Official Audi A4 (B8) Thread (Spy pics & info)

[BigBoss]

It is a little more than a month to the Frankfurt motor show and still no pictures
How is this possible that there is no test mules, disguised cars...

For instance - new Opel Vectra (Insignia) - almost every week we see new pictures of test mules driving around - the same goes for BMWs new X6 - and so on and so forward... And again - no Audi A4 .

I ask you: Why is that so?

[Centurion]

Originally Posted by BigBoss

It is a little more than a month to the Frankfurt motor show and still no pictures
How is this possible that there is no test mules, disguised cars...

For instance - new Opel Vectra (Insignia) - almost every week we see new pictures of test mules driving around - the same goes for BMWs new X6 - and so on and so forward... And again - no Audi A4 .

I ask you: Why is that so?

I've had my doubts as well and still don't believe that the A4 will premiere at Frankfurt. Such an important car should have been all over the place at least 6 months before the launch. We saw the A5 and R8 mules 6-12 month testing all around Germany, on the ring and in the US before launch.

So far we haven't seen one single, even fully, covered A4 mule on the roads yet. The only mules we have seen are mules with B7 bodies and one fully working prototype behind gates, covered with a big cloth. That is faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar from adequate.

With that being said it is impossible that the A4 will be launched at Frankfurt, though a near production ready model is likely.

[Deutsch]

Originally Posted by BigBoss

It is a little more than a month to the Frankfurt motor show and still no pictures
How is this possible that there is no test mules, disguised cars...

For instance - new Opel Vectra (Insignia) - almost every week we see new pictures of test mules driving around - the same goes for BMWs new X6 - and so on and so forward... And again - no Audi A4 .

I ask you: Why is that so?

Originally Posted by Luwalira

I've had my doubts as well and still don't believe that the A4 will premiere at Frankfurt. Such an important car should have been all over the place at least 6 months before the launch. We saw the A5 and R8 mules 6-12 month testing all around Germany, on the ring and in the US before launch.

So far we haven't seen one single, even fully, covered A4 mule on the roads yet. The only mules we have seen are mules with B7 bodies and one fully working prototype behind gates, covered with a big cloth. That is faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar from adequate.

With that being said it is impossible that the A4 will be launched at Frankfurt, though a near production ready model is likely.

You guys have been on snooze for a minute:

Straightline - More spy photos: 2009 Audi A4

[Centurion]

Originally Posted by Deutsch

You guys have been on snooze for a minute:

Straightline - More spy photos: 2009 Audi A4

I mentioned those pictures in my post but like I said, testing a car behind factory gates isn't enough. There is no substitute for testing a car uncovered on public roads. If the car was to premiere at Frankfurt it would by now be rolling at the roads barely covered at all. All the years I've been a member on GCZ and GCF I've never seen a car being launched without having been seen on public roads with light camo at least 6 months prior to launch, and the B8 A4 will not be an exception. It is possible that it will premiere next month. My guess is that the car won't sit on European show room floors until late spring/early summer next year.

[RICHBOY]

Originally Posted by Luwalira

I mentioned those pictures in my post but like I said, testing a car behind factory gates isn't enough. There is no substitute for testing a car uncovered on public roads. If the car was to premiere at Frankfurt it would by now be rolling at the roads barely covered at all. All the years I've been a member on GCZ and GCF I've never seen a car being launched without having been seen on public roads with light camo at least 6 months prior to launch, and the B8 A4 will not be an exception. It is possible that it will premiere next month. My guess is that the car won't sit on European show room floors until late spring/early summer next year.

I hate it, but I think your right!

[Deutsch]

Originally Posted by Luwalira

I mentioned those pictures in my post but like I said, testing a car behind factory gates isn't enough. There is no substitute for testing a car uncovered on public roads. If the car was to premiere at Frankfurt it would by now be rolling at the roads barely covered at all. All the years I've been a member on GCZ and GCF I've never seen a car being launched without having been seen on public roads with light camo at least 6 months prior to launch, and the B8 A4 will not be an exception. It is possible that it will premiere next month. My guess is that the car won't sit on European show room floors until late spring/early summer next year.

Originally Posted by RICHBOY

I hate it, but I think your right!

Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it hasn't been already done. Aside from that most of the testing for this platform has already been done on A5 prototypes and B7 mules.

[RICHBOY]

Originally Posted by Deutsch

Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it hasn't been already done. Aside from that most of the testing for this platform has already been done on A5 prototypes and B7 mules.

I don't know, will see soon enough though!

[Centurion]

Originally Posted by Deutsch

Just because you haven't seen it doesn't mean it hasn't been already done. Aside from that most of the testing for this platform has already been done on A5 prototypes and B7 mules.

A5 = two door
A4 = four door

Even if they share components they do have their differences and both need to be tested thoroughly. Using an existing body to test a new model is something company's only to in the first phase but do eventually test the car using the final body. No short cuts or risks are taken since the final product need tested in it's natural environment aka public roads. If a production ready B8 had been tested like any other German car we would by know have at least two thread with a gazzillion pictures of it. Just look at the BMW X6, it is due later this year and has been seen driving on the roads with nothing but masking tape. Bare in mind that it is partially based on the X5 but is still going through the typical testing.

[YoUhimhER]

Originally Posted by Luwalira

A5 = two door
A4 = four door

Even if they share components they do have their differences and both need to be tested thoroughly. Using an existing body to test a new model is something company's only to in the first phase but do eventually test the car using the final body. No short cuts or risks are taken since the final product need tested in it's natural environment aka public roads. If a production ready B8 had been tested like any other German car we would by know have at least two thread with a gazzillion pictures of it. Just look at the BMW X6, it is due later this year and has been seen driving on the roads with nothing but masking tape. Bare in mind that it is partially based on the X5 but is still going through the typical testing.

i agree with lu here, i am a lil worried that i wont see the a4 till next year.

[EnI]

I really wonder how is Audi able to hide its new models during testings.



We see all kinds of cars way in advance before they hit showrooms - some even in very early development stages. Eg. MB, BMW, Toyota, Honda, Opel, Hyundai, Jaguar, VW etc

While spy pics of Audi models hit internet / press only few months before being officially introduced. Eg. new A4 & Q5: we have seen some mules, and the next thing was the real cars with only cloth cover, and now we are expecting press releases. No camoed prototypes at all. The only car that was exposed a bit more during testing was A5.

Where do Audi test their cars? I'm sure all the tests can't be performed on private track, or on simulators. Nor in dark only. Cold weather tests, hot weather tests etc - all such tests have to be done. But I guess Audi drop their cars in publice places only when entering FEP developing phases.

How is that possible?