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Audi's grilling up a host of enhancements to the A8 lineup for 2022
The model sees its first sporty S line trim, plus a Chinese-market "Horch" limousine
Author of the article:
Kathy Renwald
Publishing date:
Nov 02, 2021 • Last Updated 10 hours ago • 2 minute read
New paint colours, and new wheels are just some of the ways for customers to customize their new Audi A8.Photo by Audi
Look for micro, not massive, changes to the A8, as Audi in early November takes the wraps off a new list of enhancements to its luxury flagship sedan. In addition to new headlight and taillight wizardry, and some grille tweaks to the A8, Audi announced that for the first time the A8 will get the S line treatment, and a new exclusive model will start shipping to China only.
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At a product update in Ingolstadt, Germany, Audi designers admitted that tinkering with the brand’s beacon of luxury has to be done “cautiously.” So they tinkered big, but kept changes small in an effort to “rebalance sportiness and prestige,” said Ashley Gleave from the Audi Design team.
With a new “equator line” and adjustments to the corners, the new single-frame grille design offers a more “vertical and prestigious” presence. New headlights and taillights emphasize segmented design, as do changeable LED bands. The Audi rings are visible on the optional Digital Matrix LED headlights, and a new function called Lane Orientation Lighting sees the headlights emitting a carpet of light that illuminates the driver’s lane. The intent is to help the driver stay centered.
Offering the S line exterior package on the A8 for the first time gives the sedan more distinctive styling elements, including a black appearance package and bold tweaks to the front end design to make it sportier. A new 21-inch wheel is available as an option. Inside, S-line-specific logos and a three-spoke steering wheel enhance the cabin.
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1/8 The new L Horch made just for the Chinese market is 13 centimetres longer than the A8 L.Photo by Audi▲
1/8 Changes to rear taillights include an LED band.Photo by Audi▲
1/8 New paint colours, and new wheels are just some of the ways for customers to customize their new Audi A8.Photo by Audi▲
1/8 Audi A8 L, with changes to front that blend prestige with sportiness.Photo by Audi▲
1/8 New headlights include bold segmented sections; and safety functions including Lane Orientation Lighting.Photo by Audi▲
1/8 Top of the line luxury runs through the interior with new textiles and logos.Photo by Audi▲
1/8 Sit back, put your feet up, and indulge yourself in the A8 cabin.Photo by Audi▲
1/8 Changes to the A8 grille include a new equator line and crisp corner lines that result in a more "vertical and prestigious" presence.Photo by Audi▲
Across the A8 lineup, paint colour choices are generous, including five new matte colours and four new metallic ones.
At the lofty end of the market where the A8 resides, is it any surprise that the A8 L goes deep on luxury? The new relaxation seat package offers a heated and massaging footrest for backseat passengers; and an optional fold-out table and bar.
The biggest buyers of the A8 live in the Chinese market, so Audi felt compelled to make a new top-of-the-range version for buyers there. The exclusive model – called the A8 L Horch, a throwback to one of the automakers that formed the Auto Union that became Audi – is, at 5.45 metres, some 13 centimetres longer than the A8 L.
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Premium touches abound, with a vast range of standard equipment, a supersized panoramic sunroof, custom colour finishes, and exclusive chrome touches. Almost 60 per cent of A8s are sold to the Chinese market, but don’t expect the L Horch to be sold elsewhere. Audi says it sent out feelers, but the demand for this ultra-exclusive A8 just doesn’t sustain offering it anywhere else.
No changes are coming to the A8 powertrain across the lineup: worldwide, the choices will include a V6; a PHEV; and a V8 in the S8. There and no startling advancements in autonomous driving.
The new “enhanced” A8 models will land in Canada in summer 2022. Pricing will be released closer to launch.