Audi builds a bloated A4: Introducing the 2011 A8

[GTaudiophile]

Audi takes a step backwards!

From this:

To this:

 

[rh71]

who put the audi grill and lights onto a hyundai?

 

[jpeyton]

More leaked spy shots:

 

[BassBomb]

wow it looks like every audi for the past few years!

 

[Vette73]

I saw the first photo and thought whats wrong with that? Then saw that is going to be the old one.

 

[PricklyPete]

Not 100% sold on the outside. I'll want to see one in person before making the final judgement. Headlights just seem a little off and the odd crease running vertically along the headlight...didn't like at first...although the more I look, the less it bothers me.

There are definitely some design queues from the A4...but that is typical of Audi...their cars all have similar looks...I think this is a good thing.

The interior looks freak'n fantastic though. My only quibble would be with the Navigation screen. I don't like the designs where they come out of the dash...not because it doesn't look awesome...it does...but because it is much less functional that the units that are inset into the dash some (built in shade) like in the A4, BMW iDrive, Acura, etc. Either way, the rest of the interior details are fantastic.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Looks like all they changed was the lights, and that is never a good thing with new Audis as they all look like Christmas came too early.

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Looks like all the other Audis.. I don't get it..

 

[Fenixgoon]

well, you do have the S8 comparing to the new A8. however i agree, the old shape was better for the A8. the new A4 > old A4 though.

 

[PricklyPete]

well, you do have the S8 comparing to the new A8. however i agree, the old shape was better for the A8. the new A4 > old A4 though.

It will be interesting how much they "dress up" the A8 to make the S8. The new S4 seems even less "dressed" up compared to the old S4...although Audi has always been conservative with this.

 

[Gunbuster]

New one Looks good to me. Better than the old one I might add.

The OPs attempted rant gets one star.

 

[compman25]

Kinda looks like the new Saab 9-5, ugly.

 

[KDKPSJ]

So, we are going back to our old Audi choices: Small Audi, Mid-size Audi, Large Audi - All look same, just one is the smallest, another is the largest, and the other in the middle. Good way to save money on design! (No wonder Porsche and Audi/VW are cousins and do the same thing)

 

[ElFenix]

Audi takes a step backwards!

From this:

To this:

at first glance i didn't even know those were different cars.

 

[PricklyPete]

at first glance i didn't even know those were different cars.

Those weren't very good pics as they were from different angles. Either way, Audi played it very safe (as they always do) and only made minor modifications to the overall design.

 

[alfa147x]

I like the A8 but WHY no w16?!?!!???

 

[Cobalt]

Looks fat, bloated, and boring. /yawn

 

[aleckz]

The design isn't too bad, bold face in the front with solid lines through the rest of the body. Definitely sleek throughout the body and the lines flow well to the bumper. The lights I don't really prefer, but it's not like I can actually afford it!

On the comments of it being bloated, it is an A8. It's the large sedan for Audi, what else would you expect? An Ariel Atom? Of course the car is going to be oversized because that's what they are going for. Personally I like the lines more than the 7-series, but the headlights would have to go.

 

[Cobalt]

The design isn't too bad, bold face in the front with solid lines through the rest of the body. Definitely sleek throughout the body and the lines flow well to the bumper. The lights I don't really prefer, but it's not like I can actually afford it!

On the comments of it being bloated, it is an A8. It's the large sedan for Audi, what else would you expect? An Ariel Atom? Of course the car is going to be oversized because that's what they are going for. Personally I like the lines more than the 7-series, but the headlights would have to go.

It just looks bloated. The new 7 is great at masking its mass, this new A8 is not.

 

[The-Noid]

S8 is gone because of CAFE standards. Old S8 and A8 are beautiful, new A8 not so much.

 

[Arkaign]

Looks fat, bloated, and boring. /yawn

Sigh. Yeah that's totally true. I think their target market will be happy though. Big German jellybean with a nice interior and an exterior that could put a methed-out maniac to instant deep sleep.

Audi makes 3 nice looking vehicles :

R8
A5/S5
A4/S4 (less so)

 

[PricklyPete]

Sigh. Yeah that's totally true. I think their target market will be happy though. Big German jellybean with a nice interior and an exterior that could put a methed-out maniac to instant deep sleep.

Audi makes 3 nice looking vehicles :

R8
A5/S5
A4/S4 (less so)

I think both the A3 and the TT look fantastic too. A6 and A8 are pretty boring...and I generally don't like cross-overs, so I agree with you there.

The A4 sedan looks ok (I actually like last generation marginally better), but I think the new Avant looks fantastic.

 

[angry hampster]

I like the A8 but WHY no w16?!?!!???

Because the W12 is bad enough to maintain.

 

[chin311]

lul @ the hyundai

 

[mafia]

In my opinion,the interior definitely makes up for the A4/Hyundai exterior. Its comparable to first class on a private jet.