THIS is what the D4 A8 should have looked like.

[BigGrasshopper]

When the new A8 was revealed, the exterior design was a bit of a let down for those expecting it to have more of a sporting character. The looks have grown on me, but I still find it to have the most conservative appearance of all of the luxo-barges. In case you have not yet seen the new Audi A6L (not a typo) hybrid, this is what the A8 (at least the front end) SHOULD have looked like ... and probably will upon the next face lift. Beautiful.

[scottphillip]

The rims match the Gilette grille.

[Speednet]

I completely disagree, I think that looks ridiculous. The rims looks like an airplane turbofan engine. Silly.

[mark_nimda]

Originally Posted by Speednet

I completely disagree, I think that looks ridiculous. The rims looks like an airplane turbofan engine. Silly.

Only the rims I dont. The rest of the car is nice from what I can see. But I dont like the standard A8 Y shaped-design wheels either. The Y shaped wheels also look like pain to clean as well

The Parallel 10 spoke wheels make the A8 look wonderfull and they are a bigger wheel. IMO, the car looks likes night and day with the y shaped wheels next to the Parallel 10 spoke wheels

[Satch0922]

I am in the market for a new car soon. The A8L is/was my choice until the the realization that for the money, it is way too generic. My Audi dealer let me drive one while my current D3 A8 was in for service. If I heard once I heard ten times "is that an A4?" "hey like your A4" "so that A4 handle good" "always wanted an A4". No kidding.


I really like the car, just or that kind of money, give me something more than an oversized A4 look.

As to the OP's opinion, I think you are spot on. No one would mistake that A6 for an A4 (nor do they mistake the D3 series A8 for an A4).

[mark_nimda]

Originally Posted by Satch0922

I am in the market for a new car soon. The A8L is/was my choice until the the realization that for the money, it is way too generic. My Audi dealer let me drive one while my current D3 A8 was in for service. If I heard once I heard ten times "is that an A4?" "hey like your A4" "so that A4 handle good" "always wanted an A4". No kidding.


I really like the car, just or that kind of money, give me something more than an oversized A4 look.

As to the OP's opinion, I think you are spot on. No one would mistake that A6 for an A4 (nor do they mistake the D3 series A8 for an A4).

I have never heard anyone mistaken an A4 for an A8 or have ever heard an A8 being called an oversized A4. For starters, the grilles are at the opposite end of the spectrum! When I was in the AUDI showroon during the 2011 D4 Intro year and saw my 1st A8, I said, wow, look at the cool grille. It was undeniably like no other AUDI. The grille was a cheap piece of plastc IMO but it was a very unique looking grille

2nd, the car is just much too big to be confused wih an A4, epecially if its an A8L! The A4 is a 1/2 pint compared to an L and nor does it look like a bigger A4.


The only AUDI models that are identical are the A and S models. The S4 and A4 for example have identical bodies but different engines and enginering. Likewise, the A6/S6 or the A5/S5. The S8/A8 will be identical as well but with major performance differences

Many people out there simply dont know much about Certain manufacturers. They simply arent automotive enthusiasts. Having said that, for decades most people couldnt tell the diff between most BMW models. During the 90's and early 2000's most BMW's looked identical. Even today many look similar. Porsche meanwhile has 31 flavors of the 911. These things didnt stop Car enthusiast from buying a wonderfully engineerd car with a fabulous conection to the road

Looks are important to me. Its why I can never own a GTR. But AUDI has looks across the board and no interior on the market compares to the A8's INTERIOR design. Having owned an S4 for over ayear now, I only wish AUDI do better on quality and reliability (meaning that part failures are about a 7 at best and workmanship is cheap) But then again, most german cars sacrifice the quality and workmanship (with the exception of Porsche). Lexus is #1 in that category but no Lexus drives like any german car

Since you mention generic, BMW personifes generic, especially the interiors. It doesnt get more vanilla than BMW and its the main reason why I can never own a BMW as a luxury sedan. Luxury has to be unique and elegant and it must have apersonalty. The 7 series is anything but. I will, however say that the 7 series is an amazing docile car for a big sedan but I dont drive luxury sednas like small sedans. I think its unwise to always have this performance-calling in a big sedan but thats JMO. so the 7 series is not a fit for mE on virtually every level. The overall exterior looks of a 7 series is nice but remember, all BMW' look almost identical when you see one in your rearview mirror which one can definitely not say of the A8

The only part I agree with you is price. IMO, the D4 A8 is ridiculosuly priced. Interestingy, a smaller engine has knocked it down a bit but the engine comes directly out of a $48K S4 so there is another $24K in the A8 somewhere. Personally I'd rather have an NA V8 now that I have owned an S4 for a year. The S4 Engine is fabulous, but in an S4. I just have a tought time with it in an A8 especialy be the SC does have a slight whine during idle and in a luxury car, I am not certain I like that, I would have to see if they have dampened the whine a bit or implemented some noise reduction in the A8, although you would still hear it through the vents I suspect

Oh well, i guess I cant have everything. I will have to see what it sounds like in the A8

[caboybrad]

Originally Posted by Satch0922

I am in the market for a new car soon. The A8L is/was my choice until the the realization that for the money, it is way too generic. My Audi dealer let me drive one while my current D3 A8 was in for service. If I heard once I heard ten times "is that an A4?" "hey like your A4" "so that A4 handle good" "always wanted an A4". No kidding.


I really like the car, just or that kind of money, give me something more than an oversized A4 look.

As to the OP's opinion, I think you are spot on. No one would mistake that A6 for an A4 (nor do they mistake the D3 series A8 for an A4).

Couldn't agree with you more Mark. I looked at the BMW 7-series before buying my D4 A8L. I was shocked when I compared both the 7-series and the 5-series. They both have exactly the same interior (barring the center compartment detail)!! I attached some pics to see the two side by side (hint...the 7-series has the darker interior).

I can fit an A4 in my back seat. I have never heard someone confuse my car with an A4. Maybe Satch lives near people that also confuse a 911 with a Panamera.

[BigGrasshopper]

I can identify cars in my sleep, but I have to admit, the A4 and the A8 do appear very similar from the B-pillar back. And I don't think people confusing the A4 and A8 is that outrageous. In dark color, the A4 has the appearance of a larger sedan.

I like the A8 because of the fact that it is a bit more clandestine than an S-Class or BMW 750. The A8 announces its presence from the front end, but the quarter panels, and rear are all closely related to the other sedans in the brand.

I owned a 750i, great car when it came out in 2009, however there is now no reason to buy a 750 because the new 5-series is practically the same car. Not only are the exteriors almost indistinguishable, but the interior is practically identical.

Personally, I don't find the A4 / A8 resemblance to be a problem. The A4 is a great looking car.

Now the new Mercedes, that's another issue, they've all been beat with the ugly stick.

[xradman]

Lots of non-car folks confuse A4/6/8 together. A friend of mine thought my car was an A4 and commented on how nice and huge the interior was.

[mark_nimda]

Originally Posted by caboybrad

Couldn't agree with you more Mark. I looked at the BMW 7-series before buying my D4 A8L. I was shocked when I compared both the 7-series and the 5-series. They both have exactly the same interior (barring the center compartment detail)!! I attached some pics to see the two side by side (hint...the 7-series has the darker interior).

I can fit an A4 in my back seat. I have never heard someone confuse my car with an A4. Maybe Satch lives near people that also confuse a 911 with a Panamera.

It takes BMW a few years (sometimes a decade) to wake up when it comes to design. I do like the BMW interior for being "clean." For example, Some of the american cars try too hard and the interior ends up being too busy whereas BMW isnt.