The silence of Audi speaks much louder than the noise of this announcement: Out of the blue, the luxurious German carmaker has delisted two premium offerings from the Indian market without a press release or much fanfare. They were simply taken away. The victims? Audi A8 L sedan and RS 5 Sportback, with price tags that didn’t come easy to either buy or think through. To raise questions about these two great cars and to leave them hanging is a preference Audi India could live with.
Dimensions of the Audi A8 L
The Audi A8 L is not some other luxury sedan; it stands for prestige, a ride in which technology meets elegance. Launched in July 2022, the A8 L was a facelift version of Audi’s fourth-generation luxury sedan. The “L” in its title? Long-wheelbase-that is an India-favourite configuration in its segment. A stretch always meant more space and luxury. With a choice between four and five seats, it catered to those who consider space as comfort.
But there has to be some consideration of the real perspective here. The A8 L, notwithstanding its technological advancement, had stiff competition to contend with. Not just the A8 L against the competition in the SUV market either.
And the 7 Series? Another monster on its own. So the luxurious A8 L was good, but it was never going to be above its German counterparts in India. Things were not very good elsewhere either. Globally, the A8 had become an obsolete vehicle in many markets. As for Audi’s plan for the next-gen A8? The idea is that it will be an electric-only model. But that’s some time down the pipeline. But what’s next for Audi in India? As of now, the A8 L’s quiet exit leaves the S-Class and 7 Series to play their game.
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The RS 5 Sportback: Power Meets Practicality
Then the RS 5 Sportback was launched in August 2021, showcasing the definition of a true everyday driver and performance car mix. The RS 5 could mean pure power with its 450 hp, 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 engine. It was about being really really fast. Audi knew it. But what made the RS 5 so special, however, was its 4-door configuration, a much more practical alternative than the traditional 2-door coupe. A family sports car, if you will. At the time when the A5 family was already hurting for a while in India, for either one could buy an S5 or RS5, it was quite the selling prospect to give the RS 5 Sportback launch an edge in practicality and performance. It wasn’t just about acceleration; it was also about practical features that never compromised on driving enjoyment. Yet, like its older brother, it couldn’t stay ahead of the competition. In many ways, this generation of A5s had already started replacing their former selves in global markets. With the arrival of the S5, Audi had observed a shrinking window of opportunity for growing the luxury sedan segment.
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What future? Probably electric. Audi’s transition into EVs has become a fait accompli. The RS 5 Sportback always was a stopgap measure, a link from the combustion engine epoch to its forthcoming electric domain.
What’s Left?
With India’s exit from the flagship sedan segment, Audi has built in quite a hole. The RS 5 and A8 L have been carted back up to the fray where Mercedes and BMW will tussle. What is in store for Audi? More electrification. More performance SUVs. The RS Q8 facelift is slated for February 17, 2025, which represents a perfect execution considering the rising appetite for performance SUVs in the Indian market. The future is about more RS models and more EVs with Audi.
Summary Table
| Model | Launch Year | Ex-Showroom Price | Engine Specs | Current Status |
| Audi A8 L | July 2022 | ₹1.63 crore | 3.0-litre, V6, 340hp, Quattro | Delisted from India |
| Audi RS 5 Sportback | August 2021 | ₹1.13 crore | 2.9-litre, V6, 450hp, Twin-Turbo | Delisted from India |
| Upcoming | February 2025 | TBA | TBA | RS Q8 Facelift Launch |
The moves of Audi may be quiet, but they are not without rationale. The brand is recalibrating and making way for the bigger, the new. As the Indian market drifts toward electric and performance SUVs, Audi prepares for its future, not with the same models. The A8 and RS 5? They’ve left stage left, but not the end to the Audi saga.
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