Audi Could Look to Out-Luxury Mercedes’ Hyper-Luxurious Maybach Lineup

2016 Audi A8 L 4.0T Sport (Credit: © Audi)

Audi is never one to let Mercedes or BMW one-up it in any way, and the recent release of Mercedes-Maybach models has the four-ring brand thinking how to best compete with it. A new report from Auto Express indicates that Audi may have a plan in place with its A8 model.

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Currently, the A8 is only available in its standard wheelbase and an extended A8 L model. While buyers can spec out both of these vehicles to match nearly any Mercedes S-Class sedan, it struggles against the even longer Mercedes-Maybach S600. When speaking to Audi’s technical head, Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Auto Express learned that Audi is “thinking about” a longer-wheelbase A8 in response to the success of the “extra-long version of the S-Class.”

Audi has tested these waters before with the one-off A8 Limousine and the A8 Chauffeur Edition. Sadly, the former was just a show car and the latter was limited to just five units in Japan. However, reading between the lines a bit leads me to believe that these two vehicles could have been the initial toe in the extra-long-wheelbase water that will eventually end with a huge cannonball.

All reports indicate that if Audi goes this route, it’ll be a few years before it actually becomes a reality.

We’ll continue monitoring this developing situation and bring you updates as they become available.