Audi has silently delisted the A8 L sedan and RS 5 Sportback from their India website, suggesting that they have now been discontinued here. The Audi A8L and the RS 5 were brought to India as completely built imports (CBUs) and their last recorded price was Rs 1.63 crore and Rs 1.13 crore (ex-showroom), respectively.
We have reached out for an official statement on the discontinuation of both models, but Audi India is yet to revert on the same.
Audi A8L: a brief recap
The last iteration of the A8 L was launched in July 2022, which was a facelift of the fourth-generation model. The A8 was available in its long wheelbase guise in India, as is the favoured choice in this segment, and it came powered by a 340hp 3.0-litre, turbo-petrol V6 engine with quattro all-wheel drive. It was also offered with the option of both 5-seat and 4-seat configurations.
With Audi having vacated the flagship limousine segment, this space is now left to just the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series/i7. Both brands have consistently stayed ahead in terms of sales of their respective flagship sedans as opposed to Audi’s A8. Globally, too, the A8 is towards the end of its lifecycle, while the S-Class and 7-Series are much fresher products. The next-generation A8 will likely be an electric-only model, but is understood to still be some time away.
Audi RS5 Sportback: a brief recap
Meanwhile, the Audi RS5 Sportback was launched back in August 2021, and it came powered by a 450hp, 2.9-litre, twin-turbo V6 engine. The A5 lineup in India, in fact, could only be had in one of the two sporty iterations – RS5 and S5 – the latter of which continues to be on sale. The RS5 was also pleasantly practical as it came in a four-door Sportback guise as opposed to its two-door coupe predecessor.
Like the A8, the RS5 too is towards the end of its lifecycle. The A5, on which the RS5 is based, has moved on to its next-generation abroad, and it already has an S5 variant in the lineup; an all-new RS5, therefore, can be expected to join the family soon.
In the meantime, Audi is gearing up to launch the RS Q8 facelift in India on February 17, about which you can read more here.
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