9:00 a.m. – One Hour to Go
At the Audi factory's newly constructed event zone, everything was ready.
The stage stood two meters tall, with four Audi A4s positioned front and center—still hidden beneath sleek covers, teasing the audience.
Only a few teaser images had been released online.
The real reveal? That would come when Haifeng personally pulled the cover.
The space wasn't a typical hotel ballroom or rented hall.
It was custom-built, right on the factory grounds.
Why?
Because this wasn't just about style—it was about function.
Guests would get a live test drive right after the reveal.
And with on-site production lines nearby, Audi's strength and transparency were shown.
3,000+ Guests
From media outlets to tech influencers to curious citizens, the crowd swelled.
Even ordinary car fans from Piaocheng had shown up—some through the public lottery, others simply hoping to sneak a peek.
"It's more packed than a concert," someone whispered.
"Feels like a festival."
Those who arrived late?
Stuck way in the back, unable to get close.
Haifeng had security boosted, not to push people away—but to prevent chaos.
Deep down, he loved the energy.
The Livestream
As the camera panned across the venue, comments exploded:
"Holy hell! That crowd is insane!"
"This is bigger than half the auto expos I've seen!"
"I wish I was there. I'm stuck 2,000 kilometers away just licking the screen."
"Haha, I'm here! Front row, baby!"
"Get lost! We're drowning in envy over here."
Then came the pre-show chatter:
"They better not price it over ¥300,000 ($41,000). I've been considering buying a German car just for this."
"This thing looks better than anything the Germans or Japanese have dropped recently."
"I'm in love already. Just praying it's not a rich man's toy."
But the Trolls Weren't Gone
The engine reveal had silenced many critics. But not all.
The attacks had shifted from the tech… to the brand positioning.
"You think anyone can just make a luxury car?"
"Even if you've got your engine, so what?
Luxury isn't about performance. It's about brand legacy."
"You build phones. Stick to that."
"Calling yourself a luxury brand is delusional."
Their strategy?
Discredit Audi's attempt to enter the entry-level luxury market by attacking its lack of heritage.
The claim was simple: no matter how good the car was, it wasn't an authentic luxury brand.
Even if state TV hyped it.
"Luxury is identity. History. Trust. Not just tech specs."
Foreign Giants Join In
That morning, the head of Benma's China branch (BMW's counterpart) was interviewed on TV.
His statement?
"I admire Audi's ambition. But in our country, there's a saying: 'like moths to a flame.'"
"For a luxury car brand, the most important things are heritage, reputation, and customer experience."
"We've spent over a hundred years perfecting those things."
"What does Audi have? A turbo engine and some so-called 'black tech'?"
"That's not a brand. That's a gamble."
His words exploded online.
Within minutes, they were trending.
The heads of Baolai (BMW) and Autuo (Audi's German rival) quickly echoed the sentiment:
"Luxury isn't just performance—it's recognition."
"Luxury means status. Story. Trust."
For a moment, it seemed like the big names had drawn a clear line in the sand:
China Star's Audi brand wasn't one of them.
Not yet.
But the crowd outside?
They didn't seem to care.
Because soon...
The covers would come off.