BMW has made a similar move to how Mercedes renewed its S-Class and gave it an electric counterpart by introducing the EQS. Following the same path, BMW has a dedicated EV with the 7 Series, although the i7 shares the platform with the ICE-powered versions.
However, Audi doesn’t have a full-size electric sedan available, but that will change in 2024 with the unveiling of the next-generation A8. Unlike its two rivals, the folks from Ingolstadt intend to sell their next flagship only as an EV.
Although no one has seen any spy shots whatsoever, the all-new range-topper from the Four Rings will break cover next year with styling heavily influenced by the Grandsphere. The sleek concept unveiled in September 2021 is one of the four Sphere concepts developed by Audi to preview its electric line-up. As a refresher, the company intends to launch only EVs from 2026 and end sales of ICE models by 2033.
Audi design boss Marc Lichte stated that the Grandsphere is “very close” to how the A8 will look. He went on to mention it won’t be a carbon copy of the show car, but the latter is a “very concrete teaser” of the road-going model. The British magazine claims it’ll go by the name of A8 E-Tron and sit on the Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture co-developed with Porsche.
Long-Wheelbase Model
The concept was not only bigger than the long-wheelbase model available globally but also stretched further compared to the Maybach-rivaling Horch version sold exclusively in China. Meanwhile, the concept was touted as being a “private jet for the road,” measuring a stately 5.35 meters (17.6 feet) long with a massive wheelbase of 3.19 meters (10.5 feet).
While technical specifications of the production car have yet to be revealed, it is known that the Grandsphere has an all-wheel drive from a pair of electric motors. Audi claimed a combined output of 710 horsepower (530 kilowatts) and 960 Newton-meters (708 pound-feet) of torque for a 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) run in a little over four seconds.
A large 120-kWh battery has enough juice for more than 466 miles (750 kilometers) of range and support for 270-kWh charging, in which case it took less than 10 minutes to obtain over 186 miles (300 kilometers) of range. Audi said the concept needed a little over 20 minutes to charge the battery from 5 to 80 percent.
With no prototypes spotted yet, the A8 E-Tron is unlikely to arrive early next year, as logic tells that it’ll debut later in 2024. It’s also unclear whether the current-generation A8 will remain on sale once the EV arrives.
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