2011 Audi A8 Prototype Already Shedding Some Camouflage - Spied Hot Weather Testing

The interior seen through the rear glass, as far as I can see, looks exactly like shown here: http://autoworld.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/new-2010-audi-a8-facelift-photo-and-details/

Wasn´t this car supposed to be shown at the 2009 IAA??

WCF a n00b site?

The grille won't be seperated OMG? Have you ever heard about Audi SINGLE FRAME? You even posted the offical Audi sketch ...

Another thing: There is no space for integrated fog lamps, because they are integrated in the headlights and the space in the bumper is the place of the radar systems (can be also seen on the pictures, if you would also look and not only post them)

the current A8 has a Single Frame grille :S

I'll be happy as long as they dish out the new S8.

Bigger A6 anyone? I think that itll still look good though

"..as well as the 258 horsepower 3.0-litre TDI that produces upwards of 258 horsepower..." (?)

A4 ? A5 ? A6 ? A8 ? well, all i know is that its an Audi.

same looks, too many different sizes.

i bet the car will look old and dated on its launch day

disagree, i think it is gonna look great. subtle changes, understated elegance FTW!

i guess you are right but i just wish they could have taken more risk with the styling or just be more adventurous - and that doesn't mean that it should have be controversial. the original TT and the previous A6 was ahead of its time and still looks good today. the next A8? i am not sure but i got a feeling that it is just an evolution and not a revolution. Like all carmakers, i guess they're all playing safe with their design that makes their cars somehow very predictable. looks like they sketch on a template rather than on a clean sheet of paper. if i were them I'll start looking at their Audi rosemeyer concept car. looks modern, pure Audi and ahead of its time. the next A8 is not.

Car styling is usually subjective and this one is no exception. This next gen A8 follows on from their styling direction, so it is as expected that it will look similar to its siblings. For them to go adventurous in a exec's luxury car is a bit like asking lamborghini going conservative in their sports car.

Audis past and present have always been understated and usually cool and this fits with market that they cater for.

At the end of the day, it all about the numbers. BMW understands that very clearly and did well with their E65/E66. Mercedes-Benz is always popular with their S-Class. I love the D2 and the D3 Audi A8 when it first came out. They're playing safer than Durex with the D4 that soon might hurt them in the long run. At this losing money segment, they need to shift more volume and the Audi A8 is never good with numbers. Or it will be just another white elephant like what the Phaeton is to Volkswagen or the XJ to Jaguar. The A8 is not a low volume car like the Maserati Quattroporte or the Porsche Panamera. I love Audis and admire their brilliant build quality, engineering, techno innovation and image. This is a classic example comparing the Rolls-Royce Ghost and the Bentley Mussane. I can assure you that many would dig the one that breaks the mould. Isn't that why people love the original Audi TT at the first place?

"At this losing money segment, they need to shift more volume and the Audi A8 is never good with numbers."

I think this clarifies why Audi have been seeking at other segments for profits in their cars. Phaeton was more or less the same car with a different badge, that in my view was never going to work. Jaguar (XJ) broke the "old styling" mould and went revolutionary in terms of their design philosophy which is based around, much like the audi's design philosophy. I do believe A8 is a relatively low volume car as it is the high end luxury market and there isn't any competitive advantage over its competitors that could provide them with more sales.

"I can assure you that many would dig the one that breaks the mould. Isn't that why people love the original Audi TT at the first place?"

Yes, but Audi TT was 1) a sports car - where exploitation of "breaking the mould" tends to be more accepted 2) It was a first generation of its kind, not a lead-on from another model 3) target market/the identifying of target market

Sure i'm all for Audi if they would break the mould with this car. But be realistic, they wouldn't. This also applies with a lot of manufacturers.

nederina- your comment is way to presumptious. First of all, you have NO IDEA how this car is going to look like, inside or out. Aside from sketches floating on the internet (none of them official yet great looking) and this pic of a heavily camo'ed mule, for you to say this car will look "old and dated" is way too much of a statement. What is FACT is that Audi never dissapoints (you said it yourself how you liked the D2 and D3), and the fact that they're launching this after BMW and Merc released theirs means that the new D4 will be packed full of state of the art technology. This being a flagship executive sedan, it won't be as radical as a Lamborghini Estoque, but numbers don't lie- Audi is among the few auto companies in the world that are still profitable with a string of hits- from the R8 to the new S4 and everything in between. Even the Q7 and Q5 who were so scrutinized in this site, sell extremely well. Audi knows what theyre doing my friend. The D4 will look stunning once the camo is off, inside and out.

Thank you and I appreciate all your great comments. I believe that the D4 A8 will have every right ingredient to be a great sportslimo, since the lightweight aluminum spaceframe will be shared with Lamborghini's Estoque. After seeing the A5 Sportback, it leaves me rather disappointed with the looks department for the Ingolstadt luxury carmaker. Here's hoping.

if u design an all new model there is much more room to be risky (A5, Q7, upcoming A7) but the A8 isn`t new it has history and many loyal customers, so it is tough to get the balance rite between more risk and the last generation DNA. Look at BMW, they have lost lots of customers over the last 10 years because they tried too much. i think we should wait till the final curtain is raised, it won`t be a revolution but i don´t think it will look dated from the start either.

BMW have also gained alot of customers

I agree with you. Way too early for people to be criticizing the design, it hasnt even been seen yet. Also, let's not forget that the average A8 owner has owned previous A8s. It's a car that retains customer loyalty. Most D3 A8 owners will upgrade to the D4.

But look Audi is already outselling them on home territory (western europe). BMW is traditionally stronger in some other parts of the world (for ex. the US) but that won`t last forever as well imho. Audi is growing much faster and i guess one of the main reasons is that they sticking to their DNA and that they are not experimenting too much. building gorgeous looking cars with classy, sleek and elegant lines is simply a good recipe, even if they don`t differ that much.

car sales, first half of 2009 (western europe)

320.240 Audi

297.373 Mercedes

283.769 BMW