Audi sets all-time U.S. sales record in 2011; brand expects momentum to continue into 2012

Posted on 05 January 2012 by

  • December 2011 sales set all-time record with 12,655 vehicles sold, a 20% gain across the model line up
  • 2011 marks the best year in Audi of America history, with 12 straight months of record-setting sales and 117,561 vehicles sold YTD
  • Record-shattering 2011 sales propelled by demand for C- and D-segment vehicles, representing 34% of the sales mix, and strong TDI® clean diesel sales
Audi announced record U.S. sales of 117,561 vehicles sold in 2011, eclipsing the prior record of 101,629 vehicles sold in 2010. Marking the best year Audi has ever enjoyed in the U.S. market, year-end sales increased 15.7% over 2010. December 2011 also set a new all-time monthly record, with 12,655 vehicles sold, a 20% increase over the same period last year.“Another record year of sales reinforces the Audi position in the U.S. market, as consumers increasingly choose Audi over other luxury competitors,” said Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen. “In 2012, Audi will continue to capture a significant share of the premium luxury market with exceptionally engineered vehicles.”December results were buoyed by strong performance in the C and D segments, with record December sales for the technologically advanced Audi A6, the design-forward Audi A7 and the flagship A8 sedan. A6 sales of 1,855 increased 124% over 2010, while sales of the A8 luxury sedan increased 35% to 678 vehicles sold. Sales of the all-new Audi A7 four-door coupe remained solid, with 887 vehicles sold in December.

Highlights:
• Best December ever, and best month ever, with 12,655 vehicles sold, a 20% increase over December 2010; December also marked the first month with over 12,000 vehicles sold in Audi of America history
• Record sales every month of 2011 for a total of 117,561 vehicles sold YTD, a 15.7% increase over last year (limited by available inventory)
• A8 sales grew 275% YTD to 5,700 units sold in 2011
• A6, A7 December sales marked the best month of 2011
• C- and D-segment sales surged: 34% mix in December 2011 vs. 22% in December 2010
• The Audi TT continues its success, due mainly to strong sales of TT RS, with a 238% increase in December to 216 vehicles sold
• Demand for key models is exceptionally strong: days’ supply for Q5 and Q7 in single digits nationally
• TDI mix remains very strong: 55% of total A3 sales YTD and 41% of total Q7 sales YTD were TDI clean diesel models
• December was a record month for Audi Certified pre-owned, surpassing the record in December 2007 of 2,889 sales, with 3,406 units sold; YTD sales set a new all-time annual record with a total of 37,259 units sold in 2011

ABOUT AUDI
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. Audi was a top-performing luxury brand in Europe during 2011, and broke all-time company sales records in the U.S. Through 2016, AUDI AG will invest about $17 billion on new products and technologies. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.

AUDI US SNAPSHOT –YTD–
Model Line Dec. ’11 Actual Dec. ’10 Actual Yr/Yr % change Dec. ’11 YTD Actual Dec. ’10 YTD Actual Yr/Yr % change
A3 635 578 9.9% 6,561 6,558 -0.9%
A4 3,722 3,513 5.9% 35,234 34,672 1.6%
A5 1,273 1,455 -12.5% 15,385 16,379 -6.1%
A6 1,855 828 124.0% 11,124 8,675 28.2%
A7 887 0 0.0% 6,270 0 0.0%
A8 678 502 35.1% 5,700 1,521 274.8%
Audi Q5 2,337 2,473 -5.5% 24,908 23,518 5.9%
Audi Q7 919 1,014 -9.4% 8,998 7,976 12.8%
R8 133 119 11.8% 1,145 799 43.3%
TT 216 64 237.5% 2,236 1,531 46.0%
Total Audi Sales 12,655 10,546 20.0% 117,561 101,629 15.7%

 

NOTES:
- 2010 A4 numbers include Audi A4 sedan, Avant, and S4 models. 2009 A4 numbers include A4 cabriolet, which has been discontinued.
- 2010 A5 numbers include Audi A5 cabriolet and coupe’ and S5 cabriolet and coupe’
models. 2009 A5 numbers do not include the cabriolet models.
- A6 includes Audi A6 sedan, S6 sedan and A6 Avant models.
- All-new A7 model sales began in april 2011.
- 2010 A8 includes Audi A8 sedan, A8L sedan, and S8 sedan models. 2011 A8 includes Audi A8 sedan and A8L sedan.
- TT includes Audi TT coupe’ and TT roadster models.

Streets without limits: Audi and BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group present “Urban Future” at Design Miami/ 2011

Posted on 30 November 2011 by

  • LED exhibit “Urban Future” will allow visitors to interact with the city of tomorrow
  • Conceptual installation is based on a vision of a city that blurs the lines between roads, sidewalks and city squares
  • BIG founder Bjarke Ingels: “The street becomes a digital surface”

Visitors to Design Miami/ 2011 from November 30 to December 4 can interact with city of the future at a special exhibit on display at the show. Produced in cooperation with Audi AG and Copenhagen-based architect firm BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, the interactive LED installation called “Urban Future” will feature a life-size rendering of a conceptual roadway based on new theories of transportation and infrastructure. The model also will feature the Audi A2 concept car, an all-electric vehicle that communicates with its surroundings.

The idea behind “Urban Future” was initially developed by BIG as their entry the 2010 Audi Urban Future Award 2010, an architecture and urban development competition that constitutes one of the pillars of the brand’s larger Urban Future Initiative. For Design Miami/ 2011, BIG founder Bjarke Ingels and Partner Andreas K. Pedersen have transformed their vision into an interactive LED installation that represents a section of the city of tomorrow. The hypothesis put forward by BIG visualizes streets that communicate with every road user, including pedestrians and vehicles.

“If I imagine a city in 25 years’ time, the vertical facades appear unchanged, but the roadway has become a digitally programmable surface. Fixed elements such as carriageways, sidewalks or city squares no longer exist” said Ingels. “The digital surfaces can be adapted to all road users and in this way control the traffic. On one single day, the street can change many times: from pedestrian area to highway, from city square to meadow.”

The Audi A2 concept is an important part of BIG’s’ installation. Audi presented the show car for the first time this year at the Frankfurt International Motor Show. BIG had a good reason for incorporating the A2 concept in his work: the car is able to communicate with its environment. For Ingels, this is a prerequisite for a networked, mobile future.

“The installation allows the visitor to experience the vision of a connected future. It answers one of the most fascinating questions of the Audi Urban Future Award in spatial terms,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales at AUDI AG. “It gives a living impression of how networking might appear in the city of the future and of how new opportunities for intelligent use of urban space might arise.”

The installation at Design Miami/ is visually reminiscent of a short section of road, and consists of a digitally programmable LED surface that senses movements, coordinates the various participants in traffic and adapts to their needs. 3D cameras record all movements and feed them into the LED surface, allowing the visitor to experience the communication between cars, pedestrians and the street at the show booth.

“Our long-term partner Audi has always used Design Miami/ as a platform to explore challenging issues in contemporary design”, says Marianne Goebl, Director of Design Miami/. “Audi’s collaboration with BIG projects us into a future where urban design and architecture interplay to create a flexible programmable environment. It is an inspiring contribution to Design Miami’s ongoing exploration of the inextricable connection between these creative fields.”

Audi has been a sponsor and exhibitor at the Design Miami/ fair since 2006. In this capacity, the brand has experimented with themes such as mobility, technology, material and design since the partnership’s inception, expressing its ideas on the future of design and encouraging creative dialogue.

ABOUT DESIGN MIAMI/
The seventh edition of Design Miami/ will feature the world’s leading galleries specializing in 20th and 21st century collectible design. Design Miami/ is the most prominent and substantive forum for design, representing a convergence of commerce and culture. Its annual shows in Basel, Switzerland (June) and Miami, Florida (December) bring together the most influential collectors, gallerists, designers, curators and critics from around the world. For further information, please visit www.designmiami.com and www.designmiamiblog.com.

About Bjarke Ingels
Bjarke Ingels is a rising star in the international architectural scene. Much of his work revolves around the complex interrelationships of urban life. His most spectacular design objects to date are the residential apartment buildings in Ørestad on the outskirts of Copenhagen. Together with other architects of the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), Ingels implemented his vision of urban density in these apartment buildings with their futuristic impression. He has already received renowned architectural prizes, including the Golden Lion. He currently teaches at Columbia University in New York.

ABOUT THE AUDI URBAN FUTURE INITIATIVE
In an effort to actively shape the transition to a new mobility epoch, the Audi Urban Future Initiative aims to establish a dialog on the synergy of mobility, architecture and urban development by means of the view into the future. Rooted in the belief that the current challenges of mobility can only be solved collectively and interdisciplinary, it represents an essential part of the brand’s commitment to urban mobility as a whole and is designed to change both thought patterns and corporate culture. For more information, please visit http://www.audi-urban-future-initiative.com.

ABOUT AUDI
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. During 2010 Audi was the top performing luxury brand in Europe, and broke all-time company sales records in the U.S. Over the next few years, AUDI AG will invest nearly $16 billion on new products and technologies. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.

Audi achieves highest-ever U.S. annual sales eclipsing 101,629 record set in 2010

Posted on 29 November 2011 by

  • Audi set sales records in each of the first 10 months of this year with a November record expected later this week
  • Sales through the Thanksgiving weekend stood at 102,055 vehicles with more than a month to go in 2011
  • Audi Certified pre-owned sales also set an annual record, beating the mark set in 2008

With just over a month remaining in 2011, Audi of America achieved a new annual sales record over the hectic holiday shopping weekend. With 102,055 sales of premium cars and SUVs already reported this year, the Audi brand eclipsed the previous sales record of 101,629 set at the end of 2010.

Audi also established a new annual record with its Certified pre-owned sales. Audi CPO sales through the end of the Thanksgiving weekend totaled 33,102 vehicles, up 32% from a year earlier. The previous annual sales record for Audi CPO business was 32,108 vehicles sold in 2008.

The record set for new car annual sales marks the second time the Audi brand has topped the 100,000 mark since it established its U.S. business more than 41 years ago. Audi momentum has been evident throughout the year as sales set new records in every month of the year to date. Audi expects to register its 11th record month of 2011 when full November sales totals are reported later this week.

“The Audi momentum story began a few years ago with the restructuring of our U.S. business model and the steady arrival of exciting new models that have captured the imagination of the American premium car customer,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “Through precarious economic conditions, we have held fast to this plan along with our dealers who have devoted record levels of investments in their franchises.”

ABOUT AUDI
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. During 2010 Audi was the top performing luxury brand in Europe, and broke all-time company sales records in the U.S. Over the next few years, AUDI AG will invest nearly $16 billion on new products and technologies. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicles and business issues.

Audi Q3 Trans China Tour 2011 successfully reaches finish line

Posted on 04 November 2011 by

  • 20 cars, 160 drivers and 5,700 kilometers in 16 stages
  • Participants experienced the many different faces of China
  • Versatile features of the Audi Q3 proved their mettle
  • China is the biggest market for Audi, with growing potential

The Audi Q3 Trans China Tour 2011 has successfully reached the finish line. The 20 cars reached the destination in Shenzhen near Hong Kong yesterday after covering the 5,700-kilometer route. During the tour’s 16 stages the roughly 160 participants experienced the dependability of the Audi Q3 in every situation, from drives through the country’s dynamic metropolitan centers to the unpaved roads in spectacular mountain landscapes. The Trans China Tour proved the all-round qualities of the new compact SUV while showing the many diverse faces of the country that is now the most important sales market for the Ingolstadt-based carmaker.

The Audi Q3 Trans China Tour presented the rich and fascinating bounty that is China. The route for the first group of participants led from Beijing through the rapidly developing million-plus cities in the east like Jinan and Qingdao, and on to the sprawling metropolis of Shanghai with its spectacular skyline and futuristic urban freeway network. With its compact dimensions, high dynamics and clarity of design, the Audi Q3 proved ideal for the snarled traffic on the streets of the major Chinese cities.

The second group took over the cars directly on Shanghai’s famous Bund boardwalk and continued the tour southward. Traveling on the mostly new and extremely modern highways, the Audi Q3 provided superb comfort over long distances. The route led along the eastern coast of China through regions with highly dynamic economies and rapidly growing affluence – which also highlighted the potential for further development of the market for premium cars in this country. Shenzhen was the final destination for this stage of the tour. Within less than two decades this area has developed into a metropolis with more than 14 million residents.

The third and fourth groups ultimately were also able to experience the robust character of the new Audi SUV and its quattro permanent four-wheel drive in off-road conditions. The route led from the vast industrial regions surrounding Shenzhen over mostly smaller roads and pathways in the impressive rural region around Guilin, with its unique Karst mountain range and expansive rice fields. The participants reached the final destination of the Trans China Tour yesterday as they arrived in the metropolis of Hong Kong.

Each of the 20 Audi Q3 models had covered around 5,700 kilometers during the entire tour. Despite the unfamiliar surroundings there were no serious problems with keeping on the right path: the MMI navigation system in the Audi Q3 knows about three million kilometers of China’s roads, and even small streets are digitized. All of the navigation systems offered by Audi in China have been adapted extensively to the requirements of highway traffic there. This development work was carried out in Audi’s own Infotainment Tec Center (ITC) in Beijing.

The ITC is representative of how intensively Audi adapts its models for the specific challenges of this market. China has become the most important sales market for the Audi brand; around 300,000 units are targeted for the current year. Between January and September 2011, Audi delivered 223,631 cars in China, which amounts to an increase of 29 percent compared to the same period last year. This record result clearly confirms the brand’s position as market leader in the premium segment in China. The locally produced Audi A4 L, A6 L and Q5 models lead their respective market segments by considerable margins. Audi is currently represented in the country by almost 180 dealerships. In coming years the network will be doubled to around 400 support bases.

Starting in 2012 the new Audi Q3 will be added to the product range offered in the Chinese market; plans call for the car to be produced locally at a later point at the Audi plant in Changchun, about 1,000 kilometers north of Beijing. The SUV segment is booming in China far above the market average and the compact Audi Q3 is the perfect match, especially for younger and female customers – a target group that is also growing significantly.

Audi has been present on the Chinese market since 1988, and produces the Audi A4 L, the Audi A6 L and the Audi Q5 in Changchun in a joint venture with its partner FAW. The Audi Q3 will also be built in Changchun in the future. In addition, Audi has had great success with import cars from the recently introduced Audi A1 to the flagship Audi A8L W12.

Note: Additional information, photographs and videos are available for downloading at http://www.audi-q3-trans-china-tour.com/en and at http://www.audi-mediaservices.com/en.

2012 AUDI A7: ESQUIRE CAR OF THE YEAR

Posted on 15 September 2011 by

For the second straight year, Esquire magazine has named an Audi the “Esquire Car of the Year,” awarding this year’s title to the 2012 Audi A7. The A7 succeeds last year’s winner, the 2010 Audi S4. To select the third annual award for the year’s most stunning and stylish—yet attainable—vehicle, Esquire editors drove scores of vehicles across countless states before testing the seven finalists head-to-head at the Monticello Motor Club’s racetrack. The Esquire Car of the Year, along with the other 2011 Esquire Car Awards, including Esquire’s Auto Exec of the Year, appears in the magazine’s October issue, on newsstands September 20th.

After months of test-driving, the decision was clear among the editors: “The $60,125 A7 is what car companies do when they are at the top of their game – a glistening, swing-for-the-fences valentine to sheet metal…No man with a pulse can stand in front of this thing without slackening his jaw… The A7 rips down the highway, swallowing miles without drama. You glance at the fenders through the windshield, you nail the throttle, you drop into a little trance. Maybe you end up ten miles past your destination, strangely happy. Drugs do this, and so do private jets. The A7 might be better than either.”

“I was bowled over by the A7 when I first saw it in Europe,” says Esquire Editor-in-Chief David Granger, “But I didn’t expect us to select an Audi in back-to-back years. Every finalist was exceptional but when we got them all on the track, the A7 did everything well. It was exciting and practical and attainable, all at once.”

About Esquire

Esquire (www.esquire.com), published by Hearst Magazines, is the most-honored monthly magazine in America with a total of 15 National Magazine Awards over the past 14 years. Its website and its iPad apps have been similarly honored. In addition to its U.S. flagship, Esquire publishes 20 editions around the world.

# # #

The new 4.0 TFSI

Posted on 14 September 2011 by

Audi is expanding its engine lineup with a new, high-performance gasoline engine. The 4.0 TFSI, which is used in slightly different configurations in the S6, S6 Avant, S7 Sportback and S8, develops between 309 kW (420 hp) and 382 kW (520 hp), and as much as 650 Nm (479.42 lb-ft) of torque. The new V8 is a high-tech engine featuring numerous innovative solutions.

The youngest member of the large Audi family of V engines, the 4.0 TFSI shares all of their typical characteristics. It has the classic cylinder angle of 90 degrees, the chain drive for the four camshafts and ancillary units is on the back to save space, and the cylinder case is a cast aluminum-silicon alloy. This eight-cylinder unit is very light in weight, and its highly compact construction has resulted in its length being reduced to 497 mm (19.57 in).

Fuel is provided via Audi’s FSI direct injection system. Switchable flaps in the intake ports induce a rolling type of movement in the incoming air for improved combustion. Like almost every Audi engine, the new 4.0 TFSI also follows the principle of downsizing, where forced induction replaces displacement. One turbocharger per cylinder bank compresses the intake air. This is known as twinscroll technology, where the exhaust flows to the turbine wheel at high speed through two separate ports and enables torque to be developed extremely early, just above idle.

The two turbochargers and the intercooler are located in the inside V of the cylinder banks rather than in the usual location outside next to the crankcase. Audi has structured the cylinder heads in an innovative way. The exhaust side is on the inside, the intake side on the outside. This layout provides for compact dimensions and short gas paths with minimal flow losses, and the 4.0 TFSI reacts immediately to the gas pedal as a result. Sophisticated insulation of the hot components, in particular the exhaust manifold, stabilizes the thermal conditions in the inside V.

A further innovation is Audi’s cylinder management. In low to intermediate load and rev ranges, it deactivates two cylinders in each bank of the V8, reducing fuel consumption significantly. Thanks to a comprehensive package of innovative measures, the engine remains smooth and quiet during these phases. Shutting down the cylinders is virtually imperceptible. This cylinder management function is provided by the latest version of the Audi valvelift system by closing the intake and exhaust valves of the affected cylinders.

The 4.0 TFSI employs all the technologies from Audi’s modular efficiency platform. These range from measures to reduce friction, the start-stop system and the recuperation system to innovative thermal management that deactivates the water pump during the warmup phase to quickly bring the oil up to temperature. The new regulated oil pump varies the oil pressure in two stages, and the oil jet cooling for the piston heads is characteristic-controlled.

The new 4.0 TFSI provides for powerful performance in all of the large S models while at the same time demonstrating its high efficiency potential.

The equipment, data and prices specified in this document refer to the model range offered in Germany. Subject to change without notice; errors and omissions excepted.

New Campaign for 2012 Audi A6 Strives to Make the Road a More Intelligent Place

Posted on 14 September 2011 by

  • Audi’s new advertising and marketing campaign shows how the all-new A6 helps combat ever-increasing challenges on today’s road
  • The Audi Road Frustration Index calibrates real-time road conditions in major cities across the U.S.
  • The all-new Audi A6 is engineered to combat today’s road, making 2,000 decisions per second to aid drivers

Audi of America announces a new campaign for the 2012 Audi A6 that creatively puts focus on the increasingly challenging road conditions American drivers face today. The message for the all-new Audi A6 centers on “making the road a more intelligent place” and will appear in print, online and broadcast advertisements beginning this month. The ads will call attention to jarring facts about today’s driver, as well as the obstacles presented by today’s American road. More importantly, the ads showcase the ability of the Audi A6 to help overcome these obstacles while enhancing driver safety and enjoyment.

Shockingly, 38 million drivers on the road today would not pass their state’s driver’s exam , and across the nation, drivers encounter over 100,000 miles of crumbling highways and bridges . The U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood revealed earlier this year that a third of drivers under the age of 30 admitted to texting while driving . The multi-pronged campaign for the 2012 A6 centers on Audi’s mission to make the road a more intelligent place by calling attention to these issues and galvanizing enthusiasts to take action.

“The industry-leading technology in the all-new A6 is specifically engineered to analyze the road, anticipate situations for the driver, prepare for incidents and most importantly, enhance the driver’s experience, making the A6 one of the most intelligent cars on the road today,” said Scott Keogh, chief marketing officer of Audi of America. “The American road is a challenging place. Last week, President Barack Obama, in his nationally televised speech to Congress, specifically cited the need to solve the problems of the nation’s infrastructure, including badly decaying roads and bridges and highways congested with traffic. With this campaign, Audi wants to demonstrate to consumers that we recognize this and are looking into solutions that not only assist our drivers, but help to improve daily driving conditions nationwide.”

The new A6 tagline – “The road is now an intelligent place” – will appear in :30 and :60 national and cable television spots, in national newspapers and online beginning this month. Additional print ads will appear in automotive magazines.

In a related effort to raise awareness of today’s road conditions, Audi partnered with the SENSEable City Lab to develop the Road Frustration Index (RFI). Using a blend of historical and real-time data, the RFI features real-time snapshots of America’s roads, taking into account traffic patterns, infrastructure quality, weather patterns, driver behavior, social media comments about driving and more. The data is measured, weighted and compiled into an overall “Index” for major cities throughout America. Individuals will be able to find the RFI for their community and compare it to that of their friends. To view the RFI, visit www.roadintel.com

The 2012 A6 is one of Audi’s most innovative and technologically-advanced models to date, making 2,000 decisions per second to assist the driver. Safety in the all-new Audi A6 is enhanced by a thermal imaging camera with Night Vision Assistant to highlight pedestrians it detects in front of the vehicle, as well as the Audi Pre-Sense Plus safety system that is able to minimize accidents by warning the driver and applying the brakes with increasing force in an emergency. Other intelligent features of the Audi A6 include head-up display, which projects navigation data as a hologram that hovers over the windshield, allowing the driver to see important driving information in real time without having to divert attention from the road.

Audi is the first company worldwide to incorporate Google Earth into its MMI® Navigation system, which combines 3-D terrain models with aerial views and a detailed street network to calculate routes seamlessly. The A6 also features a MMI touch pad that recognizes handwriting in multiple languages, allowing drivers to perform a number of functions without taking their eyes off the road, as well as factory-installed wireless internet, enabling features such as Audi connect™ for real-time weather, traffic, news and live fuel prices.

The A6 boasts an all-aluminum Audi 3.0 L TFSI® supercharged V6 engine with 310 horsepower. The aluminum-hybrid construction of the A6 drastically reduces the vehicle’s weight, improves handling and allows for less fuel consumption. Exclusive to Audi, the A6 also features Drive Select, a system that provides advanced control of the vehicle’s adaptive suspension, dynamic steering, transmission shift characteristics and engine response. Audi Drive Select offers 27 distinct driving configurations, allowing drivers to configure vehicle drive characteristics exactly to their liking with their choice of Comfort, Auto, Dynamic or Individual settings.

For more information on the all-new Audi A6, please visit www.audiusa.com/a6 or download the new A6 iPad app in the Apple iTunes Store (http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/audi-a6-experience/id459214436?ls=1&mt=8)

ABOUT AUDI
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. During 2010 Audi was the top performing luxury brand in Europe, and broke all-time company sales records in the U.S. Over the next few years, AUDI AG will invest nearly $16 billion on new products and technologies. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.

# # #

Audi A8 MMI® Touch Control System

Posted on 05 April 2011 by

Audi A8 MMI Touch

Just as the Audi A8 has dramatically progressed, so has the intuitive MMI® control system that lets you control and manage all vehicle functions, including your infotainment preferences. The groundbreaking MMI® touch is a new level of customized convenience. Audi engineers developed this latest version of MMI with hard and soft keys, dedicated buttons for commonly used controls and a revolutionary touchpad that interprets hand-written inputs. The MMI touch system can be used with ease. Just like drawing in the sand, your index finger allows you to enter navigation destinations and telephone numbers by simply “writing” with your finger on the touchpad. It allows you easier access to radio presets, map navigation, destinations and directories for a more personalized driving experience.

With its distinctive 42,000 square foot dealership–the largest in the Audi USA dealer portfolio–Boardwalk Audi is committed to interlacing Audi’s unparalleled engineering prowess with exceptional service performance.  As a member of Boardwalk Auto Group we cultivate a focus on top-flight performance. It’s the driving force behind every nameplate we represent, every car we maintain, and every customer we have the privilege to serve. Performance. It’s what we do.

Audi sets U.S. prices for all-new 2012 Audi A7

Posted on 05 April 2011 by

  • U.S. pricing for all-new Audi A7 starts at $59,250
  • Iconic design and industry first innovative technology combine to deliver emotion, prestige and functionality
  • All models feature supercharged 3.0L TFSI® V6 engine producing 310 hp

Audi announced that pricing for the all-new 2012 Audi A7 will begin at $59,250 with the first of the elegantly designed models reaching U.S. showrooms later this month.

The 2012 Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price for the all-new Audi A7 is as follows:

2012 Audi A7 pricing (excluding $875 destination charge, taxes, title, options, and dealer charges):

A7 3.0T quattro® Tiptronic®                         $59,250

The all-new Audi A7 is a design icon, with technology to match its emotional styling. The A7 combines prestige, sportiness and functionality into a five-door coupe with seating for four. Through its emotion-evoking exterior and interior design as well as industry-first technology, the Audi A7 is sure to continue to attract new customers to the Audi brand.

The interior of the Audi A7 is a bold expression of contemporary design that matches the exterior of the vehicle. With impeccable attention to detail and craftsmanship, the wraparound sky-liner dashboard envelops the driver and front passenger and is a testament to the Audi legacy of inspirational interiors, providing exceptional fit and finish, comfort and luxury.

2011 Audi A7 | Highlights

While the coupe design of the Audi A7 attracts the eye, the aluminum-hybrid lightweight construction, with aluminum body panels and a steel frame, provides excellent handling, safety and fuel economy. The 3.0L TFSI V6 supercharged engine generates 310 horsepower and is paired with an 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission yielding impressive fuel economy ratings (18 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway, according to the U.S. EPA, for a combined fuel economy rating of 22 mpg) with quattro all-wheel drive standard.

The A7 delivers excellent performance characteristics with usable functionality. The integrated rear spoiler automatically deploys at higher speeds to achieve maximum down force and improved aerodynamics.

Continuing to take a leadership role in bringing progressive, innovative technologies to our customers, the Audi A7 is available with the latest MMI® technology that provides a user-friendly interface for navigation, audio, phone and vehicle customization functions. In addition, the MMI touch handwriting recognition system allows customers to enter destination or telephone information with the touch of a finger.

The MMI system also serves as the interface with the industry-first Audi Connect system, which brings a whole new level of real-time user-relevant information into the vehicle. With first-to-market voice-activated Google EarthTM, Google Local search, and, for passenger use, rolling Wi-Fi® hotspot functionality (first-to-market as Factory-installed option with integrated mobile broadband connectivity), the A7 enables new, progressive ways of interacting with the vehicle and its surroundings.

For more information regarding Audi Connect, please go to http://www.audiusanews.com/pressrelease/2286//what-audi-connect.

The A7 introduces an available Audi-first headup Display with a high-resolution, full-color display, as well as many innovative technologies which were recently introduced in the Audi A8 flagship, including available full LED headlights, Night vision assistant, Audi pre sense plus and the unmatched Bang & Olufsen® Advanced Audio System, which delivers 1,300 watts of audio bliss through 15 perfectly tuned speakers.

Design | highlights:
• Iconic 5-door coupe design utilizing aluminum hybrid lightweight construction.
• 4-seat configuration with folding rear seats
• Xenon plus headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights
• Unmistakable Audi Singleframe® grill design
• 7-inch Driver Information System
• 8-inch MMI screen with MMI touch technology
• Frameless side windows appropriate for coupe
• Ambient lighting plus using LED lighting technology

Engine/drivetrain | highlights:
• V6 3.0L TFSI supercharged engine delivering 310 hp and 325 lbs-ft of torque.
• 8-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission
• Legendary quattro all-wheel drive with 40:60 rear-bias torque split

Standard equipment | highlights:
• 18-inch wheels with all-season tires
• Xenon plus headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights
• Leather seating surfaces
• Power, heated front seats with driver lumbar support
• Automatic power tailgate
• Audi drive select
• SIRIUS® satellite radio
• Audi Music Interface
• Bluetooth® telephone and music player connection
• Homelink®
• Keyless go
• Power sunroof
• 3-zone automatic climate control
• Automatic headlights with light/rain sensor

Optional equipment | highlights:

Premium Plus includes:
• 19-inch 10-spoke wheels with all-season tires
• MMI navigation plus with MMI touch and Google Earth
• Audi Connect with 6 month complimentary data trial period
• Front and rear parking sensors and rearview camera
• 7-inch Driver Information System and 8” MMI screen
• HD Radio, CD changer and Jukebox

Prestige includes Premium Plus items and:
• S line® exterior (bumpers, grille)
• BOSE® surround sound system
• Advanced key (keyless entry)
• 4-zone climate control
• Ventilated front seats
• Adaptive headlights and cornering lights
• Power adjustable steering column
• Ambient lighting plus (LED interior lights)

Innovation Package:
• Full LED headlights
• Audi pre sense plus
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go
• Audi side assist
• Head Up Display
• Night vision assistant

Sport Packages:
• 19-inch or 20-inch wheels with performance tires
• Sport suspension
• 3-spoke sport steering wheel with shift paddles

Driver Assistance Package:
• Audi pre sense plus
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go
• Audi side assist

Bang & Olufsen Advanced Sound System (similar to A8 D4):
• 15 speakers including subwoofer and center speaker
• Acoustic lens emerging tweeters
• Speaker covers are polished aluminum
• 1300 watts of B&O® ICEpower®

ABOUT AUDI
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. During 2010 Audi was the top performing luxury brand in Europe, and broke all-time company sales records in the U.S. Over the next few years, AUDI AG will invest nearly $16 billion on new products and technologies. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.

Audi reports best-ever March U.S. sales and best first quarter in company history

Posted on 05 April 2011 by

  • March 2011 marked third-best month ever with sales of 9,818, easily eclipsing previous March record of 8,589 set in 2010
  • 2011 Audi A8 flagship sales help fuel 14.3% year-over-year jump in month
  • Certified Pre-Owned sales of 3,318 vehicles marks the second-best month for Audi CPO, second only to May 2008 with 3,364 vehicles sold

Audi today sustained its 2011 momentum with a series of record setting achievements. March U.S. sales of Audi cars and SUVs not only marked the third-straight monthly record for 2011, but also the best-ever March in company history and the best first quarter of all-time. Additionally, the March 2011 results rank as the third-best monthly sales overall for the brand in its U.S. history. The strong March sales represented a month-to-month sales increase of more than 25% over February 2011, and a 14.3% improvement from March 2010. The 2011 best first quarter in company history comes on the heels of Audi posting its best annual U.S. sales for 2010.

Overall, Audi sold 9,818 vehicles in March 2011 compared to the 8,589 vehicles sold in March 2010 to set the old record for the month. The strong sales results were buoyed by the continued extraordinary public response to the 2011 Audi A8 flagship model with a 788.9% increase in sales from a year earlier. March 2011 was the best month for Audi A8 sales in more than five years. Sales of the Audi A4 recorded more than a 20% month-to-month sales increase over February 2011 and climbed 12.1% compared to March 2010.

Audi models have already earned significant awards in the U.S., including the Edmunds.com Technology Breakthrough Award to the 2011 Audi A8, four category winners in the Strategic Vision 2010 Total Value Index and the EyesOn Design “Best Production Vehicle” awarded to the Audi A6, which is scheduled to arrive this Fall.

In March 2011, Audi recorded year-over-year sales increases exceeding 20% with five of its models: the Audi A8, Audi Q5, Audi Q7, Audi R8 and the Audi TT. Audi Q5 crossover and Audi Q7 full-size luxury crossover sales posted 22.5% and 36.6% increases over March 2010 sales, respectively. Moreover, due to improved availability and seasonality, the Audi R8 and Audi TT recorded a combined 56.9% year-over-year sales increase compared to March 2010. Despite limited availability for the Audi A5 in the month of March, the A5 posted a month-to-month sales gain of more than 20% compared to February 2011 sales. Moreover, the Audi S5 registered a 30% sales mix, compared to the 2010 average of 26%.

“Having ended 2010 on such a high note, it was important to ensure that we continue our momentum well into 2011,” said Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen. “As first quarter sales figures clearly reinforce the notion that consumers are eager to drive the superior lineup of Audi vehicles, we are optimistic that 2011 will be another banner year for us.”

Audi sales highlights – March 2011
• March 2011 ranks as the best-ever March sales in Audi of America history; also ranks as the third-best month ever in company history, behind December 2006 and December 2010.
• Best first quarter ever with 25,383 vehicles sold, topping the previous first quarter record of 2010 by 19.1%.
• Five models within Audi lineup post gains of over 20% YOY.
• Month-to-month Audi sales increase of more than 25% over February 2011, and 14.3% YOY increase.

Audi Q5 and Audi Q7 March sales and news notes
• Audi Q5 sales in March second only to A4; Q5 with less than 20 day supply of dealer inventory.
• Audi Q5 sales up 22.5% for March YOY.
• Audi Q7 sales up 36.6% for March YOY; Q7 with less than 15 day supply of dealer inventory.

Audi A3, A6, R8 and TT March sales and news notes
• Audi A3 sales increase by 200 units over February 2011.
• Audi A6 sales increase by 130 units over February 2011.
• R8 sales record 103.8% uptick over March 2010.
• TT sales up 40.8% YOY compared to March 2010.

Audi Certified Pre-Owned sales and news notes
• March 2011 CPO sales of 3,318 units represent 30.1% YOY surge from 2,551 vehicles a year earlier; increase in sales fueled by strong A4 sales mix.
• Second best March for Audi CPO of all-time, second only to May 2008 with 3,364 vehicles sold.
• Record-setting CPO markets in March: East up 30% year-to-date growth compared to 2010; South up 34% YTD growth compared to 2010; and West up 40% YTD growth compared to 2010.


ABOUT AUDI
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. During 2010 Audi was the top performing luxury brand in Europe, and broke all-time company sales records in the U.S. Over the next few years, AUDI AG will invest nearly $16 billion on new products and technologies. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.

AUDI US SNAPSHOT –YTD–
Model Line March ’11 Actual March ’10 Actual Yr/Yr % change March ’11 YTD Actual March ’10 YTD Actual Yr/Yr % change
A3 576 548 -5.1% 1,677 1,450 15.7%
A4 3,428 3,058 12.1% 8,681 8,481 2.4%
A5 1,388 1,675 -17.1% 3,584 3,755 -4.6%
A6 724 799 -9.4% 1,912 1,813 5.5%
A8 560 63 788.9% 1,371 149 820.1%
Audi Q5 2,083 1,701 22.5% 5,206 3,811 36.6%
Audi Q7 739 541 36.6% 2,237 1,380 62.1%
R8 106 52 103.8% 279 129 116.3%
TT 214 152 40.8% 436 347 25.6%
Total Audi Sales 9,818 8,589 14.3% 25,383 21,315 19.1%

NOTES:
- 2010 A4 numbers include Audi A4 sedan, Avant, and S4 models. 2009 A4 numbers include A4 cabriolet, which has been discontinued.
- 2010 A5 numbers include Audi A5 cabriolet and coupe’ and S5 cabriolet and coupe’
models. 2009 A5 numbers do not include the cabriolet models.
- A6 includes Audi A6 sedan, S6 sedan and A6 Avant models.
- A8 includes Audi A8 sedan, A8L sedan, and S8 sedan models.
- TT includes Audi TT coupe’ and TT roadster models.