Reference Auto

Audi, which is aiming to topple its German peers BMW and Mercedes-Benz in its bid to find itself in the top slot in India’s luxury cars market, has launched a new version of its Audi A8 L sedan in the country.

The new Audi A8 comes equipped with a 4.2 FSI petrol engine and prices start from Rs 87,32,000. The new A8 L will come with the efficient and powerful 4.2 FSI V8 engine with a displacement of 4.2 lts and has an output of 273 kW (372 hp). The new 4.2 lt engine is 22% more fuel efficient.

“Roll out of the A8 L is a big achievement for Audi India as it celebrates previous successes and foreshadows future growth,” Audi India head Michael Perschke said.

“Our dedication to luxury, comfort and sophistication has scaled a new peak with the launch of our brand’s  flagship. We are confident that our world-class services along with this top product will result in a mega success for Audi. We will carry on with our customer centric approach and continue to maintain the high standards that have been set by Audi globally,” said director, Audi Mumbai West, Anand Rao.

The company plans to launch more variants — the Audi A8 L 3.0 TDI and the Audi A8 L W12 within 3-4 months, Perschke said.

The cars would be launched with the W12 engine and 3.0 TDI engine in a phased manner. The new Audi A8 L will come with two engine options: the 4.2 FSI will be available in showrooms this month itself and the 3.0 TDI will be seen on roads from March.

The all-new limousine is a new benchmark among luxury cars in India, with unmatched dynamics and efficiency.

The Audi luxury sedan also offers more headroom than its competitors. It comes with seat ventilation and a massage function where two programs have to be selected among three intensity levels.

The opulent Audi A8 L’s interiors have been designed with premium materials such as the superior Valcona leather that is used on the seats and brushed aluminum or fine woods that are there in the optional inlays.

Moreover, the Audi A8 L also comes to the aid of its passengers with a high-strength body, the innovative night vision assistance and the new Audi pre-sense basic safety system.

In the new Audi A8, the length and wheelbase are 13 cm longer when compared to the standard normal version wheelbase and measures 5.27 metres. This has paved the way for more space in the rear.

The new Audi A8 also comes with optional LED headlights. The body of the car is very light and is made of aluminum Audi space frame. This results in a weight reduction of nearly 40 per cent as compared to a steel body.

The new Audi A8 has bagged a litany of awards: some of them being at the Detroit Auto Show and Corporate-Fleet-Award for last year given by German Magazin AUTOFLOTTE, among other awards.

Audi has a strong brand presence in India, and with the company launching a new variant of its flagship A8 with a string of features and very competitively priced, Audi could turn out to be the winner in its race against BMW and Mercedes-Benz in India’s luxury cars market.