Audi is set to launch a concept car called the Audi Q5. The new vehicle is classified as a premium midsize sport-utility vehicle.

The Q5 shares the same platform with the recently launched A5/S5 and the B8 A4. The Audi Q5 engine is built longitudinally or north to south and the transmission is located behind the axle. This feature provides improved handling which feels almost like a new A4 drive. The fully loaded Audi Q5 is equipped with either a base 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine which makes 200 hp or an optional 3.1-liter, 255-hp V-6 engine. It is an all wheel drive (AWD) vehicle. The Q5 has a wheelbase of 112.0 inches, a length of 185.0 inches, a width of 72.8 inches, a height of 61.0 inches and a base curb weight of 4850 pounds.

Initially, there were plans to launch the Audi Q5 as a V8 automotive but the recent high prices of gasoline in the US proved that the plan was not feasible. The Audi Q5 debuts in the US market as a V6 instead and is intended to become a key player in Audi’s sales in the US market.

The Audi Q5 is priced at a hefty sum of 35, 000 dollars. The vehicle will go on sale in the US in early 2008.

The illustration above is the artist’s rendition of the Audi Q5 as based on the spy photos that have been spreading over the internet lately. (Photo Credits: Brenda Priddy and Company, Photo Borrowed from: thecarconnection.com)

Sources: Exclusive Preview: 2009 Audi Q5 , Spied: 2009 Audi Q5 - Car News , 2009 Audi Q5 Spy Shots , 2009 Audi Q5 Review , 2009 Audi Q5 Preliminary Specifications

It seems like things have been looking up for both Volkswagen and Audi (Volkswagen’s luxury line). As Volkswagen announced an 8.3 percent increase in sales for the month of October, Audi follows in suit as it released a statement saying that it has just had a 5.3 percent increase in sales for October 2007 as well. Audi sold 76,900 cars last month as compared to the 73,050 cars it sold in October 2006.

Ralph Weyler, head of the marketing and sales division of Audi was confident that the company would be able to meet its goal of selling 950,000 cars by the end of the year 2007. Weyler said that, “”Owing to last month’s results, we are extremely confident about the final months of 2007”. In the United States alone, sales rose to 15.4 percent with 7,421 units sold, while sales for Audi cars in Britain rose to 12.8 percent with a sale of 7, 066 cars. In Germany, sales rose to 5.5 percent with 23, 742 car units sold. But the greatest increase came from the Asia Pacific region with 10, 100 cars sold (an increase of 17.9 in sales).

            Volkswagen has already established itself as one of the world’s most loved and popular car brands and it seems that its sister company, Audi, will be doing the same.

Source: huliq.com

Audi will yet again claim its righteous place as a leading player in the compact premium sedans category with its new Audi A4 vehicle. Motoroing.com.za describes the new vehicle as a car that will make the “mighty BMW and Mercedes-Benz empires have a major and deeply uncomfortable problem on their hands…so will the weaker Jaguar, Volvo and Lexus – but with more pain.”

The new Audi A4 will be launched in South Africa this coming May of 2008. The premium vehicle boasts of a 1.8-litre TFSI, 3.2-litre V6 quattro petrol models and a two-litre TDI. The Audi A4 is touted as the most economical car among its compact premium sedan competitors such as Mercedes Benz and BMW because after three years or a 100 000 km mileage the Audi will have depreciated the least among its fellow luxury cars.

The Audi is predicted to truly make a statement when it debuts next year. Mike Rutherford succinctly describes the situation by saying that “Rightly or wrongly, such people often want little more than to be associated with the coolest brand, to be seen in the most stylish car with the most fashionable badge.” Looks like good times ahead for Audi.

Source: Mike Rutherford, Audi A4 replacement: Hot and cool

Audi is one of the more prominent German car brands that offer luxury and cutting edge technology in every car make and model that they manufacture. Audi has been making cars for nearly a hundred years now and the Audi brand guarantees that each car is made with a precision that offers the ultimate car experience. The quality and excellence that come with every Audi Car is proof of its advocacy of “Truth in Engineering”.

Audi has what they call as “Vorsprung Durch Technik” – the Audi way of “ceaseless research to find new and better solutions to the automotive challenges of an ever-changing world” (quoted from audi.co.uk). This encapsulates the Audi dedication to manufacturing cars that are not only noteworthy but timely as well.

In line with its continuing drive for excellence, Audi has launched “Watches and Wheels: Precision German Engineering”. This event is yet another addition to the yearly Audi Forum in New York City. The said exhibit will pair Audi’s German cars with Glashütte Original’s German watches. “Watches and Wheels: Precision German Engineering” aims to communicate that the dedication to precision is in everything that they do, from the most complicated of cars to the most intricate of watches. The event will try to show the common attributes between Audi cars and Glashütte watches; namely, sport design, innovative use of materials, pure power and sheer performance

“Watches and Wheels: Precision German Engineering” is located at 250 Park Avenue (47th Street) and will run from October 25 - November 30, 2007.

Source: Audiusa.com, Audiworld News