Audi’s new ’sports car’ image to help boost sales in U.S.

According to Marc Trahan, Audi’s No.2 executive in North America, Audi is hoping to attract more people to the German brand by adding more sporty cars to its lineup. Trahan believes that the ‘dream car’ image is just what Audi needed in the U.S. to spice up its lineup and boost sales.

For 2007 Audi has three such vehicles headed to the U.S. First and foremost, Audi starting taking orders for the popular 420 horsepower Audi R8 earlier in September. The Audi R8 will carry a $110,000 price tag. Next month, Audi will be bringing the 420 horsepower Audi RS4 Cabriolet to the U.S...
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MeanVulcan - 10/22/2007 9:56:26 AM

+4 Boost

They should leverage their racing success with Le Mans and ALMS as well as their technologies such as TDI, quattro, etc. I do not see or hear any advertizing about Audi winning Le Mans or ALMS with their TDi engines. This should be all over the news.

AlexTx - 10/22/2007 10:53:22 AM

+4 Boost

I agree with you, but unfortunately most people here have no clue to what the ALMS is... :(

MeanVulcan - 10/22/2007 11:48:52 AM

+3 Boost

My point exactly. Audi should make it their job to inform people what they have achieved at ALMS and what ALMS is. Otherwise, why the heck are they involved in ALMS?

DaHarder - 10/22/2007 1:46:53 PM

-4 Boost

As long as NONE of them are available with FWD, they're well on their way, but they also need to stop sharing engines with VW...

It's a serious image downer for a luxury mark, regardless of how great said engine might be.

AlexTx - 10/22/2007 2:17:36 PM

+5 Boost

All are excellent engines... I don't see what the problem is.

DaHarder - 10/22/2007 4:31:23 PM

-1 Boost

Perception, at least in America, is what makes or breaks a luxury vehicle company.

I remember when the beautifully crafted TT coupe first surfaced... I heard far too many refer to it as an over-priced/sportier VW Beetle, and in many ways, they were correct.

S4cabriofoxone - 10/22/2007 4:53:49 PM

+3 Boost

The only engines shared with VW are the 2.0T, 3.2 and 3.6 (Q7). But they aren't available in any of these "dream car" models, and I'm waiting for Audi to add their rumored twin-turbo 3.2 to the lineup. That wouldn't be used by VW.

The 4.2, most (all?) of the TDI models, 5.2 and W12 are all Audi-exclusive.

DieselRules - 10/23/2007 12:17:41 AM

+1 Boost

S4cabriofoxone: sort of yes and no. Maybe not the same engine, but the same internals.
The 4.2 is also in the Touareg.
The W12 is 1.5 Passat W8 engines, and was also in the Phaeton (which was really a steel-bodied A8 anyway, sort of)
Audi has the V6 and V8 TDIs, VW has the V-10 TDI, and Audi has the V-12 TDI. But its all the same componentry.

Its a lot more complicated than 15 years ago when VW built their diesel engine in 3 congifurations:
* 4-cylinder diesels went into VW cars
* 5-cylinder diesels went into Audi cars (& VW trucks)
* 6-cylinder diesels went into Volvo cars
life was so much simpler!