Audi TTS review

Audi has finally done it, created an S model of its TT. The new TTS isn't, as you might reasonably expect, based on the 3.2-litre V6 quattro. Instead, Audi is following the current zeitgeist and increasing the power of its 2.0-litre TFSI by adding a new turbocharger, resulting in 268bhp.

In the Metal

The Audi TT is a beautiful thing in any guise, but the S additions really finish it off. The most obvious signifier that you're looking at the range-topper is the brushed aluminium finish mirrors, though the prominent red background badging half hiding behind the 'S' is also something of a giveaway. As standard it comes with 18-inch alloy wheels, but we doubt there's a customer in the UK who won't upgrade to the optional 19s - all the better for looking at the S-monikered brake callipers. A new grille, deeper front and rear bumpers and four exhausts also feature, as do Audi's now trademark white LED driving lights. Inside, it's all about S badging, sports seats and a steering wheel with the bottom cut off. It is an effective visual make over that does more than hint at the TTS's impressive performance.

What you get for your Money

Looking at the performance figures, the TTS over delivers in its price category. Consider too that it's the only car in its class that comes with four-wheel drive as standard and it looks like an even better price proposition. Audi confidently line the TTS up against the 911 Carrera 4 in its comparative press data, and while there's no arguing that the numbers are very close, the TT's not a genuine Porsche rival. Unless you factor in the 2.7-litre Cayman. The 2.0-litre TFSI has undergone some fairly extensive changes to allow it to deliver its 268bhp. Such a high output from such a low capacity is impressive, the 2.0TFSI feeling like a larger capacity multi-cylinder unit, but still retaining its high rev responsiveness.

Driving it

This is the fastest, most powerful TT and that S badge promises thrills behind the unusual cut-off steering wheel. The rush of acceleration from the 2.0-litre unit is impressive, the standard quattro four-wheel drive meaning traction is rarely an issue, which should allow you to match the claimed 5.4 second 0-62mph time if you're prepared to be harsh with the clutch. Chose the S tronic twin-clutch, paddle-shift six-speeder and you'll not need to be, the near seamless shifting two-pedal system so efficient at using the engine's power that it actually drops the 0-62mph time by 0.2 seconds.

We'd take the conventional six-speeder everyday though; as clever as the S tronic is, it's just a bit too efficient for its own good. The TTS isn't exactly loaded with driver interaction, and letting the electronics change gears removes even more of the fun. Manual shifts encourage you to blip the throttle too, allowing the four musical pipes exiting out the back to produce a brilliant accompaniment to the engine's performance. If only the steering were able to deliver some texture to its decent weighting and accuracy - it's the weak link in the TTS's driver appeal. The ride, although lowered by 10mm, is exceptionally good, Audi's magnetic dampers providing excellent body control and poise in the bends, making it even more frustrating that the steering isn't able to offer clear communication as to how much grip the front wheels have.

Worth Noting

The TTS is an entertaining drive; it's just not able to offer the sort of clear, concise feedback of its competition. A Nissan 350Z or BMW Z Coupé are far more entertaining, even if the Audi has the Nissan absolutely licked for interior and exterior styling and the BMW utterly beaten on ride quality. A Porsche Cayman, although slower and more expensive, is a more entertaining, informative and interactive driving experience. The traction on offer from the TTS's four-wheel drive system is excellent, though if you're really brutal you can bring that rear-end out to play, though the TTS is more prone to understeer when the limits of its adhesion are breached. Beautifully finished inside and out, the TTS, like its regular TT relatives, is an exceedingly nice driving environment, that's also remarkably practical for a coupé. Fuel consumption of 35.3mpg is also pretty respectable given the performance on offer.the vehicle: 73.715 € ( price incl. tax.+ installation)

New Audi Cars Awesome design and Style R8 V12

If you want to have a powerful and fast car that also from diesel than new Audi cars are perfect for you. This is a 12 cylinder diesel base new Audi car. These 12 cylinders give the power of 500 hp. Generally all new Audi cars can reach at maximum speed within fractions of seconds, but this new car reach 100 km/hr in mere 4.2 seconds. Top speed of this new car is 300 km/hr.

Now a days all new Audi cars got the muscular look but this car got the class and style as well. So over all this is the perfect combination of power, beauty and speed.

Audi gets top ratings for safety

A luxurious and safe ride is what drivers can expect of Audi's new models.

The renowned car maker has recently been recognised by both European and US automotive safety bodies, for its excellent build and well-designed safety mechanisms.

In Europe, the Audi A4 and Q5 achieved a top five-star rating in the new and more stringent Euro New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) safety tests.

Across the Atlantic, the US National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirmed the models' outstanding collision performance and gave both cars a five-star rating in all categories.

In addition, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a US consumer protection organization, proclaimed the Audi Q5 its "Top Safety Pick" - the best buy when it comes to safety.

In the IIHS crash tests, the Audi Q5 stood out for its outstandingly low impact ratings - its high-strength steel components ensure an extremely stable car body.

The risk of injury is further reduced by the networked controls for the restraint systems, which adapt to each specific crash situation, along with up to eight airbags.

In the Audi Q5, the integrated head restraint system and the optimised design of the seat geometry help counter the risk of whiplash injuries.

Both the Audi A4 and the Q5 scored highly in all disciplines in the Euro NCAP test. The A4 and Q5 scored over 90 per cent in protecting adult passengers, and over 80 per cent in child safety.

Now that Audi has got passenger safety covered, what about the pedestrians?

The specially designed front of the Audi A4 helps minimize the consequences of a collision, with foam cushioning in front of the transverse bumper beams, a generous crumple zone and special, deformable attachment of the front fender.

Accident prevention

Audi offers an extensive active safety package to help prevent accidents before they happen. This package consists of the Electronic Stabilisation Program and seatbelt reminders which are standard features in Audi cars.

Customers can also choose from numerous optional intelligent driver assistance Systems.

These include radar-supported adaptive cruise control with Audi braking guard, which actively warns the driver in multiple stages in imminent collision situations, the Audi lane assist lane departure warning system, and the Audi side assist lane-change assistant.

Sportback is Audi's style statement

Sportback is Audi's style statement

A BLAST from the past has helped Audi turn on the style for its 100th birthday.

The A5 Sportback, launched only days after the German car maker celebrated its centenary, has borrowed some of its good looks from the iconic Audi 100 Coupe of the early 1970s.

Take a look at the flowing lines at the rear of the latest addition to the A5 line up and the resemblance is uncanny.

The Audi 100 was regarded as one of the sleekest fastbacks ever and the Sportback is placed to follow suit.

In profile the new A5 looks sensational but from any angle it is going to turn heads.

The Sportback is basically a four door coupe with a hatchback and joins the A5 convertible and coupe models launched over the past few months.

It goes on sale in October and will be priced from £25,440 for a two-litre diesel to £36,220 for a three-litre diesel with Audi's seven speed S tronic gearbox.

Two-litre turbocharged and 3.2-litre petrol engines will also be available on quattro versions.

Stop/start technology is being brought into play on both two-litre diesel and petrol models giving the diesel average fuel economy of 54.3mpg with CO2 emissions of 137g/km which is low for a car of this size.

The petrol version will average a claimed 38.2mpg but emissions of 172g/km will not make it so attractive to business users.

The stop/start system has only just been introduced by Audi on the A4 range and works effectively in traffic. Come to a rest and the engine switches off, firing up again as soon as the clutch is depressed.

It is rapid and seamless and drivers will quickly become accustomed to it.

The A5 shares much of its characteristics with the A4 with Audi having elected to keep the latter for the mainstream saloon and estate market.

The A5 is aimed at the more discerning motorist who wants something a little special, hence the additional styling.

On the Sportback the wheelbase is longer than on the A5 coupe creating as much legroom in the rear as on the A4, despite the curving roofline.

There's also plenty of luggage space, 480 litres with the rear seats in place and 980 with them folded - which is almost estate car proportions.

However, there is a trade off and the Sportback does not feel quite as agile as the coupe or the convertible.

Nevertheless it's brisk. The two-litre diesel with six speed manual gearbox can knock off the standing 60 is 8.7 seconds with a claimed to speed of 141mph - and there is plenty of punch to the engine.

The three-litre diesel is the quickest of them all at 155mph maximum and 0 to 60 of 6.1 seconds which is marginally faster than the 3.2 and two-litre quattro models.

Both quattro versions can be fitted with Audi's new sport differential which moves power not only from front to back axle but also from wheel to wheel at the rear, noticeably improving cornering ability.

Pound for pound the 2.0 TFSI quattro priced from £28,625 offers the most fun although those with their minds firmly on economy will still go for the diesels.

That said, this car is more about style than anything else and with LED lights front and rear, a menacingly deep grille and a wide, low stance it has that in spades.

2011 Audi A7

A very wide range of powertrains will be offered in the A7 and its S7 and RS7 sport-focused variants. Everything from diesel-electric hybrids to 600hp (448kW) V10s will be found under the hood of one variant or another. The hybrid drive is expected to show up first in the company’s Q5 soft-roader. A diesel-electric version is rumored, but the company may end up using a petrol engine instead.

The more ordinary A7 variants will be powered by a pair of V6s. The first, a 204hp (152kW) 2.8L engine is the base model, while the 3.0L supercharged engine making 300hp (225kW) will be the first step up. An upgrade to S7 trim will bring with it another 94hp (70kW) in the form of a 4.0L V8. The RS7’s 600hp (448kW) 5.0L twin-turbo V10 is the range-topper. The S7 and RS7 will be released two years apart, with the S7 arriving first in early 2011 and RS7 after that.

A six-speed manual gearbox and eight-speed automatic will be available in the lower-spec models, while a seven-speed dual-clutch unit is also expected to be offered in the higher-performance variants. North American models are also expected to get Audi’s quattro AWD standard, though it is not known if European market variants will have a RWD option. Audi’s new torque-vectoring system will also be part of the package.

Air suspension will replace the standard spring-based system found in other Audis. The change is designed to help the car compete with the progenitor of the four-door coupe genre, the Mercedes CLS. Sales of the car are only expected to reach the 40,000 mark, but the image boost it will offer with its high-tech features and glamorous look - especially in the soft-top variant - are important for Audi’s development as a brand.

Audi released several official sketches of its future lineup late last year, including one of the A7, and our preview fleshes that sketch out into a three-dimensional look at what could be.

Audi Prices 2010 R8 V10

The 2010 Audi R8 gets a new V-10 option this year--and when the Lamborghini-derived engine is on board, the R8's pricetag swells to $147,200.

The new edition of the stunning two-seater switches from its standard V-8 engine for the priciest version. With the V-10, the new sportscar accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.7 seconds, Audi promises. That would make it slightly faster than GM's 638-hp Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, but slower than the Nissan GT-R. It also adds LED headlights, new 19-inch wheels, a different grille, dual oval exhaust tips, V-10 badges, a 465-watt Bang & Olufsen audio system and a navigation system.

The new edition moves even higher for its dual-clutch edition, which costs $156,300. Base prices for the 420-hp V-8 coupe begin at $115,400.

For more information on the new model, take a look at our 2010 Audi R8 page, along with our 2010 Audi S5 and 2010 Audi S4 pages. And stay tuned--we'll be driving each of them soon for a full road test review.

Audi to open new plant in China in September: report

German auto maker Audi plans to open a new plant in China in September to meet fast-growing demand for premium cars in the Asian country, state media reported Monday.

The one-billion-yuan (146.4-million-dollar) plant in the northeastern city of Changchun will double the brand's production capacity in the country to 200,000 units a year, the China Daily reported, citing a company official.

Audi is currently made in China through FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co, a joint venture with China FAW Group Corp.

The first two models to roll off the new assembly line will be the Audi A4L sedan and Q5 sports utility vehicle, the report said, citing Zhang Xiaojun, deputy general manager of the Audi sales division at the joint venture.

"The new factory is Audi's optimum assembly plant globally which in theory will be able to produce all Audi models," Zhang was quoted as saying.

Audi sold 466,000 vehicles globally in the first half of 2009, with strong demand in China and Germany helping cushion the fall in sales, which were down 9.7 percent for the period.

It delivered a record 66,866 cars, or 14.3 percent of global sales, in China in the first half, an increase of 11 percent from the same period a year earlier.

The carmaker will also aggressively expand its sales network, increasing the number of dealers in the country to more than 210 by 2012 from present 137, the newspaper said.

2009 Audi TTS Coupe and TTS Roadster

Audi released the first photos of the 2009 Audi TTS Coupe and 2009 Audi TTS Roadster. The 2009 Audi TTS Coupe and Roadster will have their debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The look of the 2009 Audi TTS Coupe and Roadster is more aggressive than the Audi TT, especially in the front. Under the bonnet, the 2009 Audi TTS has a 2.0 liter turbo engine that develops 272 hp.

More details on the 2009 Audi TTS Coupe and Roadster will be unveiled soon as Audi will make them available.

Audi UK pricing

The Audi TTS, which made its world debut at last months Detroit show, has confirmed UK pricing of £33,380 for the coupe, and £35,380 for the roadster.

Meanwhile, the Audi S line version of the original Audi A4, which includes 18” alloy wheels, 30mm lowered suspension, upgraded headlights, part leather sports seats and various tweaking to the overall styling.

Buyers will be paying a £2,500 premium for the S line at £23,490

Audi Sportback

The Audi Sportback range is likely to be extremely popular. Although Audi is actually older than 100 years old, it wasn’t officially known as Audi until 2010. Audi feels this is the right time to reveal the prices and the complete specification of their A5 Sportback, which will hit UK Audi showrooms in October of this year.

It will be in a five door form, and slightly longer when directly compared with the current A5 Coupé. This accommodates extra passengers and luggage. The current spec shows that it will have 480/980 litres of luggage space depending on whether the rear seats are in place.

As far as power plants are concerned, four engines will be available, this will include a 168bhp 2.0 TDI turbo diesel, which is likely to be the most popular thanks to the incorporation of a start stop system. A 208bhp 2.0 TFSI turbo petrol, a 237bhp 3.0 TDI and a 261bhp 3.2 FSI V6 will complete the line up. They will have seven speed semi automatic transmission systems as standard.

Prices for the range will start at just £25,440 which offers excellent value for money. Of course, if you have deep pockets you can splash out as much as £36,220 plus optional extras if needs be.

2010 Audi R8 5.2 V-10 Priced At $147,200

If eight just isn’t enough when it comes to your 2010 Audi R8, you can always opt for the ten-cylinder R8 5.2 model--but at a price. Audi announced yesterday afternoon that its flagship R8 model will carry a base price of $147,200, including a $1200 destination charge.

That price puts you into a R8 5.2 coupe, equipped with the 525-hp, 5.2-liter V-10, Quattro all-wheel-drive, and a six-speed manual transmission. Customers who opt for the six-speed R-tronic semi-automated gearbox will see that base price jump to $156,300.

Adding two cylinders to the sensuous R8 represents approximately a $32,000 premium over the R8 4.2 V-8 model, but it’s still $53,000 cheaper than its closest sibling, the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.

Audi expects to begin delivering R8 5.2 models to American dealers sometime this week.

Audi A5 is the least reliable new car

Desirable but unreliable: The Audi A5 has come bottom of the new car pileThe UK's most reliable new car is the Honda Accord, while the stylish Audi A5 is most likely to break down, according to the 2009 Which? car survey.
Although unlikely to set pulses racing, dependable family favourite the Accord will also not get tempers flaring, as it scored a remarkable 99% in the report on hassle-free motoring.

But while the muscular Audi A5 may have won praise for its looks and handling, it is also the most likely new car to leave its proud new owner posing by the roadside, scoring just 76%.

The Which? survey rates new cars on users happiness, taking into account breakdowns, faults and even niggles, which are guaranteed to get the buyer of a new car cursing.

Japanese cars fared the best, with supermini the Honda Jazz coming second with 98% alongside the Daihatsu Sirion, also with 98%, these were followed by the Hyundai i30.

The Which? survey was not good news for those who have opted for style and speed over a less inspiring dependability, with the A5 being joined by the Jaguar XF (78%) and Alfa Romeo 159 (79%) in the four least reliable.

But the family-orientated Ford Galaxy did squeeze into the unreliability stakes before the Jaguar and the Alfa, scoring a lowly 76%.

The biggest problem with new cars identified by the survey was electrical systems, which are supposedly meant to make cars more efficient, reliable and comfortable.

Dependable: The Honda Accord

Richard Headland, of Which? Car, said: 'Owning a reliable car can make the difference between getting your summer holiday off to a flying start and sitting on the hard shoulder of the M6. You can't do better than the Honda Accord, which is one of the most reliable cars we've ever surveyed.

'Japanese cars in the main seem to run like clockwork, although there are a few exceptions to the rule. It's also encouraging to see good reliability scores for the bestselling Ford Fiesta and other small, economical cars.'

Most reliable new cars

1 Honda Accord (2008-present) - 98.5%
2 Honda Jazz (2008-present) - 98.2%
3 Daihatsu Sirion (2005-present) - 97.5%
4 Hyundai i30 (2007-present) - 96.8%
5 Ford Fiesta (2008-present) - 96.2%
6. Honda Jazz (2002-2008) - 95.9%
7 Honda Civic Hybrid (2006-present) -95.7%
8 Citroën C1 (2005-present) - 95.7%
9 Toyota Prius (2004-present) -95.0%
10 Mazda 3 (2004-2008) - 94.4%

Least reliable new cars

1 Audi A5 (2007-present) - 75.8%
2 Ford Galaxy (2006-present) - 76.3%
3 Jaguar XF (2008-present) - 78.0%
4 Alfa Romeo 159 (2006-present) - 79.0%
5 Land Rover Discovery (2004-present) - 79.5%
6 Ford S-Max (2006-present) - 79.9%
6 Land Rover Freelander (2006-present) - 80.1%
8 Volvo XC90 (2002-present) - 80.6%
9 Jaguar S-type (1999-2007) - 81.2%
10 Hyundai Santa Fe (2006-present) - 82.2%

Audi Q3 is shaping up for battle

Watch out BMW – this is the Q3, the car that’s set to become the latest addition to Audi’s off-road line-up. And our exclusive images show precisely how the brand’s compact 4x4 is shaping up.

Joining the imposing Q7 and understated Q5, the Q3 is the car Audi enthusiasts have been waiting for. It has its sights set firmly on BMW’s X1 and the MINI Crossman, taking the four-ringed brand into a new market.

Previewed by the Cross Coupé Quattro concept at the 2007 Shanghai Motor Show, the production version will share the same proportions as the show car. But it borrows heavily from the flowing creases and clean surfaces of the Q5, built on the chassis used by VW’s Tiguan. Both two and four-wheel drive versions will be available, the latter using a Haldex-developed all-wheel-drive set-up, also shared with the Tiguan.

The engine line-up includes 138bhp and 168bhp 2.0-litre TDI units, as well as a petrol 207bhp 2.0 TFSI borrowed from the Golf GTI. Transmission options are a six-speed manual or seven-speed DSG.

Audi has already confirmed the Q3 will enter production at SEAT’s Martorelli plant in Barcelona, Spain, in 2011. So we can expect another Q3 concept early next year, bearing a much closer resemblance to the showroom-ready car.

Audi has also revealed its A4 is to get the ‘e’ treatment. It will use the A6’s 2.0-litre TDIe engine, returning 61.4mpg and emitting 120 g/km of CO2. The model goes on sale in October from £23,340.

ABT pumps 435 hp into the Audi S4

Abt Sportsline has released its own aftermarket version of Audi’s S4, the third to do so after Wettstetten and MTM.
Abt Sportsline, like the first two tuners, has also deemed the car’s 3.0-liter TFSI engine to be lacking and has in fact, raised the final output to 435 horsepower (320 kW) from 333 hp (245 kW) on the production version.

The car’s other performance upgrades include an increased torque, from 440 Nm to 520 Nm. The car is now able to jump from 0-60 in 4.6 seconds compared to the previous record of 5.1 seconds. The 250 km/h electronic limiter has been lifted, allowing the S4 to now top at 282 km/h (175 mph). The German tuner explained that this is because the engine it supplied does not have a V-max (top speed) limit.

Audi A8 sliced in half after 166kmh spree

QUEENSLAND Police will hold an internal investigation into a fatal crash at Upper Mount Gravatt after it was revealed the car was detected speeding on the M1 before slamming into a power pole.

Horrific ...The wreckage of the Audi split in half when it hit a power pole / Pic: Steve Pohlner

The Courier-Mail reports a young woman was killed and a man critically injured when the Audi A8 was sliced in two after striking the power pole on Klumpp Rd at Upper Mount Gravatt just off the motorway about 3am.

Another woman was seriously injured.

The woman who lives in the house where most of the wreckage ended up says she was told the car was clocked doing 166kmh on the motorway shortly before the crash.

Joyce Maxwell said she was woken by a loud bang and ran out to an horrific scene in the front yard.

"I couldn't believe it,'' said Mrs Maxwell, who has lived at the address for 30 years.
"There was a girl trying to climb out of the car and another person at the back. Then we found the other girl in the gutter.''

Daughter Benita said she thought two cars were involved.

"I rang triple-0 and I said: 'There's two cars and bodies all over the ground','' she said. "It was just horrible.''

The impact of the car knocked out the Maxwells' new wrought-iron fence and shattered statues and a water fountain.

Mrs Maxwell said they were told the car was clocked doing 166kmh on the motorway shortly before the crash.

Audi's R8 sports car captures triple crown

The all-new 2008 Audi R8 captured the triple crown of Canadian automotive awards by being named as AJAC's "Canadian Car of the Year", being designated as AJAC's "Best New Design" of the year and winning AJAC's "Most Coveted Vehicle" award.

Photograph by: CNW Group/ Audi Canada, Canwest News Service

Audi Canada captured the triple crown of Canadian automotive awards with the new R8 mid-engined sports car.

At the opening of the Canadian International Auto Show in Toronto, the Audi R8 was presented the 2008 Canadian Car of the Year award by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.

The Audi R8 beat 11 other "best new" category winners to secure the Canadian Car of the Year honours.

The Audi R8 was also declared the winner of AJAC's Best New Design award for 2008. In addition, Canada's automotive writers and editors also selected the Audi R8 for the rarely presented AJAC Most Coveted Vehicle award.

Audi's first premium mid-engine sports car began appearing in Canadian Audi retailer showrooms last September.

"Inspired by every great idea Audi has ever had, the all-new R8 will create a higher profile for Audi in Canada," said Karsten Ruwaldt, Audi Canada's director of marketing and product management.

"Equipped with the expertise that Audi has garnered through its involvement in motorsport and from building sporty premium-class automobiles, the R8 is a precision sports car that embodies Audi's superlative road manners, pioneering technology and advanced design."

The incredible R8's lightweight aluminum chassis, high-revving 420-h.p. 4.2-L FSI V-8 engine, race-inspired suspension, quattro all-wheel-drive system and low centre of gravity combine to make the R8 handle in an unparalleled manner.

It has a base price of $139,000 for the six-speed manual version and $150,500 for the automatic R tronic edition. Audi's R8 production facility at Neckarsulm, Germany, is geared up to build just over 20 cars a day.

Competition

The AJAC Canadian Car of the Year competition gathers more than 60 Canadian automotive journalists at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont., for several days in October for the annual TestFest event. This program has received high praise from journalists and consumers alike because the evaluation and voting processes are carried out in a professional, fair, serious and equitable manner.

The participating journalists have the opportunity to test-drive all the entries back to back in identical conditions. An extensive list of criteria is assessed by the journalists and all active participants vote for their individual choice as car of the year.

AJAC consulted with three design experts -- Robert Cumberford, design critic, Automobile Magazine; Paul Deutschman, Independent Canadian designer; and Ken Cummings, a professor of automotive design at Toronto's Humber College -- requesting that they select their top four choices for best new design from among the 59 Canadian Car of the Year entries.

Each expert created his own short list based on three parameters: esthetics, function and brand essence. The respective short lists were then made into a design ballot, which was given to all voting AJAC journalists.

Each journalist was then asked to select their personal choice for the Best New Design from the four finalists according to the same parameters as the design experts.

Sales of luxury cars in China grew fast in H1

Luxury auto brands sold well in China in the first half of this year, with Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi all achieving double-digit sales growth even though the world's major auto markets are still in recession, sources reported.

According to statistics released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz sold 27,000 vehicles in mainland China in the first six months, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 50%.

In the first half of this year, the combined sales of vehicles in the BMW series and Mini series rose 24% year on year to 37,627 units in China. In June alone, sales of BMWs and Minis in the Chinese market were up 44% and reached 8,506 units.

Audi sold 13,077 vehicles in June, up 28% year on year, achieving a new sales record for the fourth consecutive month. Sales of Audis, accounting for 40% of the luxury car market, rose 10.4% to 66,131 units during the first half.

China's auto production rose 37.73% to 1.15 million units in June, while auto sales reached 1.14 million units, up 36.48% compared with a year ago.

Audi : 100th anniversary

For AUDI AG, July 16, 2009 is a memorable day: on that day exactly 100 years ago, automotive pioneer August Horch founded August Horch Automobilwerke GmbH in Zwickau, Germany. A short time later he renamed the company after the Latin translation of his last name – making it Audi Automobilwerke. The brand with the four-ring logo is celebrating its birthday this week with a series of events.

The week of celebrations starts on Thursday, July 16, with an evening gala at the Audi Forum Ingolstadt. Marking the occasion, Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, will greet an array of famous personalities from the worlds of politics, industry, sport, culture and science. One highlight will be the commemorative speech by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Other guests will include Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer; Christian Wulff and Günther Oettinger; Matthias Wissmann, President of the German Automotive Industry Association; basketball star Dirk Nowitzki; Karl-Heinz Rummenigge of FC Bayern Munich; and racing legends such as Jacky Ickx, Walter Röhrl and eight-time Le Mans champion Tom Kristensen.

“One look at the guest list tells you the kind of prestige Audi has acquired in its 100-year history,” Stadler said. “July 16 not only gives us a reason to celebrate – it also provides motivation for all Audi employees to continue writing the company’s success story on into the future.”

Television presenter Thomas Gottschalk will host the evening gala, which will be broadcast live on the Internet at www.audi.tv, starting at 6:30 p.m. After a journey through time along the 100-year history of Audi, the first world premier is scheduled to begin: renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang will perform for the invited guests on the new Audi Design grand piano. This musical instrument, with its characteristically curvaceous rim, was designed by the Audi Design Studio in Munich and will be used as a concert grand piano for future prestigious musical events.

The evening’s other cultural highlights include the spectacular illumination of the Audi Forum by light artist Gerry Hofstetter, and the premier performance of a symphony composed especially for the ceremony by music producer Leslie Mandoki. The classical work will be performed by the New Frankfurt Philharmonic, conducted by Paul Momberger.

Guests coming to congratulate AUDI AG on its anniversary will include German Chancellor Angela Merkel, along with Bavarian Prime Minister Horst Seehofer and Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG. In her speech for the event, Merkel will discuss fundamental issues in current economic policy, and will specifically address the challenges confronting the automotive industry.

“No matter how greatly the car of the future may differ from today’s car, there will continue to be a desire for individual mobility all over the world,” Merkel said in her personal Internet podcast on the occasion of Audi’s 100th anniversary. The German Chancellor meanwhile emphasized that one of the most essential tasks in the future will be to promote climate protection, energy efficiency and safety, including in the area of mobility. “Audi and its 100-year success story are therefore representative of other companies in the automotive industry,” Merkel emphasized.

Following Merkel’s speech, Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, will join Merkel on the stage to unveil a new Audi car model being presented publicly to the world for the first time on July 16. “Audi is continuing its spectacular development of models, introducing the sixth new car to the German market already this year,” said Stadler, pointing out the company’s goal to expand its product portfolio to 42 models by 2015. “This step is of fundamental importance for us, since we will only be able hold our own in competition if we have strong prospects for the future and ambitious goals,” Stadler said.

On 100th birthday, Audi weathering downturn

Audi AG is marking its 100th birthday this week in a strong position, with well-heeled customers defying the downturn to snap up its luxury cars and fuel its ambitions of catching rivals Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche.

Audi celebrates its century on Thursday, with a gala event in its Bavarian home town of Ingolstadt that will feature luminaries such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Dallas Mavericks NBA player Dirk Nowitzki and eight-time Le Mans champion Tom Kristensen.

"July 16 not only gives us a reason to celebrate," said Chief Executive Rupert Stadler. "It also provides motivation for all Audi employees to continue writing the company's success story on into the future."

Like its competitors, Audi -- wholly owned by Volkswagen AG -- has felt the shockwaves from the crisis, but has seen its sales -- while still below pre-recession levels -- improve recently amid better sales in China's more recession-resistant market, a German program that pays people who scrap old cars and buy news ones, and refinements to quality and new fuel-efficient technologies.

The company said its June sales edged higher from last year, lifted in part by strong demand in China and Germany for its sporty cars that sell for anywhere between euro21,000 ($30,000) and euro100,000, along with narrowing declines in the U.S.

Audi, whose brands include the TT, Q7 and A5, sold 91,200 cars last month, up 1.3 percent from a year earlier.

U.S. sales were down 8.3 percent, but Audi said it increased its market share in the premium segment there by 1.3 percentage points to 9.1 percent. That left Audi optimistic that it would meet its full-year targets.

"We will finish on target -- achieving our sales forecast of 900,000 cars in 2009," said Peter Schwarzenbauer, who oversees marketing and sales for the company.

Meanwhile, BMW AG and Daimler AG's Mercedes-Benz saw June sales fall by 13 and 7 percent respectively, although the declines were smaller than in previous months.

August Horch formed the company in Zwickau on July 16, 1909, calling it August Horch Automobilewerke GmbH. Later he changed the name to Audi, or the Latin translation of his surname -- "hark!" in English.

In 1932 Audi merged with Horch, DKW and Wanderer to form Auto Union. The next year its famous symbol of four interlocking rings was introduced.

After World War II, Auto Union resumed production in 1949, helped in part by aid from the U.S. Marshall Plan. Volkswagen acquired it in 1964; four years later. The company suffered a spate of negative publicity and a precipitous drop in sales in the U.S. in the 1980s after reports found its Audi 5000 suffered from unintended acceleration because of the proximity of the gas pedal to the brake. But sales recovered as consumers embraced its A4.

Since then, the company has been on a record sales tear, posting 13 straight years of sales increases. Worldwide sales totaled euro34.2 billion in 2008.

It now builds cars in Germany, Hungary, China and Belgium and employs 58,000 people worldwide.

New Models: Audi A5 Sportback revealed

Audi has revealed full details of its A5 Sportback - a direct response to BMW's forthcoming 5-series GT.

The five-door, four-seater is aimed at buyers who want a coupe-like saloon with the space of an estate. It'll have the same suspension settings as the A5, which should give it sporty handling, but it's around 100kg heavier than the coupe.

It's 36mm lower, 28mm wider and 6mm shorter than an A4 and there's between 480 and 980 litres of luggage space on offer.

It will feature Audi's Drive Select system which means the driver can adjust the suspension, and the steering, throttle and gearchange responses.

At launch in the UK, four direct injection engines will power the A5 Sportback - the 2.0-litre TFSI with 209bhp and the 3.2-litre V6 FSI with 263bhp from the petrol family, and from the diesel range, the 2.0-litre TDI with 168bhp and 3.0-litre V6 TDI with 238bhp.

Initially, 2.0 TFSI, 3.2 FSI and 3.0 TDI engines will be mated to Audi's S tronic twin-clutch transmission and the quattro all-wheel-drive system.

A six-speed manual gearbox will be reserved for the front-wheel-driven 2.0 TDI economy-focused model that will also feature stop/start and energy recuperation technology.

Further engine variants and additional quattro models will be phased in during 2009, and the automatic transmission options will also become more widely available.

A5 Sportback gallery

An S5 Sportback with a 329bhp 3.0-litre supercharged V6 engine under the bonnet should follow and if we are lucky there'll be a V8 RS5 version.

Until then buyers can choose from SE or S line specification, with a third standard trim level reserved for four-cylinder models.

All options include climate control, a CD audio system, split folding rear seats and a Driver's Information System (DIS), while SE models get leather upholstery, acoustic parking sensors and automatic headlight and wiper activation.

S Line models also feature exclusive grille and bumper treatments, larger 18" alloy wheels, xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights and LED rear lights.

Deliveries start in October and prices range from £25,440 for the 2.0 TDI manual to £36,220 for the 3.0 TDI S line S tronic.

2010 Audi A5 Sportback Released

The 2010 Audi A5, the trendy Sportback based on the curvaceous A5 Coupe and Cabrio has finally been announced with a full set of details but sadly, this car will not make it to the American shores. A derivative of the mid-size, five-door liftback, it comes with an extra set of doors and tailgate to combine functionality with form. Come September, the European buyers will get to choose from a set of six different engines, three each for gas and diesel units. The first one hails from the A4 territory and with a 2.0-liter capacity it can either churn 180 or 211 horsepower depending on what you buy, plus, there is also a 3.2-liter V6 option available.

The ones who prefer diesel would get 2.0-liter inline-four, 2.7-liter V6 and 3.0-liter V6 motors under the hood. The 170 horsepower rendering 2.0-liter TDI is rated at 45.2 mpg (US) on the EU combined cycle. All the engines firing on four cylinders will get automatic stop-start systems and the flagship models for both gasoline and diesel will run on the four-wheel Quattro drive. Three additional engines will be added to the lineage in 2010.

OFFICIAL PICS: AUDI A5 SPORTBACK REVEALED

These are the first official images revealing the third-string Audi A5 model - the Sportback - in all its glory for the first time.

Audi reckons the new five-door liftback A5 Sportback combines the sleek lines of a coupe with the comfort of a saloon and the practicality of an estate, thus combining the 'best of three worlds'.

In fact, Audi goes so far as to say that "with its short front overhang, long wheelbase, wide track and the four frameless doors with their slender window lines, it [the A5 Sportback] is the very picture of sporty elegance." That is perhaps pushing things a bit, especially for a car that has the whiff of Vauxhall Insignia about the rear three-quarter view, but we appreciate the sentiment.

Niche works if you can find it...

Engines are the usual A4/A5 range of four-cylinder and six-cylinder petrol and turbodiesel affairs, topped off (for now) by the 261bhp 3.2-litre V6 petrol and 237bhp 3.0-litre V6 turbodiesel, both of which get quattro four-wheel drive.

A rather tastier S5 version featuring the 329bhp supercharged V6 already seen in the S4 should eventually be on the way, and we've got our fingers crossed for the even hotter V8 RS5 that's currently getting a workout on the rumour treadmill.

Audi is naturally also pushing the oh-so-fashionable green aspect for the new A5 Sportback - the base models benefit from a relatively svelte drag coefficient of 0.29, while four cylinder models get stop-start tech and all versions benefit from Audi's new recuperative braking system.

And now in grey

The first UK customers will get their cars in October, and prices top out at £34,020 for the top-spec diesel V6.

X-ray paint is optional...	Recognise this? A5 coupe drivers will...