Audi A8 to be unveiled in 10 days time

By Matt Brogan | November 20th, 2009

Audi will continue to celebrate its 100th anniversary with the official unveiling of the new A8 in 10 days time.

In a move the German company is itself describing as “unconventional”, the A8 will skip both the upcoming Los Angeles and Detroit motor shows.

Audi has instead chosen Design Miami – a high-profile design event – on November 30 to take the wraps off the new saloon.

Audi chairman of the board of management, Rupert Stadler, said the A8 suited Design Miami and company’s presence at the event would be a case of “designer among designers”.

“We see the bridge between art and architecture as a logical step in advancing our brand,” he said.

While these concept renderings reveal a sharper, more aggressive edge well departed from the current, curvier A8, the exterior changes are believed to be more evolutionary than a complete makeover.

The koala-nose grille is set to score a few more angles while the swooping headlights will gain Audi’s trademark LED pixie-lights.

A new range of engines and an eight-speed gearbox are believed to head the changes under the skin.

by Tim Beissmann

Baddass

Not a good CGI at all.
Shak

This is so far the best interpretation of Audi’s Koala nosed design theme.(IMO) Hope they give it a bit more mongrel underneath.

Baddass

Really? I thought it looked old fashioned. Each to their own I suppose.

Shak

Now thta ive looked at it for a while it looks a bit snoozy from the back, but i still adore the front.

Car fanatic

Nice, now drop the V12 Diesel in one.
spellbound

I see a german 300c , a bit of gangster/mongrel there , this will certainly be meaner looking than a 7 series or an s or even the xj .

Fanatic your so right the big mother V12 .
Aim

Not Bad! However the front reminds me of a lancer!
Gavjon

Thats one HOT looking Salon. I agree, heaps better looking than a 7 series, but it will depend on what they drop in the front!!
Yanzo

back doen’t look as good as the front, but i am feeling the front lights…
Christian

I find the trend to make the window sill so very high up rather disconcerting. After all if you have ever driven a 300 you will realise just how claustrophobic it makes you feel. I think Audi should stick to a more gentlemanly approach, and not try to go the way of Mercedes’ macho design, which only makes it look more and more American.
Chucky

Hopefully the resale on this will be much better than the current version.
http://carz.com/ Carz

Design is not that unique…it looks similar to other brands…but still this Audi looks cool. LED pixie lights looks good…
Neo Utopia

The front design looks very good (signature R8 lights helps that), the rear seems like it’s been sliced off a bit to look less long in the rear, a bit ford GT inspired I think, but still quite nice in a modern retro way. The high door sills are a bit too high in my opinion, but then Audi is probably pushing for the bling American market. Combining luxury with sport and more macho styling seems to be the way forward for Audi however, as many Australians still think a luxury Audi saloon isn’t macho enough for an bloke to drive. In all though if Audi put the same or even more innovative technology than what is in either the S class or 7 series, plus if it drives in a similar dynamic way then Audi will be closer than ever to equaling the other two.
Mike

If that is anything what it will look like, it looks amazing. Leaps and bounds better than the S and 7. A8 had been an abomination in terms of looks. Now this is a complete 180.
Cupid Stunt

Way better than Merc S class Hyundai look-a-like, it’s got the echos of the A5 sportback hatch thingy.
Thinking back years ago when Ausi first introduced the large grill theme, folk either loved or hated it. Now it seems many are copying it now.
I do go along the V12 Diesel theme though, A smaller V8 will easily outperform it, the V12 would upset the raod manners with all the extra weight for little gain in performance.