Uncertain Future of the Flagship
The future of the Audi A8 remains uncertain, although discussions around it continue unabated. The current generation, introduced in 2017, is aging gracefully but fails to keep up with the technological breakthroughs of its competitors – the BMW 7 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which are expecting updates soon.
If Audi decides to continue the A8 lineup, it might take a form similar to these speculative visualizations. Whether this is good news depends on how the evolution of Audi’s design language is perceived and the extent to which tradition must yield to innovation.
Question of Model Continuation
Audi recently confirmed that it has not yet made a decision regarding the long-term future of the A8, leaving open the possibility of completely phasing out the model from the lineup.
Earlier plans to replace the A8 with two fully electric flagships, including a low-profile sedan and a sporty crossover, were postponed after Porsche decided to indefinitely delay its related K1 project.
Alternative Design Path
Digital artist Nikita Chuiko from Kolesa chose a different approach when visualizing the new A8. Instead of drawing inspiration from the beautiful 2021 Grandsphere concept, which was initially conceived as an early look at the A8 of a new era, he based this visualization on the later Audi Concept C, which itself was presented as a preview of the future TT.
Signs of the Concept Car
The front end is almost identical to the concept. It features the same thin LED headlights and the same unusual rectangular radiator grille with glossy black trim. As in the Concept C, there are vertical air intakes on both sides of the bumper, although on this future A8 they are slightly narrower. The artist also added a pair of diagonal lines on the bumper to make its appearance a bit more interesting.
Many changes have also been made to the sides of this future A8. For example, new flush door handles and a sharp line running along both doors have appeared. Then there’s the rear. Like the Concept C, it features a pair of simple horizontal taillights and a large diffuser – elements that look somewhat out of place on an executive sedan unless it’s an S or RS model.
Platform Question
Recent reports indicate that if the A8 gets a successor, it might use the same Premium Platform Combustion (PPC) architecture as the next generations of the Q7 and Q9.
If the model does indeed continue to exist, we hope that Audi’s designers will make its appearance more cohesive than the car shown in these images. But what do you think? Would you like a potential new A8 to look exactly like this?
The decision regarding the future of the A8 reflects broader trends in the automotive industry, where traditional executive sedans face increasing competition from SUVs and electric models. Positioning the A8 as a technological flagship may require a more radical approach than a simple design update, especially considering the rapid development of autonomous technologies and electrification in the premium segment.