Stretches star at Guangzhou show
Two European saloons stretched for the China market are the highlights of Guangzhou Auto, running until Tuesday at the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Audi has stretched its best-selling A4 into a Changchun-made A4L that the marque hopes will tap the mainland's chauffeured-boss niche as effectively as the A6L it brought out in 2000.
'The long-wheelbase version of the Audi A4 is being produced exclusively in China for the Chinese market,' says Audi's marketing chief, Peter Schwarzenbauer. 'With this premium product, we chose to go even further than elsewhere in the world to meet the requirements of our Chinese customers.' Audi says its 4.76 metre A4L injects full-size class into the mid-size category.
'The chassis was tailored to Chinese road conditions to provide exceptional suspension comfort,' the marque says. 'The wheelbase - 60mm longer than the A4 sedan's wheelbase - makes the A4L a unique vehicle' that boasts easier entry and segment-leading legroom, the German marque says.
Two engine versions will be available for the Audi A4L in the mainland: the 2.0 TFSI, with 180hp, and the six-cylinder 3.2 FSI, with 265hp. Both will be in dealerships across the border in January.
