While we probably could have guessed it already, Audi has begun to sunset its A8 model lineup including its über S-car the S8. Multiple outlets are reporting the news and so it’s worth taking a closer look.
Word first hit from the German press, with Auto Motor und Sport reporting that Audi AG ceased taking orders for the car from February 18th of this year. Aligned with that, as is typical practice at Audi, the car was removed from the German market website’s configuration tool.
Quite obviously, production is ending and so any A8 and S8 models in the system at this time are all that remains should you be seeking a new A8 or S8 for yourself. Given the nature of the production pipeline, there is likely a healthy inventory as of this writing though that will wane from this point on.
Color: Daytona grey matt effect
A LITTLE A8 / S8 HISTORY
Audi introduced its first-generation A8 (D1) back in 1994, marking the brand’s first aluminum space frame (ASF) construction product. An S8 model closely followed in 1996 – a model made pop-culture iconic in the movie Ronin.
Fast forward to today and the Audi A8 lineage has evolved to its so-called “D5.5” state, i.e. the face-lifted version of its fifth generation. Other than SUVs, the A8 and its derivatives mark the last Audi still produced on the MLB-evo architecture that is giving way to the Premium Platform Consumption (PPC) that replaces it. The A8/S8, in particular, also mark Audi’s only current model constructed with an aluminum space frame.
WILL THERE BE A NEW A8/S8 (D6)?
Audi did hint at a next-generation A8 with the 2021 grandsphere concept, an envisioned EV flagship set to reset design expectations for the brand. Part of the ambitious Artemis Project being developed within the Volkswagen Group, the Audi project was also known as “Landjet”.
Where that project is today is a bit ambiguous. Audi and its Volkswagen Group parent have been heavily impacted by software delays – pushing back product cycles by four years. Audi itself has also moved on to a new head of design with plans to move the brand in to a whole new direction of design. Beyond that, further expansion of the brand’s SUV range are known – with Q9 and SQ9 models expected to drop later this year.
MY BEST GUESS
Could Audi update the grandsphere / Landjet to more modern Audi design in order to produce a new A8? Yes, it could. However, is the market ready for it?
Taking a pause may not be a bad thing here. The A8 sells in small numbers. Albeit, the car is particularly appealing to the European (specifically German) market as well as China. It’s not insignificant, but it might be somewhat redundant with larger SUV/crossover offerings.
For the American market that prefers ICE and hybrids, the Q9 and SQ9 are likely a smarter option for a brand that needs to watch its budgets.
All that said, I hope it returns.
With grandsphere, Audi design found a new creative shape that seemed to hark both its iconic ur quattro and much-loved Avant family of cars with its C-pillar placement and shaping. I think they were really on to something there and so I hope that basic design shape isn’t now lost.
With A8 and S8, and especially the aluminum space frame that underpinned them, Audi has built its reputation as an engineering tour-de-force. The tech briefly expanded into the Mk2 and Mk3 TT family construction as well as the legendary R8 road car. The weight reduction and rust imperviousness advantages of aluminum are obvious, but it’s also somewhat expensive. That might be a challenge for cash-strapped Audi and Volkswagen Group right now, but I personally hope it returns.
How Porsche hasn’t jumped at the chance to integrate ASF into its 911 or 718 range is a surprise for me. The benefits of light weighting should be most obvious on sportscars, and Audi has built real engineering leadership in this space.