Stretched Audi A8 luxury sedan launched in China
Audi AG has started selling the extended wheelbase version of its Audi A8 sedan Monday in China, part of its effort to consolidate its position as the leading luxury brand on the worlds' largest auto market.
With a starting price of 928,000 yuan ($141,000), the car is 5,267 mm long, 1,949 mm wide and 1,471 mm tall. It has a wheelbase of 3,122 mm, 130 mm longer than the normal Audi A8, according to information available on Audi's Chinese Web site.
Known as Audi A8L (L for long wheelbase), the car is powered by Audi's 3TFSI engine and 8-speed Tiptronic transmission.
Currently, the Audi A8L sedan has only one engine size, 3.0 liters. The German brand plans to launch the 4.2-liter and 6.3-liter versions of the A8L in China later this year.
Audi's sedan will compete with Mercedes-Benz S-class and BMW 7-Series sedans.
The Audi A8L is the third long wheelbase model that Audi AG has launched in China, following the Audi A6L and A4L.
With sales of 236,839 vehicles in 2010, Audi is China's largest luxury car brand. The A4L and A6L stretched models account for up to 73 percent of Audi's total sales.
To satisfy Chinese consumers' liking for large cars, BMW, Mercedes and Volvo have also launched long wheelbase products in China.
