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This one-off Audi A8 L redefines the term 'long-wheelbase'

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Audi has unveiled a one-of-a-kind A8 L that stretches over 20 feet from bumper to bumper.

The limousine was commissioned by a wealthy buyer in Europe who found the long-wheelbase A8 L simply not spacious enough. The extended model is all but identical to its series-produced sibling from the tip of the front bumper to the A-pillar. Beyond that, Audi has added 3.6 feet of sheet metal to the wheelbase in order to create a more spacious cabin. The company has made subtle modifications to the body to give the limousine a more stylish silhouette, and it has installed a 7.9-foot-long roof panel to ensure the cabin is well lit.

Turning the A8 L into a limousine wasn’t as simple as welding a few sheets of aluminum between the axles; Audi explains the process took a year from start to finish. Notably, engineers had to strengthen the roof with aluminum profiled tubes and cross-braces. The extended model is consequently nearly as rigid as the regular A8 L.

Fitted with six doors, the A8 L extended offers space for six passengers spread out over three forward-facing rows of seats. The passengers benefit from individual sun blinds and extra-supple beige leather, while the two riding in the third row get a cooler and their own entertainment system. Real wood trim on the six door panels and on the long center console adds a luxurious touch to the cabin.

The modifications don’t extend into the engine bay. While the A8 L is offered with a mighty W12 engine, the customer who commissioned the limousine asked Audi to install a 3.0-liter TFSI V6 mill that makes 310 horsepower from 5,200 to 6,500 rpm and 324 pound-feet of torque from 2,900 to 4,750 rpm. The six-cylinder spins all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission and Audi’s quattro all-wheel drive system.

The V6 sends the 5,330-pound, one-off model from 0 to 62 mph in 7.1 seconds, a figure that makes it over a full second slower than the A8 L. Top speed remains electronically limited to 155 mph. Audi has installed bigger brakes borrowed from the performance-focused S8 to offset the weight added by the extra sheet metal.

At the time of writing, the Audi A8 L extended is a one-off that’s unique in the world, and it won’t be added to the company’s catalog as a regular-production model. Audi hasn’t revealed how much the conversion cost, or where the special model is headed to.

Ronan Glon
Ronan Glon
Former Contributor
Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…
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