“The A8 L Extended is the longest example, featuring three seating rows and six doors”
Audi is said to be considering a new flagship luxury barge to slot above the A8 L, apparently surprised by demand for Mercedes-Benz’ longest luxury sedans.
“The success of the extra-long version of the S-Class has got us wondering about whether there could be a business case for that in the future”: says Audi technical development head Stefan Knirsch. The company currently offers just the standard A8 in long-wheelbase A8 L version while bitter rival Mercedes-Benz sells the extra-long Maybach and Pullman variants alongside two lengths of basic S-Class sedan.
Audi has shown several one-off or limited-edition models that hint at potential upscale variants for series production. The A8 L Extended is the longest example, featuring three seating rows and six doors. Rather than focusing on length, the A8 L Chauffeur Edition (pictured) features a more luxurious rear cabin with two power-adjustable seats.
The Extended was a one-off build for a European customer, while the Chauffeur Edition was limited to just five units sold in Japan. Both were highlighted publicly, suggesting Audi may have been testing the waters for a serial-production model.
The latest comments suggest any new flagship could be several years away from production, and only if Audi believes it can compete with Mercedes-Benz’ exclusive Maybach brand.
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