Recently, Audi announced that they have sold around 741,300 vehicles worldwide for this year’s first nine months. This figure represents an 8.3 percent increase compared to last year’s sales. Ralph Weyler, AUDI AG Board Member for Marketing and Sales, said, “We are now closing in on worldwide unit sales of 950,000 vehicles for 2007 as a whole. Despite the changeover to the new Audi A4, we are aiming to acquire 45,000 new Audi customers by the end of this year on top of the record-breaking total for 2006, and notch up our twelfth record figure in a row.”

Audi received an impressive increase in all its major export market. For Audi’s largest market in UK, 82,862 vehicles were sold during the first nine months representing a rise of 16.7 percent. In the US market, car sales rose to 9.4 percent for the first nine months of the year with 68,479 vehicles sold. Sales in China also increased by an impressive 26 percent, selling 76,168 vehicles. Meanwhile, 45,221 vehicles were sold in Spain representing a 5.1 percent increase. Sales in France are not far behind with 6.5 percent. Audi was able to sell 45,122 vehicles in Italy, gaining 3.3 percent increase.

The German car brand continue to enjoy steady growth in emerging markets like Russia, where sales increased by 59.1 percent, selling 11,608 units. In the Middle East sales were up by 32.9 percent with 4,626 vehicles. “Our progress in India is likewise highly satisfying, considering that we only set up our own importer there at the start of the year,” added Ralph Weyler. Audi experienced a 33.7 percent growth in India by selling 266 vehicles.

This story is based on the report done by autospectator.com

Audi and Porsche are battling it on the race track at this year’s Le Mans Series. Despite being 300 pounds lighter and producing 550 horsepower, Porsche-backed Penske Racing impressively had an eight-race winning streak. Meanwhile, Audi, which boasts 2,040-pound and 700 horsepower, hasn’t won a race since March 31.

“Even before the season, we knew it was going to be hard to beat an LMP2 at some tracks,” says Wolfgang Ullrich, head of Audi Motorsport. “Weight is a big issue. At some tracks it’s just not possible to be as competitive the way the rulebook is written.”

Three temporary street courses are added to ALMS in St. Petersburg, Fla.; Long Beach, Calif.; and Detroit. Another change is that Automobile Club de l’Ouest cut the size of the LMP1 fuel cell by 2.4 gallons, meaning that Audi will make an additional pit stop than LMP2 cars at many tracks.

“I think they made all these changes to the LMP1 car, maybe it’s time they do something with the LMP2,” Audi driver Dindo Capello says. “Increase their weight configuration. They have an advantage at the ALMS tracks with the exception of Sebring, MoSport, Road America and Atlanta. At the rest, we are in a bad situation.”

Audi was successful in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the world’s most famous endurance race. Frank Biela, Marco Werner and Emanuele Pirro continued Audi’s victory for the fourth time on the 8.45-mile French circuit. They were also able to put Audi’s diesel-powered R10 on its second consecutive win.

This story is based on the reports of USA Today

Great performance with lower fuel consumption and sportier look make the new Audi as a trend setter in the automotive world. Not only does it have higher fuel economy, the A4 also has a dynamic suspension that comes from the large luxury class. In a time when gas prices are going up, it is good to know that there are still powerful vehicles that offer better fuel consumption. According to theautochannel.com Audi A4 will be released in the US market in fall of 2008.

Evident in its design, Audi’s design team really made extra efforts to make the A4 look sportier with a shorter overhang and longer hood and wheelbase. The impressive design was also incorporated in the car’s interior, along with the high-tech gadgets that come with it.

Car safety is further enhanced as new airbags come standard along with seat belts.

Looking at its performance, the A4 is equipped with a V6 FSI engine, capable of generating 265 hp. This engine is more efficient because it directly shoots fuel into the cylinder. This results to a smoother flow, thus creating a pleasurable drive.
For more details on the new Audi A4, click here.

In a recent review of the 2008 Audi S5, theautochannel.com considered all of its aspects but dwell more on its new styling. The review even recognized the impressive works of Walter de’Silva.

Theautochannel.com’s review describes the S5 as a “coupe with an elegant, yet muscular, presence.” Along the distinguishable four large interlocked rings, the S5 has projector-beam headlamps framed below. Audi did not just concentrate on the exterior but also gave attention to the S5’s interior. The controls are conveniently placed in the center information screen and the satin finish gives it a luxurious feel. The chairs are ergonomic and have a great design.

But the style is not just what the S5 can brag about. The vehicle’s performance is also something to look at with the numerous changes done on the engine position and suspension geometry. Impressively, even with a detuned version of the 4.2-liter V-8; it is still capable of delivering 354 bhp at 7000 rpm and 325 lb.-ft of torque at 3500 rpm through a 6-speed manual gearbox.

For more information on the new Audi S5, click here.

Australia can now enjoy the high performing Audi R8 sports coupe. This Audi is based on the Le Mans Prototype LMP R8 race car. The designer of the R8 race car incorporated the superior performance, reliable and smart use of power and style to its road version.

The R8 will make its debut at Phillip Island Raceway in Victoria and costs $259,900 for the 6-speed manual variant and $274,900 for the six-speed sequential R-tronic version.

It is said that the R8 was the Audi’s first high-performance sports coupe and according to Audi Australia’s Managing Director, Joerg Hofmann, the R8 is raises Audi’s image in Australia.

“We are a successful brand, with year-on-year record sales in Australia as proof of our growth and our future potential in this market. The Audi R8 will become an icon for Audi and albeit niche, this is a car that clearly embodies our Vorsprung durch Technik. It will be instrumental in further boosting our brand image and awareness in this market,” Hofmann said.

Audi’s design team headed by Walter de’Silva made the Audi R8 look sportier. In a recent review done by autoweb.com, it said, “the wide, full shape of the R8 seems to hug the road. It demonstrates its potential through its imposing proportions, accentuated wheel arches and substantial air apertures. It is like no other Audi before it – with the unmistakable proportions of a mid-engine car.”

The R8’s performance is backed up by a 4.2-liter V8 FSI engine with 309kW and 430Nm, resulting to a stable and powerful ride.

The latest technology is also incorporated in the vehicle such as all-LED headlights, ceramic brakes, a Bang & Olufsen sound system, rear view camera and Audi’s Multi Media Interface MMI.
This story is based on the review done by autoweb.com

Audi is set on making a name for itself in the American market and will be eliminating its image of a poor excuse for a vehicle.

The sad reality hit Audi in the 1980s when drivers raised the issue of confusing the accelerator for the brakes. Although, road safety investigators later said that it was a driver error, the Audi’s image became tainted.

Audi’s sales were most affected especially in 1994 when it reached a low of 12,500. It was during this time that the company thought of pulling out the US market completely. Today, Audi is experiencing some growth of 95,000 and plans to increase that number to 200,000 by 2015. Audi is fully geared on that plan and regain the confidence of the US market.

To succeed in their plan, Audi will take on the notable BMW, Toyota, Honda, Lexus, Acura and Infiniti.
Audi’s plans are part of Volkswagen’s commitment on improving their business into overseas markets and vehicle niches.

According to the Volkswagen’s chief executive, Martin Winterkorn, Volkswagen will increase the production of large vehicles like pick-up trucks and sport utility vehicles, along with focusing on the markets where their rivals are underperforming.

Audi is looking good in Europe and China but loses their touch in the US. Some say that BMW is Audi’s biggest competitor in the US. “There’s a bit of a perception gap between BMW and Audi and Mercedes,” said Dave Zoia, editorial director of wardsauto.com.

“BMW is pretty much at the top of the pyramid - it’s an iconic brand here.”

Another factor is that Audi also need to consider the increasing euro-to-dollar exchange rate. Mercedes and BMW, on the other, have fewer worries since they have manufacturing plants in the US.

Volkswagen is also thinking on building a plant in the US, where Audi vehicles can be later on be produce but there are still no final word regarding the matter.

This story is based on the reports of gulfnews.com

Audi’s team in the 2007 DTM withdraws all seven Audi A4 DTM cars that were still in the race, due to a rough race.  One Audi driver after the other was bumped off the track by Mercedes drivers, among them all four drivers of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline including the two candidates for the title, Mattias Ekström and Martin Tomczyk.  42,000 spectators at the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona witnessed the event, but the title decision will be made in the finale at Hockenheim on 14 October.

Martin Tomczyk has been leading since the start of the race until he was bumped off the track on lap seven by the two-time Formula World Champion Mika Häkkinen. The incident caused Tomczyk to retire after getting in the eleventh place because the radiator of his Audi A4 DTM was damaged in the collision.

Mattias Ekström also had a good start as he advanced from tenth to sixth place.. While overtaking Daniel la Rosa, who had not pitted yet, he was hit hard by the Mercedes driver, which also caused him to retire.

Tom Kristensen had also been turned around by Mercedes driver Gary Paffett on the starting lap. It was when Timo Scheider and Mike Rockenfeller, who was running in third position, were pushed off the track by Mercedes drivers that Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich decided to withdraw all seven Audi cars remaining in the race to send a clear message in favor of fair racing. The decision was made after consulting the Chairman of the Board of AUDI AG, Rupert Stadler

“What happened on the race track today was simply unacceptable,” stated Rupert Stadler, who witnessed the race live at the team garage of Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline. “We’re proceeding from the assumption that emotions will cool down again before the Hockenheim race and that spectators will see a finale with fair sport. It’s also clear that we continue to be committed to the DTM. But a few things will probably have to change.”

Dr Wolfgang Ullrich, Head of Audi Motorsport said, “We wanted to see a tough, but fair touring car race today. But we had to get the impression that the Mercedes drivers used every opportunity to eliminate our cars. This is not the style in which we want to conduct motorsport. We want to see tough and fair duels but nothing of the kind we had today. That’s why we took the decision to withdraw all of our vehicles. That was not an easy decision, and it cost us points, and maybe even the title. But we wanted to send a clear message for fair motorsport.”

Competition runs aplenty in the automotive scene. There will always be new ways on how one car manufacturer will outdo the others. Setting the goals pursuing it is very important, just as what the executive vice president of Audi of America, Johan de Nysschen intends to do. He said that aside from achieving shoots for a long-term sales goal of 200,000 vehicles a year in the United States by 2015, he also wants to turn Audi into a sophisticated, edgy luxury brand for the U.S. market in the process.

As a unit of the German automaker Volkswagen AG, this will not be an easy task for Audi. But it seems that Audi of America is on the right track as U.S. sales raised to 90,116, about triple the number of 10 years ago.

But there will still be more work to be done, for Audi still lags behind the top-selling luxury brands. Lexus, BMW, Acura, Cadillac and Mercedes-Benz all topped 200,000 in sales last year.

“What we want to do is to actually turn the fact that we are smaller than say a Mercedes-Benz or BMW to our advantage,” de Nysschen said last week. “We want to be the exclusive among the exclusive brands — really sophisticated, really edgy.”
An automotive industry expert said that the reason on why Audi did not get the many U.S. customers is because the company’s late action to have a strong image and its late entry in the luxury SUV market.

I n fact, it was only last year when Audi offered its first SUV, the Q7. Also, the company’s compact luxury SUV, Q5, will be out in 2009.

Reshaping Audi in the American market comes as Audi of America and Volkswagen of America moves its headquarters from Auburn Hills to Herndon, Va. It is said that 400 jobs will move to Virginia by the end of next year, with 600 positions remaining in Auburn Hills.

“Audi already had been restructuring its U.S. business to be more competitive with the likes of BMW and Mercedes,” de Nysschen said. “Audi has placed a strong emphasis on upgrading its dealer network,” he said.

“Audi has a history of sharing a facility or even floor space with other brands, but the company is pushing for more exclusive Audi dealerships,” de Nysschen said.
Presently, Audi has 270 U.S. dealerships. By year’s end 110 are to sell Audi exclusively, doubling the figures five years before.

“We find that when the personnel in a dealership on the after-sales or the sales side is now focused and dedicated to the Audi brand they understand the product better, they understand the customer expectations better and the whole environment is somewhat more conducive to customer satisfaction,” de Nysschen said.

Car enthusiasts, especially Audi fans will have to wait awhile until Audi launch three new SUVs due to marketing reasons. These SUVs are known under one model, the compact Q5, it just so happened that a diesel and hybrid versions of it will also be introduced at the end of the decade.

The delay is because Audi want to avoid its newest entrants from getting lost in the ether of year-end sales drives, by marketing all three vehicles as 2010 models. The Q5 was originally set to be available in the third quarter of 2008.

The Q5 is said to compete BMW’s X3 and Mercedes’ upcoming GLK. The new compact SUV has actually been under development for some time and finding a home atop the VW Tiguan platform. By the time of the launching of Q5, the diesel variant of the Q7 will also be offered. It is said that the diesel variant will be equipped with a three-liter turbo-diesel V6, producing 230 HP and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. Since the new engine will be 50-state compliant, it’s “just a matter of formality,” according to Audi’s U.S. head Johan de Nysschen, that the oilburner will find its way into the A4, A6 and A8 models of the future.

Reports say that all three vehicles, along with the 280 HP V6 hybrid-equipped Q7 will be launched in Detroit in 2009.

Audi’s flashiest sports coupe is now back to please a bigger crowd as it comes side by side Marvel’s hero, Iron Man. Hollywood’s film adaptation of the well-appreciated Stan Lee brainchild is now hot with the buzzwire and the automotive industry as they chose to tie up with Audi. Hence, this explains how Tony Stark ends up driving the very classy and high-performing Audi R8. With a plate that says “STARK”, Hollywood definitely got this thing right this time as Audi may just be the right ride for the iron crime-fighter’s alter ego. The smart move made by the German carmaker will all the more heighten their stand in the market, concretizing the R8’s iron stand in the sports coupe category.

Other Audi cars will also make a cameo in the film, such as the upcoming S5 sports coupe, which will be driven by another lead character. At the same time, the A6 sedan and the Q7 SUV will grace the screen too to leave the audience in awe. Hmm…the film features Gyneth Paltrow, so that will be for the lads…Robert Downey and Samuel L. Jackson for the ladies…and the Audis for the car enthusiasts. Sounds like a good movie, so wait for its release in 2008. *wink