Does Nita Ambani Own Rs 90 Crore Audi A9 Chameleon? Fact Vs Myth
In the past few days, many media outlets and online publications, including the majors, have carried the news of Nita Ambani, businesswoman and wife of Asia's richest man, owning the Audi A9 Chameleon worth more than 90 Crores. An Indian owning a car so expensive makes us all curious and eager to click through. This is exactly why media outlets are carrying this news, which, in fact, isn't even factual! Audi has never had an 'A9 Chameleon' on sale anywhere in the world. The images circulating online show a concept car which wasn't even an official one from the manufacturer.
Before we delve into the details, it needs to be clarified that Nita Ambani does own India's most expensive car. It is, however, a Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII Extended Wheelbase (EWB which she acquired recently. It has a unique (and expensive) Rose Quartz exterior and Orchid Velvet interiors. The Spirit of Ecstasy is finished in Gold. We have talked in detail about this in one of our previous stories.
Audi A9 Chameleon: What Is It?
Most reports talk about the pricing and rare nature of the A9 Chameleon. It is reportedly valued at over 90 Crores, and just 11 units were ever made! Unfortunately, all those are factually incorrect. Audi has never had something called the A9 Chameleon on sale. The A8 continues to be the current sedan flagship. (The 'A' series denotes sedans or hatchbacks from the brand).
The A9 Chameleon, which the internet is now going crazy about, was a concept car from more than a decade ago. The exact timeline remains unclear, but it is likely from the early 2010s. The concept had a very attractive design. There was a strong focus on aerodynamics. It wasn't, however, an official Audi concept!
The A9 Chameleon was a work by the Spanish designer Daniel Garcia. He indeed had wild imaginations! This concept had self-repairing panels, electroluminescent wheels, and an 'electronic painting' system which lets you change its colour by just pressing a button! In recent years, we have seen the 'electronic painting' system on some other concept cars as well.
The windscreen and roof of the concept are integrated into a single piece, giving it a unique look. These were made of a material which had self-repairing properties and were light-sensitive.
Talking about the concept, Garcia said: “The styling of the A9 concept was partially by the stunning architectural style of Santiago Calatrava’s buildings in “La Ciudad de Las Artes y de las Ciences” (The City of Arts and Sciences) in my hometown of Valencia”
Powering this concept was a hybrid 4.0-liter V8 engine with four in-wheel electric motors. It was designed to be underpinned by a modified version of the A8's MLB architecture. Obviously, this was just something to showcase Garcia's design prowess and hint at a possible direction which Audi can take with the designs of its future cars- which never happened!
Debunking The Myth
Image: Screenshot of google news
Many media outlets are spreading the rumour that this concept has reached the Ambani garage. This is likely because of the clickworthy nature of the car and person involved. Afterall, clicks and traffic are what matter at the end of the day! However, in the long run, spreading such fake news will only damage the reputation and authority of such sites.
Audi Has Showcased An A9: But Not What You Think!
Audi, in 2020, showcased a Mercedes EQS-rivalling electric sedan and called it the A9 E-Tron. In dimensions, it was identical to the A7, but had as much room as what's offered on the A8 inside. The production model was intended to be the EV flagship and a direct rival to the Tesla Model S in many markets. Over the years, the A9-Etron evolved into various other projects and no longer holds the 'A9' nomenclature.