Clamp-down on A8

The new A8 will make its global debut in Miami early next week, but Audi is stage-managing the event very carefully. While the manufacturer has revealed that the new model will form the mainstay of an exhibit named 'The Art of Progress', there has been little other information forthcoming.

Audi has timed the launch to coincide with the concluding celebrations of the company's centenary and the opening of the Design Miami Exhibition. Officially, the wraps come off the new A8 on November 30, which means overnight Monday/Tuesday of next week for Australians, and the car will remain on display to the public from December 2 to 5.

The A8 will take pride of place in the 'Audi Pavilion', a temporary museum-like structure erected specifically for the event. Also taking up residence within the pavilion are a number of artworks owned by the Rubell Family Collection and 'The Light Light', a design exhibit by Tom Dixon.

According to Audi, 'The Art of Progress' will encompass examples of cultural and technological progress, thus providing a bridge to Audi and its slogan, 'Vorsprung durch Technik'.

As to the car itself, Audi is not releasing any information ahead of the embargo date, although we expect the car will look much like the artist's impressions displayed here, courtesy of master spy photographers, Carparazzi -- the mob who also snapped pics of the pre-production A8 going through its paces testing.

Audi Australia's General Manager Corporate Communications, Anna Burgdorf advised the Carsales Network on Monday that the company would not provide information to the press ahead of the A8's launch. This decision inevitably resulted from an earlier incident when details for the A5 Sportback were leaked in advance of the press embargo.

Even the local head of PR for Audi will not be receiving press pics and specs until the embargo is lifted, she tells us, such was the resentment at a corporate level. 

However, we will bring you news of the A8 as soon as it's to hand.

-- with Carparazzi