Audi Mulls More Luxurious A8 Sedan

Audi AG says may add an ultra-high-end version of its flagship A8 large sedan in coming years.

CEO Bram Schot describes the vehicle as a “luxurious derivative” that would “revolutionize” the nameplate. Such a model could compete against the Maybach variant of Mercedes’ S-Class sedan, Automotive News points out.

Last year, the newspaper said Audi was developing a top-end version of the A8 that could debut as soon as 2020. At the time, sources told AN the new model would revive the Horch luxury marque introduced in the 1920s. It isn’t clear if the car Schot referred to is the same model.

The S-Class has dominated the premium large sedan market in recent years. Sales of the Mercedes model grew 7% to 77,700 units last year, despite an aging architecture that is due to be replaced next year. The total included 600 Maybach S-Class cars, whose price starts at more than $225,000 in Germany.

Sales of the BMW’s flagship 7 Series fell 13% to 56,000 units in 2018. The A8 was a distant third among the German carmakers with 20,000 deliveries, down 6% from 2017 levels.