2011 Audi A8 Preview

TheCarConnection.com's editors have written this preview of the 2011 Audi A8 from press information and from a preview of the new sedan in late 2009. Editors will update this with a hands-on road test when test vehicles become available.

Likes
Statesman styling
Diesels and hybrids--and better fuel economy
Divine interior finishes
Three ways to control audio and climate

Dislikes
Not as advanced as the hype
Not as lightweight as hoped
Three ways to control audio and climate

Change is coming to Germany--more precisely, to Ingolstadt--as Audi prepares to launch the fourth generation of its flagship A8 sedan. The 2011 A8 hits showrooms late next year, with a new set of aluminum body panels, a broad spectrum of drivetrain choices, and a new MMI system that goes the iPhone route for fingertip navigation. With a base price of about $75,000 and a top price over $100,000, the new Audi A8 competes with the BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, and will have the 2011 Jaguar XJ and Lexus LS also in its sights--and, Audi hopes, will vault its name and its four-ringed logo forever into the elite ranks of luxury sedans.