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New China-only Buick Regal visits Germany

Beijing, 171108. Audi lanched the new A4L today, just two days before the start of the 2008 Guangzhou Auto Show. As many other manufacturers, such as BMW with the 535L, Audi builds a China-only long-wheelbase version of the A6.



This is done because Chinese 'Laoban' (Boss/Bosses) prefer a chauffeur instead of driving themself. Chinese like the more modern A4 now better than the A6, the former default choice of government.



So Audi decided to extend the range with this A4L, a real drivers car (Audi marketing-speak) with a longer wheelbase. I wonder whether BMW will work something out with the 3-series, of Volvo with the S40. In Volvo-language, that would be the S40 Executive and that sounds nice.



The A4L's wheelbase is now 2869mm, that is 61mm more than the normal version and according to Audi this translates in 969mm more legroom for passengers on the backseat. The A4L is available with the 3.2 six, the 2.0 four and the 1.8T will follow somewhere next year. Price for the 3.2 is 538.800 or 79.000 US dollar. That is not cheap for a simple A4, I can buy an S40 for that, have it limosined myself and still have some money left for a decent radio.



Source pictures: Autohome.com.cn.