Audi Wants To Make A BMW 8 Series Rival, But Not Yet

Audi is keen to build a two-door flagship coupe to rival the BMW 8 Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe, according to reports.

Such a car could bear a resemblance to the Prologue concept car of late 2014 (pictured), but Audi’s current focus on the most profitable markets means that low-volume, high-cost projects like the this have taken a back seat.

The brand’s design boss, Marc Lichte, has told Autocar that he’d love to see that kind of car built, but that market demand was still too low to justify it. He said:

“I love the shape of a two-door coupe, but it is also true that the [sales] volumes [for them] are much lower than for four-doors. In the future, who knows? We have many ideas in this direction.”

Mercedes’ latest S-Class Coupe will be joined by the striking new BMW this year, but neither is expected to sell in huge numbers. In the meantime, all two-door Audis are being scrutinised over their sales and future viability.

Lichte also said that there is plenty of time for a new decision to be taken on a two-door luxury coupe. He added:

“First we must launch the A6, then we have the Q8 next year, A1 and Q3. We won’t do anything before this. It’s step by step.”

The Volkswagen Group has been toying with two-door large cars for decades. In the early 2000s Skoda produced a two-door concept Superb, which never got past that stage and is now in storage at the company’s Mlada Boleslav museum.

Source: Autocar