Audi May Not Have Killed Off Its Flagship Sedan, After All

The Audi A8 actually isn’t dead yet. At least, according to our friends at Motor1, who spoke with the A8’s chief spokesperson, Marcel Bestle.

In a recent chat with Bestle, the outlet learned that only the current fourth-generation model is being phased out. A new one is planned, but Audi is currently focusing on its new full-size three-row SUV, the Q9 in the coming months.

The A8’s spirit will live on in the Q9, for now

Audi

Audi recently and quietly discontinued the current A8 by closing its order books for the model in Germany. This signaled the model’s end throughout the world. Regional spokespeople also indicated that the 2026 A8 is still available, but depending only on what’s remaining in global inventory.

In a brief statement, Bestle confirmed Audi will succeed the current A8 with a new, fifth-gen successor. But that won’t happen immediately, as Audi is currently focused on the near-term future, which will hopefully help right parent company Volkswagen AG’s financial ship.

Audi

That model is the incoming Q9, or Audi’s long-awaited answer to the hugely successful BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS (formerly GL). Another report from AutomotiveNews also confirmed the Q9’s priority.

Mercedes started the trend with the GL in 2007, proving the popularity of big, three-row luxury crossovers. BMW followed up with its competitor, the X7, significantly later, in 2018.

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Now, almost two decades after Mercedes started the trend, Audi fans have been waiting for its version. And because of their popularity, Audi’s product team sees the Q9 as a potentially major cash cow, as most crossover SUVs are.

“The decision on an A8 successor has been taken and we intend to present it towards the end of this decade,” Bestle told M1. “We are going to communicate further details in due course. The Audi Q9 is going to expand the Audi portfolio at the top as large full-size SUV.”

A new A8 will arrive, eventually

Audi

Although the Q9 is Audi’s next priority, a fifth-gen A8 will eventually arrive. But don’t hold your breath, as Bestle said it won’t arrive until the end of the decade.

Not much is known. Speculation, for now, suggests the new A8 could receive styling cues from the recent 2021 Grandsphere Concept.

Despite dwindling sales, Audi still sees a market for full-size luxury sedans. Especially since arch crosstown rivals, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, continue to produce theirs.

Audi

Additionally, the full-size luxury sedan segment is still one of the most revered in the automotive space. For years, full-size luxury sedans were and still remain the pinnacle of technological excellence and innovation, a benchmark set and held by the S-Class.

Over the years, the title alternated between the S-Class and the 7 Series. Though the A8 also purveyed Audi’s status as another technological innovator.

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