German Car Zone

Remember this post of mine I posted a month ago?


Now it's official:



Audi A4: Long version for China

Since Chinese customers appreciate the rear legroom very much, Audi's introducing the long version of the Audi A4 in the Chinese market. Audi A4L was premiered on Sunday (16.11.2008) at the Guangzhou Motor Show.

Audi A4L (manufactured in Changchun factory) has an increased wheelbase by 60 millimeters, bringing passengers in the rear more legroom. Additionally the chassis of 4.76-meter long A4L is specifically set to fit Chinese road conditions.

The Audi A4L sales will start in January 2009 (Chinese market only), initially with two engines: 2.0 TFSI with 180 hp, and a 3.2 FSI with 265 hp.

Source:AMS



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Will the rivals react? Will we see the LWB versions of next-generation 3er & C-class as well? IMO we will - if the A4L proves to be successful. And if A6L sales numbers are the indicator, it will surely be.

Won't this eat into the A6 market though? i thought A6L (and there is a 5series LWB right?) was there for those rather rich Chinese who not quite afford a A8, so there is a A6L to offer the space.

No side pic, why? Cause it is going to be really ugly. No there won't be a long version of the 3 or C-Class IMO.


M

Yep right!! A6 L and 5-series LWB:

Yuck, they look deformed. Like stretched short buses.

M

Lolz! Can someone explain why the Chinese people are so hot on LWB cars? They've got one of the lowest average height for the population but yet they want the longest cars.

What's next, long wheel base Maybach 62?

Beside A6L, and 5er LWB, there are also E-class LWB (!!!), and Cadillac SLS (= LWB STS). All these cars are locally produced. So they are A4, 3er, C-class etc.

And locally produced cars have status of a domestic product - despite wearing foreign brand badges. Domestic status means no custom taxes - meaning the cars are more affordable. A8, 7er, S-class etc are just too expensive for some real sales numbers.

And since most luxury cars in China are chauffeur driven, and imported cars are too expensive, carmakers decided to offer China-exclussive LWB versions of smaller models (entry luxury segment, executive luxury segment). And such a formula proves to be very successful.

Think of eg. A6L as a "poor man's" A8.
While A4L is actually what? A SWB A6?
I'm not even sure SWB A6 is even offfered in China ... If that's the case than A4L is "poor man's" A6 SWB.

Chinese affairs. Complicated stuff.

Maybe LWB cars are popular because politicians don't want to buy an uber expensive A8 just to get a VIP car with decent leg room. As the A4 is about a third the price of an A8, it offers good value in LWB form.

They still look a million times better than those horror on wheels from those domestic Chinese car manufacturers.