolutionary design

Audi’s chief designer Marc Lichte sat down and had a chat with our French colleagues from L’argus about the all-new A8 and other top-tier models, such as the A7 Sportback and the A6 Sedan. He did more than just speak about the trio of new premium models from Ingolstadt as he also showed them a sketch to better point out the differences from one model to the other.

At a first glance, you’re probably thinking the three cars are very much alike, but the devil is in the details. Look closer and you’ll notice the large single frame grille has a different configuration on all three cars. It’s more imposing on the A8 fullsize sedan, while on the A7 it provides the car with a sportier look also enhanced by the extra creases on the hood. The A6 Sedan has a slightly smaller version of the grille and a different design of the bumper.
Read Article

TheSteve - 3/20/2017 2:40:15 PM

+7 Boost

More angular, sharply creased, trapezoidal stuff commin' at 'cha. It's not like we haven't seen this before. A lot. For a while. Meh.

I look at Porsche as an example of timeless beauty and skillfully executed curves. Their 911 is decades old, yet today's 911 is still distinctly a 911, it looks contemporary (not dated), and yet it's not in the least bit trendy. Porsche's designs remind me of an athlete that high-jumps over 6 feet -- they make it look easy, yet you know they're doing something amazing.

Sincere, timeless, classic, beautiful design. Porsche has it. Audi doesn't.

countguy - 3/20/2017 3:10:05 PM

+4 Boost

If you have to have a diagram and arrows to point out the differences then maybe you need to rethink the "new" design.

JRobUSC - 3/20/2017 3:36:36 PM

+5 Boost

I thought those were SUV's in the picture. Could the front ends get any taller? The A8 looks like a Q7.

MDarringer - 3/20/2017 7:31:19 PM

-1 Boost

Lichte needs to be fired if that's the best he can do.

GermanNut - 3/20/2017 10:05:05 PM

-1 Boost

Audi's design language continues to appeal to buyers despite the criticism it receives.

74 straight months of record monthly U.S. sales and a much higher percentage sales increase in 2016 than any of its rivals. In 2017 Audi's sales growth has outpaced its rivals by an even greater margin than in 2017.

Clearly buyers are not buying into the criticism of Audi's design language and are instead won over by its design, interior quality, cutting-edge technology, reliability and excellent customer service experience.

As long as Audi continues to outpace its rivals by such a large margin don't expect radical changes. Once Audi's China joint-venture situation is fixed, it will be BMW's time to fall into 3rd place globally.

MDarringer - 3/20/2017 11:43:49 PM

-3 Boost

If driving a German Oldsmobile is what tickles your hood, then go for it.

Firewombat - 3/21/2017 5:02:04 AM

+4 Boost

Actually, Audi's global sales growth lags behind that of its main rivals. For 2016:

Audi - 3.8%
BMW - 5.2%
MB - 11.3%

With the dieselgate scandal still ongoing and dealers in China (by far its largest market by country) suing Audi, sales are down 35% yty in their most important market (twice the size of the US).

The 8,000 or so extra cars it sold in the US last year isn't really going to save sales growth globally, which is already down substantially for 2017.

If these kind of figures are important to you :)

GermanNut - 3/21/2017 3:38:30 PM

+2 Boost

Yes, the China situation is not good for Audi right now but Mercedes-Benz also struggled in the Chinese market three years ago and is now posting annual gains in China of over 25%. If Mercedes-Benz can turn itself around in China so dramatically over the course of three years, Audi has the potential to do so as well.

Remember, before 2016 Audi was doing just fine in China achieving good growth and was the country's sales market leader.

What happens if Audi turns around in China like Mercedes-Benz did and continues to achieve strong gains in the U.S. market? That doesn't look good for BMW's prospects.

TheSteve - 3/21/2017 4:12:15 PM

+4 Boost

GermanNut: Just to give voice to one Audi owner (me), I bought my 2015 Q5 SUV in large part because I love the graceful, Porsche-like curves. I was (and still am) enthusiastic about my car's beautiful styling. At the time, I also loved earlier A5s (circa 2012), A4s, and the R8.

Today, there isn't anything coming out of Audi's doors that inspires me.

I don't know if I'm a "lone voice," an exceptional Audi owner, or whether there are others like me. I might well be on my first, and LAST Audi, purely because I don't care for their styling language.

hangtime010 - 3/21/2017 9:06:19 AM

+4 Boost

Losing sales is never good, but you can't deny that even with dieselgate Audi's posting of positive growth is impressive. Not to mention that the fleet is old and is just now changing to a "new" design.
So say what you may, for Audi to be still competitive is pretty remarkable.

Firewombat - 3/22/2017 3:26:00 AM

+1 Boost

New Q2, Q5, Q7, A4, A5, R8, TT in the current line-up, doesn't look old at all