More details on possible Audi A9 model

 More details on possible Audi A9 model
Audi A9 Concept Design Study

Audi A9 could make it to market by 2014 as both a flagship 2-door coupe and cabriolet

[Editor's note: The A9 images published here are from an independent design study by Spanish designer Dani Garcia.]

German car magazine Auto Bild is reporting more details on the development at Audi of an A9 flagship coupe.

According to the report, the A9 will be a 2-door coupe based on the A8 and featuring a "modern design." It will be over 5 meters long and be furnished with a highly-refined interior. It will make it to market by 2014 and will also have a cabriolet variant. Starting prices will be around €80,000.

Earlier this year, we reported on a plan Audi had for an A9 that would share a platform with a production Lamborghini Estoque (as both are VW Group brands.)

But that report pegged the A9 as a four-door coupe competing against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the Porsche Panamera.

Whatever body-style Audi ultimately opts for, the A9 would likely come with an aluminum space-frame (like the A8) and source its main components from the MLB architecture (Modularen Längsbaukasten, or 'modular longitudinal architecture' in English).

With the A8 it would also probably share the air-sprung chassis architecture and the assembly line at Audi's Neckarsulm plant.

But an A9 may come with a new engine being developed by Audi - a 4.0 liter V8 - as well as borrow the V6 and V8's of the A8 range. VW Group's 6.3 liter W12 engine could also be an option.

Source: Auto Bild

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 August Horch August Horch
"But that report pegged the A9 as a four-door coupe competing against the likes of the Mercedes-Benz CLS and the Porsche Panamera."??? Doesn't the A7 already do this? I think if the A9 comes out, it'll compete against the CL if it's a 2-door. If it's a 4-door, I think its competitors will probably be the AMG S-class, Quattroporte, Continental Flying Spur, maybe the Estoque and Rapide if it's that expensive... in which case it is almost guaranteed to be a failure.
March 18, 2011 6:25 pm
 KeyboardWarrior KeyboardWarrior
Audi can never come up with something original. Now they have to copy BMW's Vision Efficient Dynamics and i8's design as well. What a loser brand!
March 19, 2011 12:18 pm
 Wickedated Wickedated
KeyboardWarrior- Audi is far from a "loser brand." Just look at their profits. It's all about successful business models. Audi does year long studies before releasing new vehicles, hence why every model they put out is a huge sales success. Not the same can be said about Mercedes (example, R-series) or BMW (example, 5 series GT).
March 20, 2011 6:29 pm
 GTurbo GTurbo
Audi's BMW i8. This car cannot fail as it will be Audi's new flagship model replacing the A8. An ultra modern aspirational model instead of a more traditional luxury limousine. Very interesting strategy further moving Audi into hypercar territory considering the rivals intended for it.
March 18, 2011 7:28 pm
 M! M!
this is not BMW's i8. i8 supposedly uses alternate powertrain (diesel / electric as originally proposed) (gas/electric hybrid). unless Audi commit this to a hybrid or all electric as in their e-tron cars, this is not an audi's BMW i8. the R8 e-tron is BMW's i8 competitor.
March 18, 2011 9:40 pm
 August Horch August Horch
First and foremost, please READ the disclaimer at the top of the article... the images are an INDEPENDENT design study. Second, Audi's current halo car is the R8. From the sounds of it, I don't think Audi is planning to replace the A9 as a halo car. Lastly, while I probably have loved Audi longer than most of the people on this board have been alive and probably have a better sense of its history than anyone I've seen post on this website, I don't think there's a huge market for people who want to spend more than $200,000 on a 4-door Audi. If there was, I think both BMW and M-B would have tried to enter those markets long ago. At that price range, people are also looking for exotic MARQUES, not one that just sold 1 million cars last year.
March 18, 2011 11:58 pm
 DdW DdW
"It will be over 5 meters long and be furnished with a highly-refined interior." I believed, if the report is accurate, that Audi is aiming for the ultra-luxury segment, by targeting Maybach, Rolls-Royce and Bentley offerings. In this perspective, we could see the Ingolstadt car marque trying to dominate the entry-level to ultra-luxury class segments, with 'premium' quality as their key focus. The low-mid tier (i.e. A1, A3, A4, A5, TT, Q5) could be catered for young professionals, whilst the mid-high tier (i.e. A6, A7, A8, R8, Q7) are made for middle-aged professionals, established individuals; the RS could be supplementary to both tiers and now, the purported A9, could be the missing key to the exclusive ultra-luxury car 'club'. I could be wrong. Time will tell!
March 20, 2011 7:25 am
 accousticjama accousticjama
R8 looks fantastic; Aggressive, masculine, futuristic design but reasonable. This Audi & BMW i8 look ridiculous, they look like they belong in a science fiction movie, not on public roads. The R8 is Audi getting the perfect blend of bold design right, the A9 is to over the top & looks ridiculous. Maybe I am just to conservative when it comes to design.
March 18, 2011 9:20 pm
 M! M!
from what i understand, the R8 is based on the RSQ concept, placed in the sci-fi movie I-Robot. A concept is a concept. Production versions for the road are for the road.
March 20, 2011 1:59 am
 bordeauxman1 bordeauxman1
Just awful. The R8 is great, why a A8 ? Why a Q6 ? Qhy a A2 ? Why ? Why ? Why ? When you got a brand who have done so wonderful cars, why they make so and so much other cars. I love tradition. I love to buy a car, and to know that she will still new the most long time. But with audi new political, as the time you buy, your car become cheesy the tomorrow.
March 18, 2011 9:36 pm
 andyjo3338 andyjo3338
Do yourself a favour & check how many BMW & MB models are available. Audi=11, BMW=13, MB=17(source CAR, March 2011)
March 19, 2011 3:16 am
 smallq smallq
its not an a9 some company have made that audi will make it look good as they do usually
March 19, 2011 3:39 am
 KeyboardWarrior KeyboardWarrior
The reason why Audi always does not have as many models as BMW is because they are always copying what BMW is doing. Look at the X5, X3, 5GT, X1, Mini, 6 Series, etc. and now the i8. They always wait for others to come up with something. wait a while then do the exact same. Now that they see the X6 is a huge success, they want to come oput with an x6 xompetitor as well. I will never support such a weak brand that is so unethical... not to mention their use of VW cars to sell as a premium product.
March 19, 2011 12:23 pm
 Uptohere Uptohere
@KeyboardWarrior - I get tired of BMW always copying what Audi is doing. BMW always tries to get their poorly designed-less than premium quality cars to market first and then 1 year or two later everyone has a superior product. I will never support such a weak brand that sacrifices so much in the name of being to market first.
March 20, 2011 4:35 pm
 Dude von Dudenstein Dude von Dudenstein
I think Audi will do a prodigious job. I am looking forward to it.
March 19, 2011 3:02 am
 smallq smallq
the audi a9 should be competition for the merc cl class
March 19, 2011 3:36 am
 vilivo vilivo
My good, I cant believe UR the only person on this entire forum that actually got that.I wonder how long before BMW try 2 compete in this segment 2.Its hard 2 make a car with the stats of a CL, without it costing Aston money. If Audi get that right, I will have great respect for them.If not, the A9 will be slaughtered on sales by their own Continental.I presonally own a cl65, an wud LUV 2 C how this pans out.
March 20, 2011 2:33 pm
 justanotherfan justanotherfan
Isn't the A7 competition for the CLS? they should just build an RS7 or something. Or make the A9 to compete with the 6series and CL
March 19, 2011 3:19 pm