Auto BHP » Audi

Audi Plans Production Boost this year

ed — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 06:31:26 +0000

Audi’s record-breaking 2010 sales prompt arrangement for another production boost this year. With the help of thirteen new models due in 2011 together with new A6 and Q3, Audi plans to make further on its exceptional 2010 global production and sales figures, which at 1,148,791 vechiles already equated to an increase in production of 23.4 % compared with 2009. Frank Dreves, Member of the Board of Management for Production at AUDI AG declared that production will continue to increase this year thanks to newest models for example the Audi Q3 and the new Audi A6 Saloon. Discussions are also ongoing about a possible Audi production spot in the United States, and a conclusion is expected to be reached by 2015. All Audi production sites recorded a significant increase in output in 2010. The Ingolstadt plant achieved its top level to date, of 553,010 cars (up 7.5 per cent). The Neckarsulm site increased production by 21.7 % to 216,322 cars, and is now focusing on producing the new Audi A6 Saloon after the successful launches of the R8 Spyder, A8L, Audi A8 and the A7.

Senner Tuning’s Audi A1

ed — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 09:19:40 +0000

Audi A1 1.4 T-FSI in stock condition packs 122 hp and utmost maximum torque of 200 Nm. To offer the car more power, Senner Tuning installed a new air filter, revised ECU and added a new stainless steel exhaust arrangement As a outcome the little Audi A1 produces 156 hp and 250 Nm of torque. All this rides on new 18" black colour Corniche Monza rims wrapped with S1 Evo Tyres from Hankook. In addition to this in-house sport springs provide a medium lowering by 35 millimeters. The above mentioned modifications rate 4590 Euros, and includes the necessary TÜV registrations and additional warranty. Furthermore, the team from Ingelheim also offers important coilover with custom height, rebound and compression adjustment, various parts of carbon, improvement of the internal or conversion to LED rear lights. The prices for these choices are available on request.

New Audi A8 launch on January 10

ed — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 09:16:01 +0000

Audi is all set to launch its all new A8 executive saloon in India on January 10, 2011. The Audi new A8 will take on the competition to the likes its other German rivals namely BMW 7-series and Mercedes S- class. The all new A8 offers dynamic excellence for those twirling the steering wheel and 5 star appointments for those occupying the rear seats. To be offered only in an extended wheelbase model when it hits our shores this Diwali, the A8L will maximize Audi does best: lots of high-quality engineering, plus artful design inside and out. The exterior features classic black-tie family resemblance that adorns almost all Audi’s. The tail almost completely mimics the back of the latest A4, and the corporate grille is in full effect like other current-generation Audi models. The Audi new A8 is, once again, based on a virtually all-aluminum body/chassis structure, which combines high strength with relatively light weight (for its size).

Engine options will include a range of hi-performance petrol and diesel engine units. The diesel engines include either a 3.0 V6 Tdi with 240bhp that powers other Audi models like the A4 and A6 and Q5. The Audi new A8 may also have an option of the 4.2 V8 Tdi diesel unit with 350bhp also seen in the Q7 Sport Utility Vehicle. The petrol V8 range includes the 4.2 DOHC V8 FSI and the range topping W12. The range-topping model, the W12 gains some additional chrome on its nose and unique exhaust finishers. All Audi A8s will drive via with a ZF-supplied eight-speed automatic transmission which has paddles on the steering wheel and Quattro 4 wheel drive as standard, and there is a sport differential option which splits torque between the rear wheels. Audi has added a new safety system called pre-sense, which activates the hazard lights, closes the windows and sunroof and pre-tensions the seat belts if the brakes are fully applied.

The Audi A8 Long Wheelbase is 5" longer between the axles and overall length than the standard-wheelbase A8 which will not be available in India. Most of that extra dimension shows up in the back-passenger compartment; there is an option group that includes reclining back seats, massage, and foot rests. Other features include an Active cruise control with a low speed stop and go capability, blind spot monitoring, lane assistance and night vision, a power trunk lid, 4 zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, additional aluminum interior trim, ambient interior lighting, and full-LED headlamps as well as tail lamps.

On the inside there’s an all-new interior. The gear selector is now an electronic shifter, with four positions; Audi says it is shaped like the thrust lever on a powerboat. The MMI system has been moved from the centre console to the fascia, and now features a touchpad panel, which allows you to write letters or numbers on the screen to enter phone numbers or navigation destinations. We expect prices of the all new A8L to be somewhere around the outgoing Audi A8 which is priced at Rs 72.45Lakh for the 3.0 Tdi model, ex showroom Delhi.

{Source: Autocarindia}

Audi RS4, No next generation planned

ed — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 09:07:42 +0000

Audi has given confirmation that there will be no next-generation Audi RS4 and that the Audi RS5 is considered the successor. Car and Driver’s German correspondent delivered some bad news to enthusiasts with the revelation that the Audi RS4 won’t get a “direct successor” because the RS5 is enough for all-wheel drive performance junkies. How the Audi brass came to that conclusion is beyond us – a fighting four door is just as entertaining and vastly more practical than its coupe counterpart. Just ask BMW. It was smart enough to offer the E92 M3 in both sedan and coupe form.

Audi will return with an Audi A4 to the BTTC

ed — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 10:01:46 +0000

The Audi A4 will race in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) for the first time in more than a decade from 2011. Two Audi A4 will be entered in the BTCC by private race team Rob Austin Racing and they will be built to the championship’s all-new Next Generation Touring Car (NGTC) technical regulations.

Initial testing of the A4 racer, previewed in this official rendering, will begin in March, with the team hoping to confirm drivers in January. Austin is a British Formula Three race winner and believes “that the Audi will be a race winner”.

Audi unveils its new R18 Coupe for Le Mans coming year

ed — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 06:23:57 +0000

Audi's retribution in this year's 24 Hours Le Mans though historic, ended in subtle despair as its French rivals Peugeot completely twisted the victory tables with a clean sweep in the inaugural Intercontinental Le Mans Championship. Audi will nevertheless go into next years twenty foue Hours Le Mans Championship as defending champions for the 9th time in history, and it amazing new R18 coupe is up for the challenge. Unveiled at the Audi Sportpark in Ingolstadt, Germany on the 10th of December, Audi's latest diesel powered sports-prototype now presents a "closed" cockpit, featuring a brand new 3.7-litre V6 TDI turbocharged diesel engine.

Another new development is the six-speed transmission in the R18, which has been particularly modified for use with the smaller engine. McNish, who has won the twice-around-the-clock French race in 1998 driving a "closed" sportscar (Porsche) and previous raced one at Le Mans in 1999 (Toyota) thought the new R18 Coupe ran very well without any technical problems. The racing debut of the Audi R18 is planned for the Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) 6 Hours on May 8. Prior to the event, the new model will be able to do its first laps on the race track at Le Mans during the official test day on April 24 and gather important data for the race on June 11-12. Audi is scheduling to field three Audi R18 cars at Le Mans next June, which will also be entered by Audi Sport Team Joest at the opening ILMC race at Sebring on March 19 2011.

Porsche Beats Audi To VW Deal

ed — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 04:32:25 +0000

Porsche has won an internal battle with Audi in the Volkswagen Group to take the lead in developing both sports cars and large luxury saloons for the Group. Group boss Martin Winterkorn confirmed Porsche’s role within VolksWagen after the German sports car firm had feared it would be sidelined within the multi-brand automotive giant. Porsche India resisted plans for a VolksWagen-developed platform for its core 911 range and will instead developed the next-generation platform for front-mid- and back mid-engine cars from Porsche, Audi and Lamborghini, as well as a “modular standard matrix” to underpin Porsche and Bentley saloons.

Winterkorn’s announcement follows Porsche confirming plans previous week to expand its Weissach design and engineering facility and recruit hundered new engineers. It also confirms comments new Porsche boss Matthias Müller made to Autocar previous week about his desire to share platforms and knowledge with Bentley. Audi had lobbied hard for Porsche’s new role within VolksWagen Group, and it will instead by responsible for further development of the Group’s “modular longitudinal matrix” used on the Audi A4, Audi A5 and Audi Q5 models. VolksWagen India is currently developing a “modular transverse matrix” that will 1st appear on the next Audi A3, before going on to underpin around fourty models, selling 3 million units annually.

Volvo To Ditch Premium Tag?

ed — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 06:05:31 +0000

Volvo must abandon its quest to be considered ‘premium’ and come up with a new strategy, according to the firm’s recently installed boss, Stefan Jacoby. The Swedish manufacturer is re-evaluating its product plan in the wake of its takeover by Chinese firm Geely. Jacoby believes it needs to stop chasing the ‘premium’ market high ground currently held by BMW, Audi & Mercedes.

“Let’s ditch this talk about premium,” said Jacoby. “It sounds like a pricing strategy and it’s got an expensive ring to it. We need to focus on elegant Scandinavian simplicity, our own unique identity, and not copy our competitors.” Jacoby is targeting 800,000 sales per year by 2020, more than double the 380,000 units that Volvo expects to sell in 2010. He says that re-establishing the firm’s strength in the US market will be a crucial part of his plan.

“We have lost ground in the US,” explained the Volvo chief executive. “We are at the bottom, looking up.” Volvo India recently launched its compact SUV XC60 in the Indian market. Volvo also sells its Volvo S80 saloon as well as Volvo XC90 large SUV in India; it is soon going to launch its Volvo S60 saloon which will compete with the likes of Mercedes C class and BMW 3 series saloon.

{Source: Autocarindia}

Skoda India Rolls Out 1,00,001st Car

ed — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 05:16:41 +0000

Skoda has rolled out the 1,00,00 first car from its plant at Aurangabad. The fact that the 1,00,00 first car was a Skoda Yeti, one of the recent launches, makes it an even more special event. The occasion was graced by H E Mr Miloslav Stasek, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic in India. A nicely arranged ceremony started with a joint tree planting on the factory premises. Skoda’s Superb, Laura and the newly launched Skoda Yeti are produced at the Aurangabad plant. The Aurangabad plant also manufactures Volkswagen’s Passat and Jetta, as well as Audi’s A4, A6 and Q5.

“This, the biggest investment in India by a Czech company, SkodaAuto India, has achieved incredible growth. The world class products provided by SkodaAuto India, offering high quality with a human touch, are the strongest pillar of its success,” H E Mr Miloslav Stasek said.

{Source: Motorbeam}

Car sales in India, in March 2010

rajiv — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 07:02:51 +0000

Audi - Audi India reported a jump of 36% in its sales for March this year, at 220 units, as against 162 units in March 2009. During January-March 2010, Audi sold 778 units in India, as compared to 384 units in the year-ago period. Audi is now looking at opening new dealerships across the country, in cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Chennai, Ludhiana, Lucknow, Coimbatore and Nagpur.

Maruti Suzuki - During March 2010, Maruti Suzuki sold a total of 95,123 units (79,530 units in the domestic market and 15,593 units overseas), an 11% increase over the 85,669 units sold in March 2009. Maruti sold 1,018,365 units in FY 2009-10 and this was the first time when an Indian car company sold over a million units in a financial year. The figure includes 870,790 units sold in the domestic market, and 147,575 units in exports. The A-Star (sold as the Suzuki Alto in markets other than India) continues to be Maruti's bestseller in overseas markets. By 2012, Maruti Suzuki plans to expand its production capacity to 1,250,000 units per annum. For this, the company has announced an investment of Rs 1,700 crore at its Manesar plant.

Ford - Ford India registered a 203% hike in sales during March 2010, at 9,478 units. The company has also netted 10,000 bookings for its all-new hatchback, Figo, which was launched two months ago. 'We are delighted at the initial response to Figo, and are incredibly proud to have struck such a positive chord with Indian consumers. The launch of Figo is the start of a transformed Ford in India,' said Michael Boneham, President and MD, Ford India.

Tata Motors - Tata Motors sold 27,761 units in the domestic market in March 2010, as compared to 23,649 units in March 2009. During March this year, Tata Motors sold 4,710 units of the Nano, 11,618 units of the Indica range, 7,537 units of the Indigo range, and 3,896 units of the Sumo and Safari range. The company sold a total of 234,930 passenger vehicles during FY 2009-10, as compared to 200,127 units in the previous financial year.

Mahindra - Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. reported an increase of 16% in its domestic sales for March 2010, at 29,944 units as compared to 25,748 units in the year-ago period. During March this year, M&M sold 20,914 units of its utility vehicles (Scorpio, Xylo, Bolero and Pick-Ups), 351 units of the Renault Logan, and 7,695 units of three-wheelers and mini-trucks, including the new Gio and Maxximo. M&M's total sales in the domestic market, during FY 2009-10, stood at 286,713 units - an increase of 30% over the earlier fiscal. Exports during FY 2009-10, at 10,567 units, registered a 24% increase.

Hyundai - Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL) sold 31,501 units during March 2010 in the domestic market, a 27% hike over sales in March 2009. HMIL's total sales (including exports) for March 2010 stood at 55,035 units, as against 46,159 units in March 2009, an increase of 19%. HMIL sold 162,273 units during January -March 2010, an increase of 33.5% over the corresponding period in 2009. 'As we close the financial year, it is reassuring to see the market retain its buoyancy which was triggered by the Government's timely announcement of the stimulus package and the consequent reduction in interest rates for car finance,' said Arvind Saxena, Director - Marketing and Sales, HMIL. During March this year, Hyundai sold 50,175 units in the A2 segment (Santro, i10, Getz and i20), 4,276 units in the A3 segment (Accent and Verna) and 44 units in the A5 segment (Sonata Transform).

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