A beautiful first generation Audi A8 sedan, seen in Beijing in the early spring of 2018. The good old Audi was in a fine shape, painted in black and fitted with alloys wheels from the second generation Audi A8. The 京N·733A8 license plate makes for a nice match.
The first generation D2 Audi A8 was manufactured from 1994 until 2002 with a facelift in 1999. Our black Beijing car is a post-facelift example. The modern alloy wheels are great under this A8, giving the timeless design a slightly futuristic look.
The interior was in a fine shape too, albeit a bit dirty, especially at the doors. The beige leather needs a cleanup too but it doesn’t look worn out. The wood is not that good, the panel around the gear lever is loose and faded.
This Audi badge was a popular after market accessory in China for older Audi’s, I have seen it lots of times. Audi never did C-pillar badging but many other brands did. Chinese consumers consider such badges a sign of luxury and wealth.
The super cool period alarm warning sticker was still on the window. I have always liked the drawing of a simple white A8 with a red alarm sign above the windshield.
The post-facelift Audi A8 4.2 Quattro has a 4.2 liter V8 under the bonnet with an output of 306 hp and 410Nm. The engine was mated to a 5-speed automatic sending horses to all four wheels. Top speed was 250 kilometers per hour and 0-100 was done in 6.5 seconds.
The first generation Audi A8 wasn’t officially sold in China but some arrived via the gray market or via diplomatic channels, and the Chinese government bought a few batches as well for official duties. Nowadays these are very rare but fortunately I have seen quite a few in the early 2000’s. More Audi A8 soon !