Audi: Development and Technology News
(i.e. BMW X6)...
04-27-2009 | 06:56 PM
#242
that the x6 is 
04-28-2009 | 03:54 PM
#249
What Would Don Draper Do?
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,223
Likes: 1
From: Houston
04-29-2009 | 12:13 AM
#252
Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 616
Likes: 0
3 CUVs? 
I don't know of any manufacturer that has 3 CUV's in their lineup, but to me a SUV and CUV are one in the same, just different styling. Having different sized SUV's does make sense though, no different than compact, midsize and full size car.
It was only a matter of time before Audi did/does make a Q3 to compete with the X3, so that doesn't surprise me, but even still, not happy that this mystery model may be another CUV/SUV.
I don't know of any manufacturer that has 3 CUV's in their lineup, but to me a SUV and CUV are one in the same, just different styling. Having different sized SUV's does make sense though, no different than compact, midsize and full size car.
It was only a matter of time before Audi did/does make a Q3 to compete with the X3, so that doesn't surprise me, but even still, not happy that this mystery model may be another CUV/SUV.
04-29-2009 | 12:31 AM
#253
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 719
Likes: 45
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Secret-...i-A7-revealed/
This would be a very unique vehicle for Audi's 100th Birthday
05-04-2009 | 02:41 PM
#257
The sizzle in the Steak
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 71,436
Likes: 1,877
From: Southern California
05-08-2009 | 09:43 AM
#258
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 4,581
Likes: 64
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-...08-708011.html
By Christoph Rauwald
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
FRANKFURT (Dow Jones)--Audi AG (NSU.XE) in April continued to narrow the gap to its two larger German peers BMW AG (BMW.XE) and Daimler AG's (DAI) Mercedes-Benz brand, but demand for luxury cars deteriorated further amid the economic downturn with the timeframe for a recovery still uncertain.
The premium brand and key earnings contributor of Volkswagen AG (VOW.XE), Europe's largest automaker by sales, has been less affected by the industry gloom than its rivals due to the launch of new and revamped models such as the A4 and the Q5 sports-utility vehicle as well as a favorable regional sales mix. Audi is the market leader in China and has only a relatively small presence on the troubled U.S. market.
BMW, the world's best-selling premium car maker, posted a 25% sales fall on the year to 84,218 cars in April. But it maintained pole position as year-to-date sales totaled 317,722 cars, 22% less than in the same period last year.
"The situation on the global automotive markets remains very challenging," said BMW sales chief Ian Robertson in a statement.
Audi's April sales came in at 81,923 cars, down 5.6% on the year, and decreased 14% in the first four months to 291,951 vehicles.
Daimler's core Mercedes-Benz brand posted a 23% sales fall on the year in April to 80,700 cars, slightly less than Audi, with sales in the first four months contracting 25% to 296,700 vehicles.
The world's second best-selling luxury automaker is pinning its hopes on the revamped Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which is poised to help sales volumes from the second quarter onward, as well as contribute to a better model mix. The E-Class is a crucial model for the Stuttgart-based company in terms of sales volume as well as revenue per vehicle.
The Mercedes-Benz division, which also comprised the Smart and Maybach brands, reported a EUR1.12 billion loss in earnings before interest and tax in the first quarter compared with profit of EUR1.15 billion last year.
The luxury car maker said it will increase prices of certain new models in some markets and launch the E-Class in the U.S. in June, earlier than initially planned.
BMW's EBIT swung to a EUR55 million first-quarter loss from EUR827 million profit in 2008.
Audi posted a 29% fall in first-quarter earnings year-on-year but stayed in the black with operating profit of EUR363 million.
All three premium automakers expect full-year sales to come in below the level of 2008. BMW views 2009 as a year of "transition," before several important new model launches are expected to fuel demand from 2010 onward.
By Christoph Rauwald
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
FRANKFURT (Dow Jones)--Audi AG (NSU.XE) in April continued to narrow the gap to its two larger German peers BMW AG (BMW.XE) and Daimler AG's (DAI) Mercedes-Benz brand, but demand for luxury cars deteriorated further amid the economic downturn with the timeframe for a recovery still uncertain.
The premium brand and key earnings contributor of Volkswagen AG (VOW.XE), Europe's largest automaker by sales, has been less affected by the industry gloom than its rivals due to the launch of new and revamped models such as the A4 and the Q5 sports-utility vehicle as well as a favorable regional sales mix. Audi is the market leader in China and has only a relatively small presence on the troubled U.S. market.
BMW, the world's best-selling premium car maker, posted a 25% sales fall on the year to 84,218 cars in April. But it maintained pole position as year-to-date sales totaled 317,722 cars, 22% less than in the same period last year.
"The situation on the global automotive markets remains very challenging," said BMW sales chief Ian Robertson in a statement.
Audi's April sales came in at 81,923 cars, down 5.6% on the year, and decreased 14% in the first four months to 291,951 vehicles.
Daimler's core Mercedes-Benz brand posted a 23% sales fall on the year in April to 80,700 cars, slightly less than Audi, with sales in the first four months contracting 25% to 296,700 vehicles.
The world's second best-selling luxury automaker is pinning its hopes on the revamped Mercedes-Benz E-Class, which is poised to help sales volumes from the second quarter onward, as well as contribute to a better model mix. The E-Class is a crucial model for the Stuttgart-based company in terms of sales volume as well as revenue per vehicle.
The Mercedes-Benz division, which also comprised the Smart and Maybach brands, reported a EUR1.12 billion loss in earnings before interest and tax in the first quarter compared with profit of EUR1.15 billion last year.
The luxury car maker said it will increase prices of certain new models in some markets and launch the E-Class in the U.S. in June, earlier than initially planned.
BMW's EBIT swung to a EUR55 million first-quarter loss from EUR827 million profit in 2008.
Audi posted a 29% fall in first-quarter earnings year-on-year but stayed in the black with operating profit of EUR363 million.
All three premium automakers expect full-year sales to come in below the level of 2008. BMW views 2009 as a year of "transition," before several important new model launches are expected to fuel demand from 2010 onward.
05-08-2009 | 10:13 AM
#259
You've never seen a Lincoln Continental convertible? Also, Chrysler had plans to make a 300C 4-door convertible, but that may have been axed.
I hope this is not their big secret. 4-door convertible, FTL.
05-12-2009 | 06:56 PM
#260
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Audi: Intelligent Emotion Project news
Just checking out some of the latest concepts from the Audi Intelligent Emotion program @ Munich University. The goal is to use their top concepts as design guidelines for future models. Some of these look pretty cool but I'm not so crazy about that last one, looks like a boombox or some fancy electric shaver haha...
05-18-2009 | 07:55 PM
#270
how handsome I am
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,983
Likes: 1
From: Miami, FL
I love these concepts. Just what they should be too, good outta-control concepts that designers can draw inspiration from to create something more pedestrian (BUT hopefully not too pedestrian lol)
12-08-2009 | 12:25 PM
#271
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,796
Likes: 1,400
From: NC
Not Green
Audi took the risky step of replacing the V-8 engine in its sporty S5 range with a new supercharged V-6 earlier this year. Sure the six-cylinder mill is lighter and more fuel-efficient but what about the prestige of a V-8, not to mention the smoothness and aural delight? Audi believes its customers, current and future, will favor a smaller engine and will see this trend of downsizing carry over for its next-generation models.
However, don’t for a second think Audi is looking to be labeled as an enviro-focused company. Speaking with Autocar, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler explained that while his company will focus on making its vehicles as efficient as possible, it won’t make this the primary design goal as BMW has done with its new EfficientDynamics branding.
"We will stick to our Vorsprung Durch Technik philosophy, not have a catch-all marketing claim such as EfficientDynamics," said Stadler. "We're convinced in Vorsprung Durch Technik, we're a dynamic, sporty brand but not necessarily positioned as a green brand. That will come about as a matter of course.”
This can be seen directly with the introduction of the new supercharged V-6 engine in the S5. The new mill is almost 20% more fuel-efficient than the previous V-8 yet it offers similar performance numbers and more tractable grunt.
However, don’t for a second think Audi is looking to be labeled as an enviro-focused company. Speaking with Autocar, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler explained that while his company will focus on making its vehicles as efficient as possible, it won’t make this the primary design goal as BMW has done with its new EfficientDynamics branding.
"We will stick to our Vorsprung Durch Technik philosophy, not have a catch-all marketing claim such as EfficientDynamics," said Stadler. "We're convinced in Vorsprung Durch Technik, we're a dynamic, sporty brand but not necessarily positioned as a green brand. That will come about as a matter of course.”
This can be seen directly with the introduction of the new supercharged V-6 engine in the S5. The new mill is almost 20% more fuel-efficient than the previous V-8 yet it offers similar performance numbers and more tractable grunt.
12-08-2009 | 12:57 PM
#279
The sizzle in the Steak
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 71,436
Likes: 1,877
From: Southern California
