The Mystro S4

How can VW say their new lux car wont compete with Audi? Too many Roosters in the hen house.

Bada Bing

Among ultra luxury sedans, the Audi A8 is the least well known and carries the least cachet. Somehow I don't see a Lexus LS430 or Infiniti Q45 potential buyer opting for the VW, but I can see someone who likes the A8 but is afraid of the horrendous resale value making a smaller investment for the VW while still getting AWD, W12 engine and VW/Audi quality and design.

silverA8L

Just take a look at this forum, seems to me a lot of owners owned other Audi before they step into an A8/S8. If this applies to Audi, I think it will apply to VW. Same for Toyota/Lexus, Nissan/Infiniti, Honda/Acura.

Granted the "established" German marques will still be on the top, but with poor dealer services and quality issues, another Lexus phenomenal may appear. Whether you are buying the Phaeton or A8, it's still a VW product. Audi now targets the "BMW"-type buyers while VW targets the traditional "Mercedes"-type buyer and those who appreciate good value (the Phaeton is said to be a very high quality and very well equipped car with a very good price - I heard the W12 Phaeton will be about the price of a S500, but I may be wrong)

Egil A64.2s - S6

I agree

KjellA

Me too. But it will steel from current A8 sale, next generation A8 will find a wider market.

D3AeighT

That same guy afraid of A/S8 resale wouldn't buy the A/S8 anyway, so VW has then potentially found another consumer just in another brand. I think VW is indeed trying to do what the Japanese have done now that the AUDI brand has achieved the "upscaled brand" in the past few years. The 2003 A/S8 will keep us current A/S8 owners upgrading as well as attract the newer generation of intelleigent buyers who will find AUDI hard to resist.