Next-Generation Audi A8 Delayed

 The current Audi A8 has been a pretty good success story for Audi, recognized among the motoring press as a legitimate alternative to the perennial class leaders the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7-Series.

As part of the next-generation of it's design language and a look at the brand going forward, Audi was set to introduce the next-generation A8 at the upcoming Frankfurt Auto Show in September. As I've been saying for a while, that show promises to be chock-full of important new releases. I'm really looking forward to it!

The A8 is currently selling well in some overseas markets and has garnered a strong following in Europe and China. Why not delay release of the car a few months so you don't kill all sales of the current car in those markets? Certainly makes sense!

These factors have probably figured heavily into Audi's plans; they didn't want the A8 to get buried under all those new releases. Instead of introducing it at Frankfurt, Car & Driver sayswe should expect the A8 to debut at a special event sometime after the Los Angeles Auto Show. 

Smart thinking, I wonder why more automakers don't do it. Some do, like Tesla with it's Model S and Jaguar with it's XJ announcement next month.  The ones that do it end up getting a lot more attention!