Recently representatives from Audi dealerships in the U.S. had the privilege of traveling to headquarters in Ingolstadt to check out the new A8 and learn all about this wonderful car. We got word that one of sales reps at Mohegan Lake Audi has been blogging about it.
This video features the A8 at the world reveal in Miami Beach...
Here are some frequently asked questions about the 2011 A8 for the U.S. market:
Where will the A8 be manufactured? It will be built in Neckarsulm, Baden Wuertemberg, Germany, home of Audi’s Lightweight Construction Center. This is the same location where the R8, A6, and A5 / S5 Cabriolet are manufactured.
When will the A8 go on sale in the U.S.? The all-new 2011 model year A8 and A8L will go on sale in the U.S. in Fall 2010.
How much does the A8 cost? While we are not prepared to discuss the price of the new A8 at this early stage, it can be expected that it will maintain its relative position in the market, with even more product substance and technology.
How many A8’s does Audi plan to sell in the U.S. per year? The D3 A8 reached almost 6,000 units (5,943 in 2004) and just under 7% segment share. However, the premium luxury segment is under tremendous pressure now (-39% at the end of 2009). Even so, Audi plans to increase market share relative to the D3 with this exciting new flagship.
Besides the A8 NWB shown in Detroit, what other A8 models are planned for the United States? We first introduced the new A8 NWB in Miami in November 2009, and the V8 NWB model made its world auto show debut in Detroit in January 2010. Other models will follow to be a full A8 model line including performance, prestige and alternate-fuel variants. The A8L being shown in Beijing for the first time in late April 2010 (available with both 4.2 FSI V8 and W12 FSI engines) is one of those additional models. A8 4.2 FSI and A8L 4.2 FSI launch in Fall 2010, while A8L W12 FSI launches in Spring 2011. There will be no normal wheelbase W12 FSI version sold in the USA. The long wheelbase version of the A8L has been around 90% of the mix for the outgoing generation. The new normal wheelbase is almost as long as the outgoing long wheelbase A8L.
How much does the A8 weigh? Official figures/specifications, including EPA fuel economy estimates for the A8, are not yet available, however, the new A8 will weigh about the same as the current A8, even though the car is bigger (3 in. longer, 2 in. wider) and has more standard equipment (8-speed auto transmission, pre sense basic, keyless go, power trunk, etc.) Versus normal wheelbase competitors: ~50lbs less than S Class RWD, and >200lbs less than S Class AWD; >200lbs less than 7 Series RWD and >400lbs less than 7 Series AWD. The Audi Space Frame is 40% lighter than the comparable steel frame of the segment competition.
Who are the A8 customers? A8 customers are highly affluent consumers with a median income close to $500,000, and are most likely worth over $1,000,000. Median age is around 58, which is similar to the BMW 7 Series, and younger than the S Class and Lexus LS. They are highly educated, with almost half having a post-graduate level degree, and are mostly married with few children still in the household. They enjoy traveling, both domestic (e.g. skiing/spa) and international (e.g. Italy/France). Typical publications that they enjoy include the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, The Economist and Barron’s.
Source: Audi
2 comments:
Those seeking the latest in luxury, cutting edge technology and styling look no further than the 2011 A8! Audi has aced this one and truly raised the bar. Thanks for mentioning my blog!
The LED headlamps, and bigger tires would mark the styling cues of new A8.
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