<ul><li><a href="http://www.auto.t-online.de/AU/DE/de/static_html/Specials/autos/audi/A8/b_01.htm">http://www.auto.t-online.de/AU/DE/de/static_html/Specials/autos/audi/A8/b_01.htm</a</li></ul>

I'm saying that it's uninspiring, and basically, every car in it's class is good, so what seperates the A8, and nothing seperates the A8, therefore it's bad.

It's not a question of pushing Audi's styling forward, it's a question of competing in your class. The A8, is revolutionary, by maybe Audi standards as far as technology and styling etc, ... is concerned but not so for it's class. The MMI system even is already been employed by BMW. The point I'm trying to get at is that my feeling is the flag ship of a car company, by default, should be just that a flag ship, a means to say to the world da*n't we've got the biggest guns on the block. You should look upon that vessel as though it is a marvel a wonder, it announces your arrival.

The A8 does none of that, stylistically, or technologically, it in appearance and attributes save for the MMI system, is just another luxury car, it's just the average the norm, nothing new under the soon.

as for the keyless entry, the car certainly has a key, look at the console. What I was talking about with MB is even the key is state of the art, MB was the first to use laser cut keys, etc they are the first and only to use, laser/radio frequency encoded keys and the key card is a marvel, is it necessary no(but is anything luxury necessary) ... their technology is always a step ahead of everyone else. The electronic brakes, etc ...

And this is what I'm saying is missing with the A8, when we talk about luxury, we are talking about the unnecessary, the A8 is a good car, I'm not saying that it isn't. It's built well, but so what, so is every other luxury that's why it's called luxury. It has a few gadgets but so what, so does everyone else.

The A8 has all the standards, but what makes the car stand out, nothing, it's average, it's boring, it's not innovative, it's not revolutionary, MMI (well BMW beat them too the punch, old news) ... but do you see what I'm trying to say. The A8 is a good car, no doubt, but it has nothing to it that would make it stand out in it's class.

The A8 uninspiring, that's the only way I can describe it. Audi has great technology in the works, and has momentum, and I felt they could have continued that moment with an A8 that set the bar, not tried to just meet it.

MB's and BMW both try to be that much ahead of the rest in it's class, and it's the very reason why the S-Class and 7-Series are the best sellers in this class. Save for American made Lincolns and Catty's.

How does Audi truly expect to be on the same level as Mercedes and BMW when they fail on such a basic level. Audi has the talent, and their designs are the best IMHO when they put their minds to it. But this is not only true at the large luxury saloon. The same thing is going to apply for the new A3/S3 in a market full of exciting designs like the Mini and Mercedes Sport Coupe. The new A3 will sell fine, but not beat any records. Its going to be a funny thing that in the future, it will be BMW that uses the more modern designs, when they're the ones that cant integrate both stylish and modern together. Audi can, but it dosen't look like they want to(or are to scared). I think it's easy to guess what the new S4 will look like as well. An A4 with a conservative body-kit, don't you think? Lets pray that Audi gets their act together...SOON!

the rest of the car is quite close to the Avantissimo.

Wait until that car hist these shores. The interior is much nicer than the new A8, it pains me to say it :(.

adc

Uninspiring looks is a good thing IMO.

Definitely looking forward to test drive the new A8.

When the Phaeton is recognized in the luxury car circle and proven itself with reasonable sales, the A8 will have a more forward design.

Is it more luxurious then either Lexus LS430 or Mercedes Benz S-Class, SL, or CL, no .... it's not even worth comparing to the S-Class. Is it as stylish and eye catching as either the S-Class, SL, CL, or the BMW 7-Series ... no. The new A8 inspires nothing. It's like luke warm water, not hot enough for tea, and not cold enough for lemonade, sure, you can work with it. But it really serves no purpose. There is nothing on the new A8 that hasn't been already done. The car has no 2nd look appeal what soever.

Is the interior nice, yes, is the car nice, yes, is it relatively fast yes, is it luxurios sure, but like I said every car in this class has a nice interior, looks decent, and is fast. So, so, what you've got stand above the rest, you've got to be the big fish in the ocean, the MB S-Class does it, the BMW 7-Series does it, Audi could do it.

But for whatever reason, they don't, like I said when you look at the new A8 what does it do for you? It does nothing for me, it looks like the Pheaton, in fact I almost like the Pheaton more.
The new A8 will just wind up being another average luxury car, with average sales, as one person put it, satisfactory, no bad, but certainly nothing special. And I'll tell yuh, a "C" on your report card sucks.


You can call it understated luxury, I'll call it lack of character, and a missed opportunity.

Good thing, the A4,A6, and tt do make statements, as they make cash.

Audi might make some last minute changes to the A8 before it goes into production. If Audi gets enough negative feedback like yours from spectators and potential buyers about the new A8 when it is shown as a prototype at one of the auto shows in Europe than this will most likely happen. The last minute changes could be minimal or significant. Will that delay production? Maybe, but not definitely. Don't loose all hope just yet.

Not to mention cup holders. Or is this too much to ask?
I believe that the final version will be slightly modified. It is too early for them to have all the detailes completed by now. Even if they do, why show the car before it is ready for the dealers? The interior may reflect luxury but not opulence. Oplulance does not last and get dated very fast - true luxury lasts a lifetime. Lets hope it looks and feels better than what the phots reflect. My guess, again, is the there will be some changes before it hits North America.

In my view Audi is persuing a niche market, rather then going for every customer out there. It's definitely not always wise for a company to grow faster or to become bigger too fast. It is a well known and tested strategy to NOT go after the most customers!

On the one hand there's the crowd, willing to buy what's perceived as popular, or as the thing to buy. And this is the largest market. I am in no way saying that these products would be inferior. I'd like to add that most of it is in people's minds. But that is the heart of marketing.

On the other hand, there are the niches. Basically they look for the opposite thing. And what's the opposite of eyecatching, newest-gadget-style, boom!-in-your-face (nothing wrong with this I'd like to add)? The calm, pure and simple shapes that make IMO the Audi fan. It has the quiet feel to it, "the money you don't need to showcase"-feel.I once read that people going for the A8, would be the kind of people that buy Louis Vutton luggage and then remove the badge. They look for quality, but don't need to show it to others. And that's perhaps the opposite of a BMW and a MB. At least in people's perception.

As for the gadgets, the A8 has got them. Meaning it has the gadgets that are acceptable in the minds of that niche crowd. That crowd doesn't expect right away to be overwhelmed by new stuff, because that would mean some sort of exposure. And they don't want that, they want the quiet and soothing luxury. It makes them think that the gadgets applied in the A8 are properly tested over a long time. I'm not saying that the other brands just throw new stuff onto the market, but that's sometimes how it feels to them. Most of the time I think these people also long for extremely safe vehicles, that's why Audi has upped the rigidity 60%. And once again, that doesn't show when looking at the vehicle. And that's what (in general) the A8 crowd wants!

Oh and for the record, once more, I want to say I'm really not judging the new A8 yet. It seems ok, but I need to see it first.

Although, I don't know the financial logistics, of the seperation, so perhaps Audi may need to care. Either way the A8 still looks like a rebadged pheaton so does it matter.

I know I don't belong here... but I could see myself in the new A8 - I LIKE it...

Audi IS however <b>VERY MUCH</b> <i>officially</i> a part of VW.... Under the new bosses at VW AG Audi has been placed in it's new "Sporting Brand" along with SEAT &amp; Bugatti.

Audi owes its entire success to VW AG as does, SEAT, Skoda, Lamborghini, Rolls Royce and Bentley.

And for those not in the "know"; VW Corp is EU's largest Auto manufacturer - bigger than GM, Ford or Daimler-Chrysler. It is also anticipated by both VW and analysts that VW may in fact become the world's #3 (possibly #2) Automaker. VW also owns more "luxury" brands than any other carmaker in the world...

Cheers!

Audi could have copied BMW :)

Anyway, the A8 and Phaeton do not look alike from the rear. The lights are different and the Phaeton has the plate on the bumper as well.

is no longer the Parent company of Audi. Also Lamborghini will remain under the Audi brand, as Lamborghini was an Audi purchase in 1999.

Get your facts straight son.

I haven't heard anything about this. However, I did hear that later this year or sometime during the first half of 2003 that Chrysler and MB will seperate.

.
Volkswagen just seperated VW and Audi brand names into different business groups. See page 4 of the pdf.<ul><li><a href="http://www.volkswagen-ir.de/download/Q2_02/20020503_ZB_Q1_e.pdf">VW Jan-Mar '02 financial report, pdf</a></li></ul>

Then there will be some changes and modifications made to the final version of the A8 before it hits worldwide, not just North America. Car manufacturer's (especially luxury) usually do this so there cars are less "bland" or boring and more "inspiring" and "fun". I just hope that awful looking light wood trim does not make it to production at all. Dark wood would be much nicer and classier. Hopefully, the black and grey interiors will have genuine dark cherry ash high gloss wood. I also hope the beige interior(s) will have genuine mahogany (dark brown) ash high gloss wood. As for the integral digital phone, decent radio and significantly improved dual front and rear cupholders, the final version of the new A8 should match or surpass the Phaeton in these areas. As for opulance and true luxury, final versions of the A8 should have less in the way of plastic and more in the way of wood and leather. And the pop out thing in the dash under the MMI screen will most likely be a credit card holder, not a cup holder.

...GRANDPA!

While I never claim to be an expert, there has been no press release regarding a split. And though it borders on tabloid journalism, I follow CAR (british publication) very closely - as recetnly as June 2002 they have written articles about the corporate strategy at VW which includes all it's subsideraries. Audi was very much a part of it....

And as I am no expert I suspect you are not either. So perhaps some clarification from AOA, VW AG or possibly from AudiWorld moderators would clarify this for the both of us...

Until then ease off on the Geritol...