The local launches of Audi’s two flagship passenger cars, the updated A8 sedan and the electric e-tron GT, have been delayed.
The facelifted Audi A8 sedan was revealed in November 2021 and was initially given a mid-2022 local arrival date, which was later clarified as the third quarter of 2022.
An Audi Australia spokesperson has now confirmed the local launch of the facelifted A8 has been pushed back to “late 2022” due to supply issues. Local pricing and specifications will be announced closer to this date.
The spokesperson also said there’s a “limited number” of outgoing A8 models in stock.
At this stage it’s still unclear what the lineup for the facelifted A8 will look like, but it’s expected to be similar to the outgoing range.
The A8 and long-wheelbase A8 L are currently available with a 3.0-litre ’50 TDI’ turbo-diesel V6 engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system, with total outputs of 210kW of power and 600Nm of torque.
The performance-oriented S8, on the other hand, is currently powered by a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 engine with a 48V mild-hybrid system, and outputs of 420kW and 800Nm.
Both of these engines are available on the facelifted model in Europe.
S8
The engine lineup in other markets also includes a V6 turbo-petrol and a plug-in hybrid option. It’s unclear if Audi Australia will introduce these engines at this stage.
Audi Australia has been “evaluating” PHEVs for a long time now. It hasn’t offered any since the A3 e-tron (sold from 2015 to 2016) and Q7 e-tron (sold from 2017 to 2018).
It’s also unclear if pricing will change for the facelifted model. The current Audi A8 range starts at $193,794 before on-road costs for the 50 TDI and extends to $208,394 for the A8 L 50 TDI. The S8 on the other hand costs $260,567.
The local launch of all-electric e-tron GT flagship has also been pushed back from September 2022 to October 2022 for the same supply issues.
RS e-tron GT
The all-electric e-tron GT flagship on the other hand has already been detailed, and it shares its dedicated J1 electric vehicle platform with the Porsche Taycan.
Pricing kicks off at $181,700 before on-road costs, with the hotter RS e-tron GT ringing up at $249,700 before on-road costs.
All buyers receive six years of free scheduled servicing and roadside assistance, plus a six-year free subscription to the Chargefox network with unlimited charging.
While the Porsche Taycan is available in a more affordable rear-wheel drive variant with a smaller 79.2kWh battery, all e-tron GT models in Australia will come with dual-motor all-wheel drive and a 93.4kWh battery.
The e-tron GT produces 350kW (390kW in boost mode) and 630Nm of torque, good for a 0-100km/h sprint time in 4.1 seconds, while the RS e-tron GT produce 440kW (475kW in boost mode) and 830Nm and hits 100km/h in 3.3 seconds.
While the e-tron GT has been locked in for Australia and will serve as the brand’s flagship electric vehicle, its entry-level EV in Europe – the Q4 e-tron – has yet to be confirmed for Australia.
Audi also has new EVs coming like the A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron that are based on the Premium Platform Electric co-developed by Audi and Porsche. These have yet to be revealed in production guise.
Keyword: Audi Australia delays new flagship models by a few months