And with the Phaeton rumored to be coming back like déjà vu, why would Audi mess with the A8’s lean, mean luxo-niche? Motorauthority reports that the new A8’s curb weight will top out at 4,180 lb, down from the current 4.2 Quattro’s 4,409 lb. Even crazier? There’s serious consideration being given to a front-wheel drive, turbocharged-four base model with 230 hp pulling a meager 3,630 lb. But this brand blemish is being built to satisfy European emissions standards, not the MKS “crowd” in the US market. A three-liter V6 with 290 hp could make it to the US, complimenting the 372 hp 4.2 V8, with the W12 a solid “maybe”. Crazies and one-uppers will have to wait for a 620 hp 5-liter V10 exclusive to the S8. The new Quattro system features a “torque vectoring SportDifferential,” and styling will be . . . different. “The first generation was very dogmatic and product-design-like. With the second generation, the theme was ‘elegance’—softer, flowing lines. The upcoming third generation will be stronger, sharper, and more precise,” says Audi design boss Stefan Sielaff.
If a 3-liter V6 or even a FWD 4-cylinder is the new OK for an Audi A8, perhaps the auto punditocracy should let up on Honda. The V6 Acura RL may have been slightly ahead of its time.
Audi has been on the move lately with making their cars lighter. C & D for what it’s worth has a report saying the A7 is going to weigh only 3,000 lbs, and that the S4 & S5 were going to be over 800lbs lighter!
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/german_performance/2014_audi_s4_and_s5_massively_lighter_to_use_turbo_fours_car_news
your S-8 experience: from the boys at C&D:
Headlamp: $961.00
Engine Air Filter $71.00
Wheel: $705.00
Tire: $489.00
Wiper Blade: 42.00
Cost to replace left front end fender bender: $29,969.00 (only one shop in the entire state qualified to bend aluminum).
The current base engine for the Audi A8 is a 210hp 2.8L V6 – so I fail to see what would be revolutionary about a 230hp version.
http://www.audi.de/de/brand/de/neuwagen/a8/a8/technische_daten_und.html
More than 80% of all Euro-market A8s have the 3.0 V6 diesel engine though. Thet’s their bread and butter luxury car.
A 4-cyl A8/A7/S5/etc will be better than anyone thinks.
In the S8s defence, having seen the pictures of what happened to the C&D car, I am surprised it wasn’t totalled out. Even if it weren’t, the driver’s insurance would cover the cost of any body work like that.
As far as the prices of wear items, if you follow C&Ds long termers, they spout fairly high prices for service and wear items on all cars because they take them to dealerships for the work. I’m a car salesman and even I don’t take my car to my dealership for service because I know how ridiculous those prices are.
My 1999 A4 2.0T Quattro – 3500# and 150hp – 135kmiles – not a speed demon but more than acceptable.
New A8 – 4100# and 180hp sounds like the same power to weight ratio. Anything more should be fine, too. It would be interesting to compare Cd times frontal area. Wonder what they’ll predict for mpg? Wonder what the insurance companies charge for collision insurance to offset the jaw-dropping costs of repair?
“The current base engine for the Audi A8 is a 210hp 2.8L V6 – so I fail to see what would be revolutionary about a 230hp version.”
Yes, in Europe. We Amis get the 4.2 and the W12 only. It’s not the 20 extra hp that’s revolutionary, it’s that Americans might get a crack at the V6 at all.
I strongly suspect the 3.0 mentioned is the 3.0 + Eaton roots blower combo known by the misnomer 3.0TFSI. That engine makes the sort of torque associated with a V8, so it is a good fit for the A8 IMO, it is right on par with the ABZ code 4.2 that came to the US in the A8 circa 1997.
Audi has always mounted snore motors in the A8, they even sold em with the 12v 2.8 at one point.
chuckR:
Your 99 A4 is likely a 1.8T(81×86.4) 1781cc, that is not to say that your 99 couldn’t be a 2.0T. My 96 is more than a 2.0T with the same block/head found in your 99. Actually a 4cyl VW/Audi “2.0” is only 1984cc(82.5×92.8), mine is 2008cc (83×92.8). The same block will go all the way up to 2033cc(83.5×92.8) Wonderful little engines, I’ve seen dyno results of a 2033cc producing >600awhp that is in excess of 750hp. That will make your car a bit more exhilarating.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the W-12 go away. The Germans seem very reluctant to give up their horsepower war, but they are reducing cylinder counts and embracing forced induction across the board.
I have to ask…
Besides the discussion about displacement..
When is a luxobarge.. not a luxobarge?
And how on earth.. could the next A8 not be a LUXObarge.
Thats like BMW trying to convince me that the 7 series is lighter, faster and more manuervable.
At about 5000lbs, somehow I dont see that FAT PIG taking corners.. at about 105mph.
qfrog – oops, its a 1.8T, not a 2.0T transplanted in
accords – you say luxobarge like its a bad thing…
Forgive me.. Im what you would call a DRIVER.
See, out of all of the luxobarges (german fat ass cars walking around, and I do say walking, cause with that weight, no one is doing any serious speeds) Audi I think has some of the nicest, more coherant desings. I guess it also helps that their interiors are pretty amazing.
With that said.. (not that that fact excludes them) a Luxo barge is a luxo barge is a luxo barge.
Just the same as a Maser GT. They both are as big as a Town Car. Both cost about 6-7x as much and both do.. relatively the same thing:
Coddle the driver in such a way that gives it virtually no driver involvement, and relagated to taking perfectly nice corners.. at a meager 55mph while worrying about sliding into a wall.
Even If I had the moolah..
I wouldnt get one.
Id like my heart to skip a beat when I pass a Tahoe at about 85 sideways on a entrance ramp..
Thats what driving is about.. not resting ya arm on the door and talking to ya chinese banker about ya weekend golf plans.
Execute, and they are heroes.
Fail to execute, and they will look like another GM.