London builds biggest Audi dealership

Now the Poms have beaten us in that other classic, age-old, back and forth, tug of war battle that has single-handedly been responsible for decades of hostilities between our two great nations: who has the biggest Audi dealership.

West London Audi last month toppled Sydney’s $50 million Lighthouse complex, which held the illustrious title for the grand duration of slightly more than seven weeks.

The £45 million (AUD$81.2 million) 17,650 sq m building has seven stories, three showroom floors capable of holding 116 cars and a 32-bay workshop in the two-tiered basement.

Six years in the making, it is staffed by a team of 100 and Audi UK director, Jeremy Hicks, expects around 30,000 customers to walk through its glistening glass doors within 12 months.

“In its scope, size and complexity, West London Audi is like nothing we’ve built before. It is 100 times more complicated than a normal retail centre.

“The sheer scale of this project is very emblematic of the increasing significance of Audi not only in the UK but globally,” he said.

Hicks said the complex – which takes styling cues from a manta ray and a B2 stealth aircraft – will be necessary to fulfill Audi’s ambitious plans for the future.

“With both our existing model ranges and a host of new models for new segments, we aim to grow to a total of 44 ranges by 2015.

“By creating retail premises of this magnitude with this level of sophistication, we are ensuring that our extensive and contemporary line-up of cars gets the showcase it deserves.”

So it’s bigger, more practical and arguably better looking and more inviting than our silver box for silver cars.

And they got Sirs Bobby Charlton and Jackie Stewart, Gordon Ramsay, Ronan Keating and Bryan Ferry all to attend the grand opening.

Better in every way, it seems? Not so. Two words for you:

Sandra Sully.

Can’t beat that England.