Editing Audi A8 (section)

{{short description|Full-size luxury sedan}}
{{use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox automobile
| name         = Audi A8
| image        = 2018 Audi A8 50 TDi Quattro Automatic 3.0.jpg
| manufacturer = [[Audi AG]]
| assembly     = Germany: [[Neckarsulm]] (Neckarsulm Audi Factory)
| aka          = 
| production   = '''[[#D2|D2]]:''' 1994–2002<br />'''[[#D3|D3]]:''' 2002–2010<br />'''[[#D4|D4]]:''' 2009–2017<br />'''[[#D5|D5]]:''' 2017–present
| class        = [[Full-size]] [[luxury car]] ([[F-segment|F]])
| body_style  = 4-door [[sedan (automobile)|sedan]]
| platform    = [[List of Volkswagen Group platforms|MLB]]
| layout      = Longitudinal [[FF layout|FF]] (1994–2013)<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/2013/10/23/audi-ditches-front-wheel-drive-for-a8/48593/| title = Audi ditches front-wheel drive for A8 | access-date=17 October 2021 | work=fleetnews.co.uk}}</ref> / [[F4 layout]] ([[Quattro (four-wheel-drive system)|quattro]]) (1994–present)
| related     = [[Audi S8]]
| predecessor = [[Audi V8]]
}}

The '''Audi A8''' is a [[full-size]] [[luxury vehicle|luxury]] [[sedan (car)|sedan]] manufactured and marketed by the German automaker [[Audi]] since 1994. Succeeding the [[Audi V8]], and now in its fourth generation, the A8 has been offered with either [[front-wheel drive|front-]] or permanent [[four-wheel drive|all-wheel drive]] and in short- and long-wheelbase variants. The first two generations employed the [[Volkswagen Group D platform]], with the current generation deriving from the [[Volkswagen Group MLB platform|MLB platform]]. After the original model's 1994 release, Audi released the second generation in late 2002, the third in late 2009, and the fourth and current iteration in 2017. Noted as the first mass-market car with an aluminium chassis, all A8 models have used this construction method co-developed with [[Alcoa]] and marketed as the Audi Space Frame.<ref name="nytalcoa">{{cite news |title= Speaking of Understatements |work=[[The New York Times]] |first=Lawrence |last=Ulrich |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/automobiles/autoreviews/14audi-a8.html?_r=1&hp |date=12 November 2010}}</ref>

A mechanically upgraded, high-performance version of the A8 debuted in 1996 as the [[Audi S8]]. Produced exclusively at Audi's [[Neckarsulm]] plant, the S8 is fitted standard with Audi's [[quattro (four wheel drive system)|quattro]] all-wheel drive system. The S8 was only offered with a short-wheelbase for the first three generations, being joined by a long-wheelbase variant for the fourth generation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1123880_2020-audi-s8-barrels-in-with-563-horsepower-v-8|title=2020 Audi S8 barrels in with 563-horsepower V-8|website=Motor Authority|language=en|access-date=2019-07-04}}</ref>