NEWS
Audi flagship concept previews new look
Panamera rivalling A9 will debut in concept form at Los Angeles motor showAudi will front up to the LA motor show in November with a new design study to whet the appetite of enthusiasts who like Porsche's Panamera in principle, if not necessarily in execution.
The report, from respected British media outlet Autocar, anticipates the concept car will be a preview of a production model named A9, poised to sit above the A8 sedan in the range. As the putative range-topping model the A9 is expected to introduce a new corporate style that will trickle down to other models in the Audi range. The LA show car will provide the first taste of the new look, according to Autocar.
Sharing the MLB platform that will underpin the next (fourth) generation A8, the concept is the work of Marc Lichte, now working for Audi but previously responsible for the latest Golf and Passat while he was at Volkswagen.
Based on the Autocar report, the new styling theme will stick with the single-frame grille that has been a hallmark of Audi styling for a decade, but the grille will be reinterpreted, as has been the case for the Q3, A3 and TT. An anonymous insider has told the publication that the A9 and the concept car will feature a highly 'technical look' that reflects the company's engineering philosophy.
The show car will likely feature its own variation on the TT's 'virtual cockpit' (pictured), and will possibly showcase 'new connectivity options' that will be introduced to the market in production versions of A8 and A9. It's expected the series production A9 will be introduced to world markets in 2017. That would suggest an Australian launch date for the car (assuming it comes here) during the first half of 2018.
Share this article
Written byCarsales Staff
See all articlesOur team of independent expert car reviewers and journalistsMeet the team
Stay up to dateBecome a carsales member and get the latest news, reviews and advice straight to your inbox.
Related articles
Disclaimer
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
Contact
Local marketplaces
International marketplaces
Download the carsales app
