Audi has set a deadline for the combustion engine versions of its A4 and A6 vehicles. The A8 is thought to be subject to the same. Audi seems to no longer desire to spend extensively in plug-in hybrids. These choices are probably going to be the cornerstones of the internal combustion engine exit strategy developed under Markus Duesmann’s leadership at Audi.
These actions are detailed in a profile of Duesmann in the German magazine Manager Magazin. Duesmann has been in charge of the VW subsidiary in Ingolstadt for three and a half years. In particular, it states that new A4 and A6 iterations will return starting in 2023, with electric variations following a little later, but that Audi does not even plan to provide the mid-range models with internal combustion engines until the end of their lives. Therefore, it will cease before 2030.
The A8 will reportedly receive another facelift towards the end of 2021. That is meant to be the final action. Additionally, it appears that Audi no longer favors plug-in hybrids. According to Manager Magazin, Duesmann views them as discontinued models and is quoted as saying that after the federal elections in the fall of 2021, at the latest, politics won’t push the technology any longer, which will cause customers to lose interest. The head of Audi previously revealed to another German business publication Wirtschaftswoche that he was now working on a specific timetable for phased-out internal combustion engines over two weeks prior “in the ensuing 10, perhaps 15 years.
Pure electric vehicles are becoming more popular in Ingolstadt as an alternative to internal combustion engines. With the electric showcase project Artemis, which was launched soon after he assumed office, Duesmann has highlighted this. The study for the first Audi model under Artemis will be unveiled during the IAA this fall, according to a story from Automobilwoche that was published at the start of the year. It is anticipated that series production will begin by the end of 2024. According to a recent statement by Duesmann, the model won’t be a large sedan above the A8 or a large SUV above the Q7 “It will be a brand-new class of vehicle with the designation neither A nor Q. With its e-tron vehicles, Audi has so far penetrated the high-end electric vehicle market.
In This Article...
Has Audi stopped producing the A8?
For Audi’s largest, most technologically advanced vehicle, this is very certainly the end of an era. The German manufacturer has given the luxurious A8 a slight update for 2022 that will help it live through the remaining few years of its anticipated lifespan. That’s where things start to get interesting, though.
The era of luxury barges with enormous motors that only consume gas is over. Every luxury automaker deserving of the name is developing a type of land yacht that is all electric. Bentley recently conducted a consumer study and discovered that wealthy drivers are increasingly willing to purchase an EV as well.
It is obvious that none of the major luxury automakers are prepared to let electric upstarts like Tesla and Lucid Motors to take over the lucrative full-size sedan market, which is small but prestigious.
The $99,000 Audi A8 feels like a stopgap until the manufacturer introduces an all-electric or electrified next-generation model, despite its exceptional competence.
Strangely, Audi is temporarily moving backwards on electrification in Canada. Here, the TFSI e plug-in hybrid version of the A8 will no longer be available after 2022. It would seem from the company’s remarks that the product didn’t sell well enough. The market for plug-in full-size automobiles is considerably smaller. It’s unfortunate, especially considering the updated model’s longer electric driving range of up to 59 kilometers, which will be marketed in other areas, including Europe.
For 2022, there will only be two A8 models available: the A8 and the extended S8 L.
While the performance-oriented S8 retains its four-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with 563 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque, the former has downsized from a V8 engine to a three-litre turbocharged V6.
During our test drive, the full-fat S8 was the only model available. These days, it definitely feels like a guilty pleasure, but it most definitely is a joy.
The S8 accelerates from 120 kilometres per hour like it is being swept forward on an infinite wave when you enter a section of the Autobahn where the only speed restriction is your good judgment. The engine’s deep rumble has a subterranean sound. As the automobile reaches 240 kph, it feels invulnerable. One of the numerous reasons to maintain speed restrictions on Canadian highways is that you can virtually see the gasoline gauge lowering at that pace.
The S8’s behavior off the Autobahn is more stunning than its raw power. The S8 is so well engineered that it handles like a smaller, lighter car on narrow country roads. When you anticipate a car to list toward the outside of a turn in a fast corner, the S8 does the opposite; its dynamic air suspension tilts the car toward the inside, making it feel slower than it actually is. The car has an eerie capacity to smooth out poor streets since it also scans the road and adjusts the suspension for impending potholes. Despite the comfortable ride, the steering is very precise. It doesn’t get much better than this if you want a sedan to transport you and your three golf mates around.
However, the same could be said about the S8 from the previous year. Minor changes were made to the upgraded model, including a new grille, lighting, and fresh paint and wheels.
However, the infotainment system is dated. The A8’s sharp dual-touchscreen technology with haptic feedback made everything else feel dated when it was first unveiled in 2017. Five years later, the technology included in more recent flagship vehicles like the Mercedes S-Class has eclipsed Audi’s system, at least in terms of style if not outright utility.
The A8 didn’t face many electric competitors in 2017 either. But today, if you don’t need room for your three golf buddies, driving an Audi e-Tron GT or a Porsche Taycan is far more thrilling. Additionally, Tesla has a new Lucid Air and a refurbished Model S.
The A8’s lower price than electric competitors and about $20,000 less than the S-Class and BMW 7 Series work in its favor. Even though it may no longer have the most cutting-edge technology, this $100,000 automobile nonetheless provides superb value and strikes an excellent mix between comfort and precise handling.
Seize the moment while you can. Audi introduced the Grand Sphere electric vehicle concept the previous year. It is over five meters long, has a lounge-like interior, and has an estimated 750+ kilometer driving range. An Audi executive predicted that the Grand Sphereor something similarwould go on sale by the middle of the decade. The fourth-generation A8 you see here is scheduled to be retired in the middle of the decade. An accident? I don’t think so. It appears that this is your final opportunity to purchase a large Audi without an electrical outlet.
Will there be an Audi A8 in 2022?
Following the global debut of its redesigned A8 range last fall at an auto show in Guangzhou, China, Audi has released further details about it.
The current A8 is the flagship sedan’s fourth generation, and its most recent modifications represent a mid-cycle refresh. The vehicle has been on sale since the 2019 model year, and the revised model, with prices starting at $87,595, should hit the market in the spring of 2022. The price of the upgraded S8 is $117,995. Both sums take destination into account.
The modifications are minor, which is typical for this section. The new front end of the A8, which includes more sophisticated matrix LED headlights, a revamped grille, and a front fascia with a more technical appearance, is the biggest difference from the current A8. There are new OLED taillights with different light signature options at the back. Additionally, they have a proximity indication so they can illuminate when another car approaches. Added to the rear fascia is a redesigned diffuser with horizontal bars.
Audi is offering a S Line sports option for the A8 for the first time, which takes some styling cues from the sporty S8 grade. For instance, it increases the number of blades close to the front fascia’s side intakes, just like on the S8. There will also be a kit that adds external black accents.
There are no noticeable changes to the cabin. A digital instrument cluster and two additional infotainment system screens (10.1 and 8.6 inches each) are still present. Both a head-up display and screens for the passengers in the back seats that attach to the front seats are still available. These can stream content, show content from passengers’ mobile devices, and control some vehicle operations.
Numerous driver-assist features, either standard or optional, a seat package with a massage function that relies on 18 pneumatic cushions, Valetta or Valcona leather, a cooler with a bar compartment, and a Bang & Olufsen audio system with 23 speakers are examples of high-end features.
Although the U.S. powertrain specifications have not been released, the revised A8 is anticipated to be offered in the country in 55 TFSI, 60 TFSI e, 60 TFSI, and S8 grades.
The 3.0 liter turbocharged V-6 in the 55 TFSI produces 335 horsepower. The 60 TFSI e is a plug-in hybrid vehicle that couples a single electric motor and a V-6 for a total of 455 horsepower.
The 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 in the 60 TFSI and S8 both produce 453 and 563 horsepower, respectively. The S8 should go from 0 to 60 mph in less than 3.8 seconds. The V-8 has cylinder-deactivation technology to assist save fuel.
All models in the range come standard with an 8-speed automatic, all-wheel drive, and mild hybrid technology.
Additional performance enhancements installed as standard are exclusive to the S8. A performance differential, predictive suspension, and speed-sensitive all-wheel steering are a few of these. The predictive suspension uses cameras to scan the road surface up ahead and then modifies each wheel’s degree of movement using actuators. To ensure stability and riding comfort while cornering, the system can also modify the amount of body roll.
Audi’s A8 doesn’t sell well; in 2021, 2,069 vehicles were sold in the United States. Even the pre-pandemic figure for 2019 (2,963 units) was just marginally better. Sales in China, however, have been robust enough to support the creation of an ultra-luxury variant that is exclusive to the Chinese market and features resurrected Horch branding.
August Horch, who founded Audi, is the source of the name Horch. He launched the Horch company in 1904 but soon experienced financial difficulties. He departed to launch the first iteration of Audi in 1910. The A8 with the name attached is a special model with an extra-long body measuring 17.88 feet, or 5.1 inches longer than the long-wheelbase A8 L we get as standard in the U.S. and 11 inches longer than the standard-wheelbase A8 sold elsewhere. It is intended to compete with the Mercedes-Benz Maybach S-Class.
Audi produces the A8?
The A8 has a 335 horsepower turbocharged V-6 engine that is supplemented by a 48-volt hybrid system. All-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission are as standard. The A8 we tested reached 60 mph from zero in 5.3 seconds. With six cylinder executive sedans, the A8 is a few tenths slower than the Mercedes-Benz S500 in terms of performance. Although the Audi’s engine is smooth, there is no fanfare to its power delivery, and sound-deadening measures are so effective that the engine is nearly undetectable with the windows up. The A8 offers a sporty yet comfortable ride that is highly reminiscent of Audi. Standard features include an adjustable air suspension and driver-adjustable adaptive dampers. This configuration separates you from road imperfections while still allowing the Audi A8 to rip down a back road when the mood strikes.
When did Audi make the A8 changes?
In 2017, the fourth generation of the Audi A8 was unveiled, elevating the brand’s flagship vehicle in terms of performance, aesthetics, and features. The new hexagonal grille, headlights, sharp bumpers, stoplights, and waistline are the most noticeable visual modifications. A brand-new infotainment system dominates the interior, which is also completely new. Additionally, the Audi A8 is the first producti…
Is the Audi A8 impregnable?
The best option for a safe, opulent drive is Alpine’s Armored Audi A8.
The armored Audi A8 from Alpine is constructed utilizing cutting-edge technology to offer clients the best level of security. This bulletproof Audi is protected against 7.62mm lead core, 5.56×45, and M80 ball bullets as well as two DM51 hand grenades because it is typically hardened to Level A9/B6+. You’ll be kept secure in potentially fatal scenarios with the armored Audi. An armored Audi A8 is a great option for usage by the government, embassy, or business. The bulletproof Audi A8 has multiple siren systems, multi-layered ballistic glass, front strobe lights, and more.
- TYPICALLY, PROTECTION IS DONE AT LEVEL A9/B6+ (7.62×39, 5.56×45, 7.62×51 AND M80 BALL)
- EACH CLIENT MAY REQUEST A HIGHER OR LOWER LEVEL PROTECTION PACKAGE.
- ALL ORIGINAL GLASS WAS REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH MULTI-LAYERED BALLISTIC GLASS THAT HAD BEEN NIJ TESTED.
- Replaced with hardened ballistic steel is all opaque material surrounding the passenger area.
Is the Audi S8 the same as the A8?
The 2021 A8 and 2021 S8 are nearly identical in terms of structure. In terms of passenger and trunk space, they share the same interior dimensions and wheelbase.
What Is the 2021 Audi A8?
The Lexus LS, BMW 7 Series, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class are competitors of Audi’s flagship sedan, the A8. The vehicle’s base engine is a 3.0-liter turbocharged V-6 with 335 horsepower; a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 with 453 horsepower is also offered. A plug-in hybrid A8 is also available for purchase from Audi, and it has a range of about 17 miles on electricity alone. The performance-oriented full-size premium sedan, the S8, boasts a 563-hp V-8. All-wheel drive is standard, and all engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
What’s New on the 2021 Audi A8?
22-way power-adjustable front seats and a 360-degree video system with a virtual viewing mode are new standard features. Front heated armrests and 21-inch wheels with summer tires are now standard on the S8.
What Features in the 2021 Audi A8 Are Most Important?
Typical characteristics include:
- Air suspension that adjusts
- sweeping moonroof
- Leather furniture
- Front seats with ventilation and heating
- automated climate control with four zones
- rear sunblinds with motor
- Interior wood trim
- using a touchscreen for navigating
- Stereo by Bang & Olufsen
Features that are available are:
- Rear seats with power adjustments and massage
- a system for in-cabin scent
- Warming the steering wheel
- display in the head
- Blind spot alert
- Dual-tablet entertainment system in the back
- evening vision
Should I Buy the 2021 Audi A8?
The A8 is worth considering if you have the funds to purchase a full-size premium car. It has a good selection of powertrains, and its elegant cabin is impressive. The design might be considered overly conservative by some, though, as competitors provide comparable degrees of luxury.