- audi has revealed an ultra-luxury version of the a8 l called horch.
- it features an upgraded rear seat and some exterior differences.
- the a8l horch is unlikely to come to the u.s. market but will be sold in china.
audi now has its own answer for mercedes’ ultra-luxury maybach subbrand, but this new posh version of the a8l called horch appears unlikely to come to the u.s. anytime soon. debuting for the china market, the horch has a sumptuous rear-seat setup and some exclusive exterior styling cues, much like the maybach version of the s-class.
the horch name comes from deep in audi's history, as it refers to august horch, one of the german automaker's founders. the moniker is displayed prominently on this special a8 l's fenders and inside on the seats and throw pillows. there's also a special logo seen on the chunky wheels that are exclusive to this model and a small emblem on each of the rear doors.
naturally, the horch treatment is for the extended-wheelbase version of the a8, as the rewards are most obvious in the rear seat. the two-place setup features power seat adjustments, heating and cooling, massage, and a screen to control all sorts of climate functions. there are also two rear-seat entertainment screens. the front cabin appears mostly the same as the standard model but does feature diamond-stitched upholstery on the seats and door panels.
audi hasn't yet shared what's under the hood of the a8l horch, but we think it's likely to have either a twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter v-8 or a plug-in-hybrid powertrain. the full details will be released at the guangzhou auto show this month.