Audi A8 prototype mocks Mitsubishi jet-fighter front grill

Audi A8 prototype spy photo, Arizona, 08.08.2009

Photos snapped on a highway in the Southwest of the United States may picture next-generation Audi A8

By Alex Ricciuti
August 10, 2009 3:25 PM
Filed Under: Audi, German, Spy Photos

Could this be a new Audi A8?

We should not assume anything here (because you know what that does) but it does seem like this is a short-wheelbase A8 under an A6 shell carrying an upside-down Mitsubishi badge and jet-fighter front grill.

This scoop comes to us courtesy of a VW Vortex forum and Autoblog, and the photos show what is definitely not a Mitsubishi driving along the highway in the Southwest of the United States. The road warrior (Autoblog reader Ryan on a cross-country trip) who snapped the pictures believed it to be a new A6 undergoing testing, after having spotted some camouflaged VW Routan's earlier in the trip. But the details (and Audi's product time-line) seem to point to a new A8 iteration.

A next-generation A8 was expected to debut at the Frankfurt motor show this September, although, there seem to be no indications from Audi that that will occur. But the new A8 is expected to make its debut in the market sometime in the latter part of 2010.

Looking at the design features of the model pictured here, the furrowed-brow headlights, linebacker shoulder lines, bonnet ridges and the long, swooping C-pillar all point to a flagship Audi sedan.

By the way, is Audi allowed to use a Mitsubishi badge as a cover for a prototype?

Just asking.

 

Source: vwvortex.com via autoblog.com
Tags: A8

Comments

sub39h
August 10, 2009 3:38 PM
this clearly isn't an A6 shell...

N20_Purge
August 10, 2009 3:45 PM
......

So it is just a bigger A4?

wjaprep
August 11, 2009 12:50 AM
just like all Audi sedans... and the A5...

dezibel
August 10, 2009 4:05 PM
lmao, an Auditsubishi

However it doesnt get better with the camo off. Looks exactly like an A4?!

motorjedi
August 10, 2009 4:07 PM
It doesn't look big enough to be an A8, but I would imagine Audi bringing out the new A8 before the new A6, and of course the leaked production plans confirm this. Parts of the picture look wierdly photoshopped, like the bit of chrome on the rear bumper, and the grille itself, but that's probably because of the low quality image and the dusky setting. If this is anything to go by, I like Audi's departure from roundness, it suits their brand values better. Sharp, like a suit. Leave the curves (or should I say flames) to BMW. Just stop the niche rubbish like the A5 fastback. Ugh.

BENZian
August 10, 2009 4:18 PM
...the emblem (3 diamonds) is upside down so it can be argued it only loks like a Mitsu...

Bonganie
August 10, 2009 4:29 PM
Which Audi is going to introduce the trapezoid like grill because the current one is tired, I kinda hoped it would be the A8 so hopefully the sketch is not the final!

Keita
August 10, 2009 4:39 PM
Ha! Perhaps it's some copycat Chinese manufacurer planning to launch a mash-up of the Lancer and A4. :P

FP23
August 10, 2009 5:21 PM
This is Audi A8!

Narco
August 10, 2009 5:31 PM
I was hoping some of the design elements from the illustration, like the strong shoulder element would make it....but alas it seems like Audi is staying conservative. Good business sense...but.....

Hopefully there will be distinct elements when it is revealed.

tumbo
August 10, 2009 8:43 PM
Great move by Audi, since the Mitsubishi grille is really an upside down Audi grille, and that really is a parody, that they couldn't come up with something better, and unique.

Iconic
August 10, 2009 8:51 PM
Maybe it's just some jackass with an upside down mitsu logo on an audi.. Germans don't have a sense of humor! They just make things perfect.


Edited by user on August 10, 2009 at 8:52 PM
bILLIONAIRE
August 10, 2009 10:03 PM
It does look like an A8 at the picture of the front-end, just look at the C-pillar! And it is clearly bigger than the A6.

Scuderia-Paul
August 10, 2009 10:44 PM
It is cleary the next Audi A8 and I like it from the front - You can make out the genuine grille and the styling is quite taut with those lines running down the bonnet. The rear is like the designers photocopied the A4 plan at 125% scale. Come to think of it this virtually applies to the entire car.

It is nice, as all A8s are (I love the current generation) but Audi design needs a refresh in my view.

fire_bird
August 10, 2009 11:19 PM
audi is just jealous of mitsubishi,, bcz allways mitsubishi design is amazing than the bored audi design and mitsubishi's gril is never the same the audi in any shape..may only blind ppls saw its same :D

anyway i think this is illigal.

joshg_5
August 10, 2009 11:26 PM
"By the way, is Audi allowed to use a Mitsubishi badge as a cover for a prototype?"

I think that because the emblem is upside down that one could argue it's "different" than the Mitsubishi emblem...

BabyMilo
August 11, 2009 11:28 AM
I hope they dont put a grill like that oen it...

HEMI426
August 11, 2009 6:18 PM
Like the grill joke, the back looks good, and at least one audi that has not a4 mirrors

badis
August 12, 2009 11:35 AM
hahahaha. very funny move by audi, its good that someone has humor in the car business. =)

whale10
August 12, 2009 3:45 PM
Perhaps it is the Mitsubishi Concept ZT and not an audi at all??

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