Audi promised and it's now delivered. Introducing the ultra-luxurious Audi A8 L Horch, a direct rival to the likes of Mercedes-Maybach S-Class. But unlike the Maybach, the A8 L Horch is not coming to the US, at least not for now. This is exclusive to China and it will be officially unveiled in the flesh next month at the 2021 Guangzhou Auto Show.

The Horch nameplate isn't new. It actually dates all the way back to the early 20th century. Even then it built luxurious cars in Germany and was later part of the four carmakers that merged to form Auto Union. Audi was one of those brands. Reviving the Horch name was a no-brainer. Like its Maybach rival, the A8 L Horch has a stretched wheelbase that's 5.1 inches longer than that of the regular A8 sedan.

Its total measurement is nearly 18-feet long (it's about an inch shorter than the Maybach). The additional space generates a significant amount of rear passenger space. These occupants/buyers are the types who want to be chauffeured around town. Instead of a rear bench, there's a pair of rear seats separated by a center console that contains a fridge, glasses, cupholders, and an armrest with a touchscreen, and adjustable seat controls.

Rear passengers also receive their own screens mounted on the front seatbacks. Audi further gave the seats a diamond quilting pattern along with plenty of wood and aluminum trim, and even the Horch logo embossed in the armrests.

Exterior changes include longer doors, 20-inch polished wheels, special Horch badging, and digital matrix LED headlights and OLED taillights.

Under the hood lies the familiar turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 paired with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system. Total output is 340 horsepower and 368 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission channels that power to Audi's Quattro all-wheel-drive system. It's possible Audi will offer additional powertrain options in the future. But for now, the A8 L Horch won't be sold anywhere else, which is kind of surprising.

We could see a standard-length version possibly making its way to Europe and/or North America one day, but Audi hasn't confirmed anything at this time. Pricing has not been announced.