2015 Audi A8 facelift spy shots
The updated Audi flagship is expected to arrive on the market early next year as a 2015 model, and most of its upgrades will focus on new technology. As these spy shots of the final testing prototype reveal, the updates to the car’s styling will be minimal.
In true Audi tradition the visual changes consist of subtle tweaks to the lights, grille and bumpers. We’re not complaining, since the current A8, particularly in its sporty S8 guise, is one the most elegant luxury sedans on the market.
The 2015 A8 will feature Audi’s latest Matrix LED headlight technology. This will allow drivers to leave the high-beam permanently on as the Matrix LED headlight, which uses an array of individually controlled LEDs, automatically splits the light beam to block out sections that may blind other motorists.
The interior of the 2015 A8 facelift is likely to receive its own set of subtle updates, along with some new technologies including the latest version of Audi connect Internet services, a modular infotainment system and possibly a redesigned instrument cluster.
It’s not clear if Audi will be planning significant updates to the powertrain lineup, although we’re still unlikely to see the A8 Hybrid anytime soon. The current 3.0-litre and 4.0-litre TFSI units should carry over largely unchanged, as should the range-topping 6.3-litre W12. A 184kW 3.0-litre TDI diesel was just added for the 2014 model year, so this unit will almost certainly carry over with the same spec.
While the A8 will be facing some serious competition from a new Mercedes-Benz S-Class due out later this year, the changes should keep the car looking fresh until a completely redesigned model, possibly based on Porsche's MSB platform and with autonomous driving capability, launches a couple of years further down the track.
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