Auto-First 丨 Xu Lei
As we all know, in the Chinese auto market, luxury cars are growing up. If you want to sell well from abroad to introduce domestic models, one of the prescribed actions is: lengthening.
What some people may not know is that the "initiator" of this extended wind is the Audi A6.
As a benchmark model in China's luxury C-class car market, Audi A6 has continued to lead the car market from the earliest official car to commercial car to the private car loved by the Chinese people for decades.
The Audi A6L currently on sale is the eighth generation (C8), and although the previous model is large enough, the new generation of Audi A6L has been consistently lengthened.
The wheelbase of the new car increased by 12mm compared to the previous generation model to 3024mm. The length of the car is available in 5038 and 5050mm models according to different versions. The length of the car of more than 5 meters and the maximum wheelbase of the same class of more than 3 meters mean a larger and more comfortable riding space, which fully meets the Chinese consumers' persistent pursuit of "big space".
Here we have to review the extended history of the Audi A6, so that you can deeply feel the evolution of the Audi A6.
The fate of audi A6 and China should start from 34 years ago, but it was not called Audi A6 at that time, named Audi 100, which filled the gap in the domestic luxury car market after entering China in the form of imports, and became a household name for public commercial vehicles. The first impression of the Audi of the "four circles" of the Chinese people also began with the A6.
In 1999, Audi A6 decided to achieve domestic production in China, in order to meet the needs of Chinese consumers for large space, Audi will be the global model suddenly lengthened by 90 mm, the height of the car increased by 22 mm, directly bringing more rear seating space, deeply liked by people from all walks of life. Compared with other brand models of the same era, the audi A6 lengthening is undoubtedly a huge innovation, and since then it has formulated the law that luxury cars must be lengthened in China.
Subsequently, in 2005, the domestic Audi A6 model still adhered to the concept of "lengthening", and the new car was lengthened by 100mm on the wheelbase to 2945mm, and added the "L" logo at the name, for which "A6L" was also officially born.
But the difference is that this generation of products is no longer just to increase the body size, but to be developed together with the global version of the model (standard axle model), more in line with the Needs of the Chinese market. Since then, localization research and development has also become the prescribed action for ABB and other luxury brand models to enter China.
Considering the needs of the Chinese market, the new Audi A6L model was launched in 2012, and the wheelbase of the new car officially exceeded 3 meters to reach 3012mm. The width of the car was also increased by 19mm to 1874mm. However, the length of the new car was reduced by 20mm to 5015mm, and the height of the car was reduced by 30mm to 1455mm. Although the length of the car has been reduced, the wheelbase of more than 3 meters has brought better seating space, and the Audi A8 model (3122mm) with a wheelbase exceeding the standard is also called the "Small A8L".
In fact, the Audi A6 has not only made achievements in body size, from business to travel, audi A6 has also reshaped its brand image according to the constant changes in the market.
With the rise of China's private car market, the new A6 broke the official car image created by the previous generations of models, and began to focus on the private car market, the first to enter the commercial vehicle market, becoming the first choice for business. After that, the automobile market became younger and younger, and the medium and large car market also began to show a diversified trend, so more and more abundant Audi A6 models were successively introduced to the market.
In fact, the Audi A6L launched in 2012 can reflect the transformation of Audi, gradually reducing business attributes, adding a new shape LED light group, adding a new adaptive English cruise and an enhanced MMI multimedia system. So as to open up a larger private car market.
In 2019, Audi launched a new generation of A6L (C8), which is a new definition of the luxury car of the future, which can meet the needs of business and take into account the pursuit of fashion and sports for young users. The new car is based on the MLB-EVO platform to create, the appearance is also different from the previous generations of models, the design is not based on business but more youthful, the first time there is a luxury and sports "double-face" version of the design, respectively, with business attributes of elegant models and the main fashion sports of the dynamic model, while meeting the needs of consumers in different scenes.
As young users become the mainstream of the market, cross-border station wagons have gradually entered the public eye, which can not only meet the daily business reception, but also meet the travel of the whole family. Later, in response to the diversified and youthful needs of current automobile consumption, Audi A6 continued to enrich the product line, introducing travel editions and personalized customizations into the Chinese market, bringing pure German crock car Audi A6 Avant and A6 Allroad.
Specifically, the two models are not much different overall, the A6 Avant is more suitable for home use; the A6 Allroad model adds black wheel eyebrows, the overall shape is more sporty, and the four-wheel drive system is adopted. As the leader of luxury station wagons, Audi brand brings users a richer travel experience with its unique wagon aesthetic design and strong product power.
In 2021, data from the Association of Passenger Vehicles showed that the Audi A6 sold more than 156,000 units in the whole year, becoming the most popular model of Audi and far surpassing the competitor Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
Keep up with the tide of electrification development. Audi recently released the A6 Avant e-tron concept car, unlike the traditional model, the Audi A6 Avant e-tron is not a product of "oil to electricity", but based on the PPE pure electric platform jointly developed by Audi and Porsche. The new car will be the first to launch a four-wheel drive version of the model, equipped with a front and rear dual motor system, a combined maximum power of 350kW, a maximum torque of 800N·m, a 100 km acceleration time of less than 4 seconds, a WLTP range or more than 700 km, combining continuous sportiness with unlimited daily availability, and is expected to be mass-produced in 2023.
For Audi, the significance of the A6 e-tron Avant is not only the beginning of a model, but also an innovation of the brand. (Some pictures from the Internet)