Smart move? Audi planning 4-cylinder A8

boblaw · 03-15-2009, 08:32 PM

http://www.motorauthority.com/previe...n-audi-a8.html

To be honest I'd feel a little cheated paying so much for a four-cylinder car - turbo or not. At the same time, it probably means Audi will lower the price as well..

vAnt826 · 03-15-2009, 09:01 PM

Fine with me? I've always wanted a super luxury car with a high MPG. I could care less about performance when moving a family around.

blue2fire · 03-15-2009, 09:11 PM

No, the A8 needs a V6 at the least to lug itself around in a statesmanlike manner.

canucklion · 03-15-2009, 09:52 PM

it's not news. BMW's 7er and Mercedez's S class can be had with smaller-displacement engines in other markets around the world. It's only in North America that we associate V8 or higher cylinder count engines with flagship vehicles

Quote:

Originally Posted by boblaw

http://www.motorauthority.com/previe...n-audi-a8.html

To be honest I'd feel a little cheated paying so much for a four-cylinder car - turbo or not. At the same time, it probably means Audi will lower the price as well..

SteveMD · 03-16-2009, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by canucklion

it's not news. BMW's 7er and Mercedez's S class can be had with smaller-displacement engines in other markets around the world. It's only in North America that we associate V8 or higher cylinder count engines with flagship vehicles

I don't think the 7 or S Class has ever had a 4 cylinder though. The entry level 7 has always been the 728/730 using whatever version of the inline 6 is available (2.5 or 3.0 liter). The smallest displacement S Class I remember as a lad growing up in the UK was one with the 2.6 liter I6.

There have been 4 banger 5 series (518) but not 7s.

footie · 03-16-2009, 06:21 AM

Drastic times call for drastic measures. I don't think Audi will be the only one considering such a move, though I really do doubt we will see anything as dramatic as a humble 2.0TFSI under the hood of an A8.

What I think you will see is this new 2.5TFSI from the TT-RS making it's way into a lot more models throughout the Audi range and in differing states of tune with some setup more for economy and refinement while in others it will have a sportier and rawer edge. I also can't believe that 400kgs can be shaved off the S5 compared to today's model. The TT is using upwards on 70% alloy and even it in full quattro form weighs close on 1400kgs, that's only 250kgs lighter than the current S5. And that's for a much smaller car.

To me the figures don't add up but they do make interesting reading and are catching people's attention which may have been to original point of such a statement, this puts the Audi name in the lime light as the future to global warming.

GreenThree · 03-16-2009, 09:46 AM

A 4 would never be enough to handle the weight of all of the cars we are discussing here. If Audi / other companies for that matter - think that they will attract more / differnt buying demographic with this idea. I think they are wrong. People pay for the engine and the room in these larger sedans for a reason.

w00kiec00kie · 03-16-2009, 05:42 PM

These cars may end up getting worse MPG because the engine needs to be pushed to get enough power to even get these cars going...

bavarian19 · 03-16-2009, 07:54 PM

I think about durability of a 4 cylinder in such a heavy car. Those turbo's are going to be working overtime all the time.

I agree that a six cylinder might be the best bet for a car that size. Either that or a quad supercharged V 24.

03-15-2009, 08:32 PM	#1
boblaw Private 217 Rep 83 Posts Drives: 1983 BMW 3-series Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	Smart move? Audi planning 4-cylinder A8 http://www.motorauthority.com/previe...n-audi-a8.html To be honest I'd feel a little cheated paying so much for a four-cylinder car - turbo or not. At the same time, it probably means Audi will lower the price as well..
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03-15-2009, 09:01 PM	#2
vAnt826 Major 65 Rep 1,417 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Seattle iTrader: (3)	Fine with me? I've always wanted a super luxury car with a high MPG. I could care less about performance when moving a family around.
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03-16-2009, 06:21 AM	#6
footie Major General 1226 Rep 8,034 Posts Drives: i5M60 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: No where fast iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 BMW i5M60 [0.00] 2022 BMW i4M50 [0.00] 2020 BMW M5 Competi ... [0.00] 2008 E92 M3 [0.00]	Drastic times call for drastic measures. I don't think Audi will be the only one considering such a move, though I really do doubt we will see anything as dramatic as a humble 2.0TFSI under the hood of an A8. What I think you will see is this new 2.5TFSI from the TT-RS making it's way into a lot more models throughout the Audi range and in differing states of tune with some setup more for economy and refinement while in others it will have a sportier and rawer edge. I also can't believe that 400kgs can be shaved off the S5 compared to today's model. The TT is using upwards on 70% alloy and even it in full quattro form weighs close on 1400kgs, that's only 250kgs lighter than the current S5. And that's for a much smaller car. To me the figures don't add up but they do make interesting reading and are catching people's attention which may have been to original point of such a statement, this puts the Audi name in the lime light as the future to global warming.
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03-16-2009, 09:46 AM	#7
GreenThree Colonel 216 Rep 2,110 Posts Drives: 2011 e90 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	Not a smart move A 4 would never be enough to handle the weight of all of the cars we are discussing here. If Audi / other companies for that matter - think that they will attract more / differnt buying demographic with this idea. I think they are wrong. People pay for the engine and the room in these larger sedans for a reason. __________________ 2015 335xi \| Mineral Grey Metallic \| Black Dakota Leather \| NAV \| SportLine \| ZPP \| ZDA \| ZCW \| Munich Build Retired: 2008, 2011, 2013 328xi
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03-16-2009, 05:42 PM	#8
w00kiec00kie Private First Class 1 Rep 132 Posts Drives: '07 E90 328i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (2)	These cars may end up getting worse MPG because the engine needs to be pushed to get enough power to even get these cars going...
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03-16-2009, 07:54 PM	#9
bavarian19 General 547 Rep 18,849 Posts Drives: Car Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: VA iTrader: (23)	I think about durability of a 4 cylinder in such a heavy car. Those turbo's are going to be working overtime all the time. I agree that a six cylinder might be the best bet for a car that size. Either that or a quad supercharged V 24.
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