Legal roadblock may force technology downgrade for all-new Audi A8

The all-new Audi A8 will be revealed on July 11, at a glitzy event in Barcelona, but when it arrives in Australia next year (2018) several headline features may be missing.

We know the fourth-generation Audi A8 will offer a foot massager for rear seat passengers, active suspension with electric motors for each wheel, a carbon-fibre-blended structure and substantial semi-autonomous functionality, including a self-parking function which operates without the driver present.

Not surprisingly, with all these technical upgrades, the all-new Audi A8 will wear a price tag higher than the current entry-level six-cylinder diesel A8 ($198,855).

However, when the car arrives in Australia, Audi may be forced to delete some of these new features.

Mr Shaun Cleary, Audi Australia's product communications manager, confirmed the new A8 will be available here "next year" but was cautious about sanctioning its level three autonomous systems.

"This is something we'll talk a little bit more about when the car is launched but whatever we bring to market must be compatible with local legislation,” Mr Cleary said. "Currently the legislation is that the driver must remain in control of the vehicle at all times."

The National Transport Commission is formulating operating guidelines for autonomous vehicles in Australia and these will be presented to Federal and State transport ministers in November. If the new guidelines pass muster with the politicians, the new Audi A8 could be available with level three autonomy as soon as it arrives in Australia next year – but that depends on the passage of the legislation through Parliament(s).

We asked Cleary if the Audi A8's driver assistance and autonomous functionality would be cut to comply with national and/or state Australian laws and possibly Australia Design Rules (ADR). His response was an even-way bet: "possibly".

Audi has previously stated that it will accept legal liability in the event any of its automated cars crashing, but the biggest challenge for the upcoming autonomous car onslaught will not be who's at fault but whether the laws and regulations can keep up with rapidly-evolving technology.