Photo: SB-Medien
Being only 20 years old, the Audi A8 name doesn't come with the same zing as the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the fact that base models are FWD, doesn't exactly help when the Ingolstadt flagship is pitted against a BMW 7 Series. But the sedan has proven hugely popular with Chinese buyers over the last few years, pushing the company nearer to the top of the premium market totem-poll.
A mid-life facelift was launched last year, bringing with it the revolutionary new Matrix-LED headlight system. This new A8 is only now making its way to American showrooms, sans the Matrix tech. However, Audi has already begun work on a replacement model, which will be ready by late 2016 or early 2017.
These are the very first photos of the A8 chassis testing mule being tested at the Nurburgring. How do we know there's new tech hiding under this S8 body? Because of the extra air intakes at the front and panel gaps down the side, where the new architecture meets the old body panels. Also, the single exhaust system mounted on the left of the car hints at a new four-cylinder turbo engine for the A8.
Because the Q7 and A4 suffered the same treatment, we expect the A8 will keep testing as a mule until next summer. Only after that will Audi develop body panels that are bespoke for the next model.
The typical MLB architecture which Audi has stuck with will gain more ultra-high-strength steel and aluminum, shedding weight in the process. New engines will follow the downsizing trend and are expected to include at least one plug-in hybrid and the "tri-turbo" 3.0 TDI that's making its way into the SQ7 next-generation model.
Can we tell tell you all that from these photos? No, but Audi has been more than happy to spread the word about its ambitions plug-in hybrid program over the past year.
These are the very first photos of the A8 chassis testing mule being tested at the Nurburgring. How do we know there's new tech hiding under this S8 body? Because of the extra air intakes at the front and panel gaps down the side, where the new architecture meets the old body panels. Also, the single exhaust system mounted on the left of the car hints at a new four-cylinder turbo engine for the A8.
Because the Q7 and A4 suffered the same treatment, we expect the A8 will keep testing as a mule until next summer. Only after that will Audi develop body panels that are bespoke for the next model.
The typical MLB architecture which Audi has stuck with will gain more ultra-high-strength steel and aluminum, shedding weight in the process. New engines will follow the downsizing trend and are expected to include at least one plug-in hybrid and the "tri-turbo" 3.0 TDI that's making its way into the SQ7 next-generation model.
Can we tell tell you all that from these photos? No, but Audi has been more than happy to spread the word about its ambitions plug-in hybrid program over the past year.
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