Audi is planning the return of the super-luxury Horch name, which will be used on a flagship A8 that could also mark the return of the VW Group’s W12 engine to the Audi line-up.
Automotive News reports that the Audi A8 Horch will likely bring the W12 powertrain - currently only used in the Bentley range and not yet relaunched in the Audi A8 - back to the brand, but that an Audi insider claims a V8-engined version would also work.
The return of the Horch name - the surname of one of Audi’s original founders - would be Audi’s equivalent of Mercedes’ revival of Maybach. The name was last used in 1940, although the brand became part of Auto Union in 1932.
This means no Horch-badged stand-alone models like the Maybach 57 and 62 would be planned. Audi doesn’t plan to stretch the badge beyond the A8, although Mercedes has a Maybach SUV in the pipeline aimed at China, as well as having demonstrated coupé and cabriolet Maybach concepts.
The A8 Horch will get 585bhp 6.0-litre iteration of the engine - 300cc less than that of the earlier A8 W12 but 85bhp more powerful. In the previous-generation A8 W12, combined fuel economy of 22.8mpg was claimed, with CO2 emissions of 290g/km.
It’s reported that although the W12 A8 is ready for launch, it’s currently being postponed.
An Audi spokesman couldn't offer further comment.
Read more:
The history of Audi - picture special
Throwback Thursday - The birth of modern Audi, 10 September 1965
The Mercedes-Maybach GLS must stand out to convince wealthy buyers
Join the debate
Add your comment
Horch Revival
If everything will be new and special for that brand the failure story of Maybach will not happen again.
There will be demand to a truly luxurious limousines like Horch.
Horch
The last civilian Horch was produced in 1940, not 1932 as the article states. After that only military vehicles were made although a single postwar car was produced for the boss of Auto Union. That car is now in the Audi Collection.
1932 was when Horch became part of the Auto Union.
Horch
Is this supposed to be the Phaeton Ersatz?