DUBAI, 11 March 2007 — Audi will be launching new models in the region from this year, including the Audi A5 Coupé, Audi TT Roadster and the Audi R8 mid-engine sports cars.
Last year it launched 12 new models including the Audi Q-7, A6 allroad Quattro, TT Coupe, RS 4 models — limousine, Avant and Cabrio, the S8,the S6 and the S3. The introduction of these models propelled the company to new records in 41 markets in 2006.
The new Audi A5 line will be launched in the first half of the year with the appearance of the Audi A5 Coupé. The Audi A5 has been crafted to be a modern grand tourer that combines exhilarating dynamic performance and luxury-class comfort over long distances. It has large wheels, short overhangs, accentuated body lines and the LED daytime running lights. The powerful 3.2-liter FSI engine ensures blistering acceleration at all times with 265 bhp power output and a torque of 330 Nm in a broad rev band of 3,000 to 5,000 rpm. Within 6.1 seconds the 3.2 FSI Quattro sprints from 0 to 100 km/h.
“We have ambitious objectives even if we will be taking the opportunity to catch our breath this year. We aim to push our unit sales globally beyond the one million barrier by the end of 2008. And we have set ourselves the sales target of 1.5 million vehicles by 2015,” said Rupert Stadler, board member for finance and chairman of the board of management of AUDI AG.
Audi is to invest considerable capital in expanding its model range significantly over the next few years. It plans to invest a total of 11.8 billion euros between 2006 and 2011. “Investments in new models, in product innovations and core competences are the lifeblood of any company. We can only ensure our corporate success by offering a range of attractive products. This is therefore also an investment in the future of the company and is decisive in safeguarding our jobs. Audi will be number one by 2015” he said. And the new Audi R8 sports car helps the Audi brand advance even further and gives it an emotional charge. Because this handcrafted sports car sets new standards of dynamism, driving fun and design. This will be available in the Middle East market by September. The R8 shares some components —its mid-engine, aluminum-intensive structure — with the Audi-based Lamborghini Gallardo. The car’s 425-hp V8 puts up solid sppeds up from zero to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds with a 186 top speed. The all led headlights for the R8 are a world first in the electronics that we will be bring onto the mraket in the course of this year. The R8 will be the first vehicle in the world to offer all-led headlights innovative lighting technology as standard. “The field of electronics offers a wide range of new options, including in the area of safety. Audi is among the leaders for electronic driver assistance systems that promote active vehicle safety. We were successful in launching the lane change assistant Audi side assist onto the market last year,” Stadler said.
If the vehicle crossess the road markings without the driver activating the turn indicator, the steeering wheel vibrates. The lane change system thus warns the driver that the car has been inadvertently allowed to drift out of its lane” he added.
“We sold 905,200 vehicles last year, more than ever before. That represents an increase of 9.2 percent on the previous year. We established new records in an amazing 41 markets in 2006 and 2007” said Ralph Weyler, member of the board of management of AUDI AG marketing and sales. “Last year we opened facilities in Saudi Arabia, Tokyo and Hong Kong. In the Middle East, the company enjoyed growth of 53.5 percent, with 4,616 vehicles sold. The biggest rises in unit sales was in the UAE and Saudi Arabia._”Audi will significanly increase its activities internationally in the coming years.
We are going to invest considerable capital for the Middle East marketing, because its a huge, fast growing market”, Ralph Weyler told Arab News at recent interview held in Germany. “China is well on the way to becoming a second home market for Audi.”
