New Audi A6 L Is Ready To Take On The Mercedes E-Class And BMW 5-Series LWB In China

Audi is said to debut a long wheelbase (LWB) version of the new generation A6 at the 2018 Chengdu Auto Show next month.

The Chinese media, however, have already gotten their hands on the first official images of the car that will go against the Mercedes-Benz E-Class L and BMW 5-Series L locally.

At a first glance, there aren’t any visible visual mods, but taking a closer look at its profile reveals that the executive sedan has been stretched a bit, with Sina reporting a total length of 5,050mm (198.8in).

That’s 111mm (4.37in) more than the regular versions of the new A6. The wheelbase is longer by 100mm (3.94in), to 3,024mm (119.1in), which translates into more legroom for the rear occupants, a thing much appreciated among Chinese customers.

The width remains the same, at 1,886mm (74.25in), but the A6 L seems to be 18mm (0.71in) taller than the non-L variants. Of course, this could be just a typo: 1,475mm (58.07in) instead of the 1,457mm (57.36in), as reported by Sina.

Also Read: Audi Future Car Guide: What’s Coming 2018-2019

Powering the new Audi A6 L will be a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 245 hp in the 45 TFSI version. The lineup will eventually expand to include other powertrains, including a mild-hybrid and probably a PHEV.

Expected to go on sale in the People’s Republic early next year, the Audi A6 L, which will be built by the FAW-Volkswagen joint venture, is estimated to cost between 400,000 and 700,000 yuan (equal to $58,310/€50,963 – $102,042/€89,185) in the local market.