Audi Launches Chinese-Exclusive Long-Wheelbase A6L

Made-in-China A6L Wont Be Sold in North America or Europe

As hard as it is to believe, one of Audis biggest markets is the Peoples Republic of China, and the company sells more A6s there than anywhere else. In Asia, Audi ranks amongst the most popular in the luxury vehicle segment, and holds similar if not greater prestige value than equivalent BMW and Mercedes-Benz models.

The oriental influence on Audi is so great that the quattro brand is now produced in China, alongside other Volkswagens at the FAW-VW plant. Rumor even has it that the single-frame Nuvolari Nose was pushed into production via the A8 W12 because Chinese buyers felt the regular A8s nose wasnt individual enough.

It comes as no surprise then, that as one of the leaders in Chinas premium luxury sedan market, Audi has brought out a unique, long-wheelbase A6L for the Chinese market. Upon its introduction, Professor Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Audi AG said, "The Audi A6L will be built exclusively as a long-wheelbase version in China for the Chinese market. This premium product, which is wholly orientated to our Chinese customers, thus enables us to go one step further in China than in the rest of the world." Winterkorn also said, "The special Chinese version of the A6L, which has undergone extensive trials in the country, offers convincing proof of our market leadership in the Chinese premium segment."

Through its first year of production the latest A6 has been well received by the public, and has brought home several trophies for Audis corporate mantelpiece. This past February, the A6 was awarded "World Car of the Year" at the Canadian International Auto Show, and it has also achieved the prestigious "Auto1" award, and the status of "Best Car of 2005" in Germany. Also, according to the design-frenzied Italians, it is the "Worlds Most Beautiful Large Saloon". The announcement of the L variant takes the A6s merits of an artistic, well-crafted, all-weather luxury sedan and adds additional comfort, spaciousness and an air of sophistication.

Mechanically, Chinese-built A6s are identical to their German-built counterparts, but there are a handful of modifications made to suit the cars local markets. To provide comfort on the less-than-perfect Chinese highways as well as the countrys unpaved rural roadways, special attention has been paid to the springs, dampers and bushings. Its expected that the optional adaptive air suspension will be one of the more common orders on the A6L which surpasses the competition for ride quality and comfort without sacrificing body control.

The major difference between the A6 and the A6L, as you might have guessed, is its longer wheelbase. To increase the already expansive rear legroom, the A6s wheelbase has been elongated by 3.9 inches for a total length of 115.9 inches. The additional length puts the A6L within millimetres of the A8s wheelbase and makes it the most spacious vehicle in its class. Its probably the only vehicle this side of a Rolls Royce Phantom that 76"-tall basketball star Yao Ming could stretch out in.

Another area where the A6L leads the way is with its quattro all-wheel drive. Though Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5-Series competitors are available with 4Matic and X-Drive all-wheel drive respectively, Audi has the upper hand with over twenty-five years of AWD experience.

The A6L will be offered with quattro on vehicles equipped with the 3.0-liter 218-hp V6 and the 4.2-liter, 335-hp V8. As a side-note, the A6L is the first Audi to be built in China with a V8 motor. Other powertrain configurations include FrontTrak (FWD) mated to a 170-hp 2.0-liter TFSI engine (as featured in the upcoming VW GTI) and a 2.4-liter, 177-hp V6. Customers can choose between a manual transmission, the Multitronic CVT gearbox, and two automatics.

As with the standard A6, the L model boasts high-tech features including ZFs Servotronic power steering, multi-function steering wheel, light/rain sensors and the MMI multimedia system - in Chinese, of course. Although quattro and an advanced stability control program are standard, the A6L comes equipped with front, side and head airbags to ensure that passengers are safe in any situation. The super-rigid chassis of the long-wheelbase A6 should perform equally as well as the regular model in a collision, and would without a doubt obtain the same five-star crash test rating in the EuroNCAP front and side impact tests.

With over 200,000 A6s built in China to date, the A6 has been a runaway hit for Audi and FAW-Group, and the addition of the long wheelbase model will add to the models popularity. Until BMW and Mercedes bring out long wheelbase variants of their midsize premium models, its unlikely that the competition will ever catch up to Audi. How long until they show up? Its hard to say - but in a market as big and as important as China, the answer might be sooner, rather than later.

The idea of the A6L is an intriguing one from a North American viewpoint. It provides the roominess and comfort of a full-size luxo-barge such as the A8 without the high five-figure price tag. A long-wheelbase variant would put it uncomfortably close to the A8 in North America, however, ground thats decreasing as the new A6 grows in popularity.

In Europe, conflict also occurs with the A8, which is available with the 255 hp FSI V6. Once again, priority goes to the flagship. Aside from the conflict in marketing, the A6L wont be built in Ingolstadt, Germany, the source of our North American market A6s.

The A6L was revealed to the public on April 21st at Auto Shanghai 2005.