The next-gen flagship Audi A8 will debut on 11 July 2017 at the Audi Summit in Barcelona. Before that, the redesigned model will appear in ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ that premieres in the USA on 7 July 2017.

The 2018 Audi A8 will offer Level 3 automated driving function in traffic jams at speeds up to 60 km/h. Its Traffic Jam Pilot function – an Audi-first, which uses a central driver assistance controller, or zFAS, with NVIDIA hardware and software – allows the car to autonomously handle steering, throttle and braking provided certain conditions are met. The driver will have the option to let the vehicle take over full control at times.


The tech-laden fourth-gen Audi A8 will debut the MIB2+. The Tegra K1 processor is MIB2+’ core, which makes new functions possible and has the level of computing power needed to support multiple high-resolution displays – including the second-generation Audi virtual cockpit. Remote parking pilot feature will allow the driver to turn over the parking function to the car via a smartphone app or even the key fob presumably.

The 2018 Audi A8 features an evolutionary design with more angularity and aggression at the front and sheer elegance at the rear. Sleek OLED headlamps flank the new singleframe grille with daytime running lights, and there is C-shaped space on the outer ends of the bumper for the air inlets. The redesigned headlamps at the top, large grille in the centre and the C-shaped grille at the bottom give an angry look to the car. The rear oozes elegance with uniquely designed full-width tail lights.


The teaser gives a quick look inside the car too. A new two-spoke steering wheel with large frames on each side, inspired by that of the Audi prologue concept series, has replaced the standard three-spoke steering wheel. The second-gen Audi virtual cockpit fully digital instrument panel debuts in the luxury saloon. The steering wheel frames, steering stalks, door panels and dashboard all have sharp cuts and creases, balancing perfectly with the exterior of the car.

Based on the MLB Evo platform, the next-gen Audi A8 will feature mild-hybrid tech as standard. It will have a front-mounted camera, using which the car will start the engine and accelerate as soon as the vehicle in front starts moving. Using this advanced mild-hybrid tech, the vehicle can even coast, with its engine shut, at speeds between 55 km/h and 160 km/h for up to 40 seconds.


Audi is expected to offer the revamped A8 with turbocharged V6, V8 and W12 engines. A plug-in hybrid option is a given. Audi should reveal more details as the debut closes in.