Austin A6 3.2

D4 - A7:

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/15079/a7_1.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/15079/a7_2.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/15079/a7_3.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/15079/a7_4.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/15079/a7_5.jpg">

The article claims the smallest engine for the A7 will be the 4.2L V8 and the car will be build on the A8 platform (I guess we all knew the last part already).

D4 - A8:
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/15079/a8_1.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/15079/a8_2.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/15079/a8_3.jpg">

The D4 is claimed to be released to the public in 2010 (the current A8 debuted in 2003 in Germany) and lose a lot of weight. They claim more use of ultralight magnesium in addition to the Aluminum Space Frame. The article also claims the W12 will disappear and be replaced by the V12 TDI engine for cost and emissions reduction.<ul><li><a href="http://www.autobild.de/artikel/erlkoenig-bildergalerie-teil-79_807938.html">http://www.autobild.de/artikel/erlkoenig-bildergalerie-teil-79_807938.html</a</li></ul>

jersh

Do you mean:


- will be announced and seen at a car show in 2010 (and in showroom 2011) ?

- will be in a showroom to actually purchase in 2010 ?

Also, is this in germany only, or in the US ? And if so, do I just add one year for the US ?

Please clarify in any way you can, in as much detail as possible.

Many thanks for the pictures.

CA_A8

From that German report, no mention of the US introduction. Actual production starts in July '09, the A8 will be available in Europe in fall 2009.
A rather critical report on the outer body design, i.e. fishmouth too big, overall not too different from the present design.
Interesting mention of the W12, i.e. the Bentley will get un updated TSI, but Audi does not want that engine anymore (nor the V-10)

Austin A6 3.2

I guess the car will be available in Germany for purchase in late 2009 (probably as a 2010 model year), and likely be shown at a car show sometime in mid 2009 (maybe IAA in Frankfurt in mid September). The US usually lags about 6-8 months behind when it comes to new model introduction (like the current A4 for instance), so expect the D4 to be here in 2010, maybe as a 2011 early model year)

At this point, all that is guesswork though, since Audi hasn't released this information to the public yet. If you look at the quality of the photos, they were done with an extreme zoom lens, so they had to try hard to get their lens on these. Usually, as the release approaches, they get better pictures of less camouflaged vehicles.

I found another article somewhere else that claims this (again, for Germany):

Sales start in 2009: 4.2 FSI, 372 PS/445 Nm; 4.2 TDI, 340 PS/850 Nm - quattro and eight speed automatic transmission standard

Early 2010: 3.0 TFSI, 290 PS/420 Nm; 3.0 TDI, 250 PS/500 Nm

For 2011: S8 5.0 TFSI, 620 PS/750 Nm; 4.0 TFSI, 420 PS/550 Nm (to replace the 4.2L).

I also found some (older) interior spy shots:

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/15079/d4_a8_interior1_large.jpg">

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/15079/d4_a8_interior2_large.jpg">

Beartrap

What's with all that front overhang?

Mister Bally

&lt;&lt;&lt;The article also claims the W12 will disappear and be replaced by the V12 TDI engine for cost and emissions reduction.&gt;&gt;&gt; Will Audi for the first time ever pass along the "cost savings" onto the end users? Stay tuned.............

jersh

cluttered. terrible. nice chrysler LeBaron rectangular shifter.

This really better be a bad, fake mock-up - one of the nicest ergonomic features of the a8 is how your hand can rest on, and manipulate, the MMI dial and related buttons while NOT MOVING your arm from the arm-rest.

I just drove the brand new a4 today (loaner) and it is a real pain to be lifting your arm up and down just to dial things in ...

The console pictured here is an absolute mess.

tozoM8

That is one ugly car.

Austin A6 3.2

I agree on the "operating everything without moving your hand off the armrest". This may still move behind the shifter down the road.

If you look at the AC controls, you can tell that this is far from done (they are partially disappearing under the dashboard).

These are test mules and there is about a year before the car will come to market, so they are still working on this ...

Austin A6 3.2

It's a camouflaged test mule - a little early to pass judgement