Will Audi dethrone BMW as the #1 selling premium automaker by 2010?

Audi will definately catch up with the next generation of vehicles. As you already see, it is basically tied with BMW in Europe.

I like all those phonies who call Audi a rebadged Volkswagen. It may be a rebadged Volkswagen but its build quality is better than what you have, the interiors have been the benchmark (better than what you can offer) for the last 12 years and there hasn't been a single bad review written about an Audi interior. Their highest line of performance vehicles also cost more than your competing models (Audi's RS6 vs. BMW M5 & MB E55, Audi RS4 vs. BMW M3 & MB C55) and they have the firepower to defeat both their respective BMW and MB counterparts in straight-line acceleration and even track performance (RS4 vs. BMW M3 & C55). Oh yeah but I forgot they are cheap (although Audi's build quality is better), inexpensive (Audi RS cars cost more), have bad interiors (even though Audi interiors are clearly the benchmark of the indsutry) rebadged Volkswagens (they do share some parts but the Bentley Flying Spur reminds me of a Phaeton) are cars for, "The People" and are in the process of becoming the #1 selling luxury brand in the world and when they surpass BMW & MB. Even when they accomplish such a goal they will still be cars for the people.

The arguement that because Audi does not sell as many cars as BMW or MB it is not at their level as a competitor is utter nonsense because Audi has not been around for long enough and also because sales does not accurately reflect quality.

With their product assault which includes the following models: Audi RS4, S6, S8, RS6, Q5, Q7, A5 and R8 along with TTS or RS and S/RS3 along with S/RS5 I think Audi will more than compensate for this numbers game in sales don't you think??

11 additional models is a crazy number and having seen what Audi is capable of with the RS4, I would be awfully worried about the upcoming RS6, R8, TTRS, RS5 and RS3. These are the high performance cars that Audi supposedly could not make (read ANY review on the RS4)

If each of the upcoming RS models has as many positive reviews and sales as this current RS4 and you combine that with Audi's benchmark interiors, benchmark build quality and two new SUV's you have yourselves the #1 premium brand in the world...move over BMW.

By the way the newly designed A8 in 2009 will be a major force to reckon with. Now wait for THAT interior

how many people think audi have better interiors than lexus? i do

Notice the trend of improved driving dynamics with the RS4 and the TT guess what that could possibly mean for the future?

Who thinks Audi sets the standard when it comes to interiors? I DO!

Audi diffidently has better interior than Lexus and it handles ages better than any of the Japanese brands. For that matter Audi has the best interior of all the premium manufactures. Audi is #1 in Europe. But has catching up to do in North America. The perception in North America is if you want shear driving pleasure. Then by the Ultimate Driving Machine (BMW). So, it's highly unlikely that Audi will dethrone BMW has the #1 premium brand in the next 4 years. Audi has a very nice line of cars slated to be released over then next couple of years. But, to surpass BMW in the next 4 years is a bit ambitions.

Not the next 4 years but how about the next 10? If they keep launching product assaults like the one they are currently on...don't you think it could happen?

Wishfull thinking.
Since the late 90s Audi only outgrew BMW in 2001 and 2003.
So unless things change radicaly they'll continue to be left even further behind.
And no Audis, are not rebadged VWs.

if bmw manages to make the x5 hideous then maybe q7 sales will go through the roof? or if the m3 has a huge stability problem or something and there is an expose? or if the 5 series starts to randomly explode? maybe then in 4 years but if not then no. 10 could be feasible, but we'll see. staying top of the pile is tough, as if you make one duff car, a reputation can be ruined. merc's reputation has been on the slide since the a class came out with the elk test. it will take a while to recover its position, and has had to spend huge amounts of money on making the flagship s-class the absolute best. it needs to have a proper flagship, or bye-bye goes the mercedes halo.

just remembered, audi sold 10% more cars in the uk than m-b. how impressive is that?

I think there is just absolutely no way that BMW can stay ahead of Audi.

The only thing BMW has is its engineering and style which has been controversial.

Audi has supreme build quality, heavenly interiors, great price and the capabilties for all year round drivability with Quattro on every damn car.

BMW needs a product assault like Audi to stay ahead. Right now I don't see one and if there isn't one in the near future Audi will continue to gain on worldwide sales and eventually surpass BMW.

BMW is ahead of Audi by about 600,000 sales annually world wide. With 11 new models including 2 new SUV's and a plethora of high performance cars Audi can easily sell more than BMW.

Mercedes will dethrone Audi and BMW

Before dethroning anyone MB will need to figure out how to make interiors that don't like huge pieces of plastic and wood out of a can.

last time i checked it is BMW that constantly and repeatedly breaks their own sales records worldwide. Audi will always be (like it ALWAYS has) be the 3rd best german automaker.

people can say all they want about how amazing the interiors are superior in an Audi. its all nonsense. I drive a 2005 M3 coupe and LOVE it.
I have many friends in different types of Mercedes' BMW'S and Audi. when you buy a Mercedes or BMW you dont have to explain why you bought one. the name speaks for itself. every time someone buys an Audi, the buyer sounds like a spokesperson for the company and starts giving explanations on why they chose it over BENZ AND BMW.

All luxury cars here have good build quality. Stop yelling in our faces that Audi "has the best". Lexus, BMW, MB etc. all have good build quality these days. They have to, since the demands in this area of the market are so high.

BMW530i why should I stop yelling when it is known throughout the industry that Audi's build quality is higher than that of MB and BMW?

Even MB and BMW bosses acknowledge this and are trying to match it or defeat it.

To GermanNut:

BMW doesn't outsell Audi by 600 000 units.
In 2005 they outsold Audi by about 300 000 units.

The gap was considerably closer in the late 90s, when even managed to outsell BMW in Europe.

But BMW striked back, outsold in Europe again since 2004 and on a global scale almost constantly increased gap since the late 90s.

As I said, Audi for all its product offensives only managed to outgrow BMW in 2001 and 2003.

DarkOneForce:

I drive an Audi and have driven MBs and BMWs as well. As you can see I have driven all 3 German hallmarks and in fact I do get stares in my Audi from passing BMW and MB drivers.

Audi has not had many product offenses. What we are seeing now is Audi basically entering markets which it never entered before. This product offense is a lot greater than anything Audi has done in the past.

There are 11 new models on the way. The following are confirmed or already out:

RS4, new TT (check the great first drive by Edmunds), S6, S8, Q5, Q7, A5, R8, RS6 and quite possibly the following high performance RS variants:

RS5, TTRS and RS3. Do you remember the last time Audi launched 11-12 new models in a 4 year span? I don't think so because it never happened before.

With I think two or maybe 3 new models at max coming in each of those years (2001 & 2003) Audi managed to outgrow BMW globally.

The difference is these Audi cars do not handle like the way old Audis do. For example, check any review on the RS4 and see how it is the best handling & driving Audi to date.

Check the new Audi TT with its 15 seconds off the previous TT's time on the Ring

If Audi can incorporate such great driving dynamics as we have seen with the RS4 and the TT and can combine it with the best build quality in te industry along with the best interiors (Audi sets the benchmark for both those categories) then it will effectively keep growing.




Audi never had a supercar before but it does now with the R8. Another thing to note is that with SUVs, Audi is entering the current most profitable market available. Audi is going to have two new SUvs with the Q7 and Q5.

Audi might, MIGHT overtake BMW if they figure out how to cut 400 pounds from every car in their lineup excepting the A8, stop making their cars understeer like a tricycle on a hockey rink, and create a dealership experience for their customers that is vastly different than what you experience buying or servicing a Golf (sorry, Rabbit).

Ending free maintenance in 2007 does NOT help them with the last objective.

germannut, more REAL news articles and less fluff peices about how audi is about to take over the world. thanx

that will never happen because BMW's M does not believe in 4 wheel drive. It's as simple as that

is that exhaust i smell or testoserone coming from my computer? I know you guys think very passionately about your respective brands, but isnt it nice that the big german 3 have each other to compete against? After all, its competition that drives innovation.

i completely agree qwazywabbit. without lexus, m-b wouldn't have made the s class so technological, without bmw, audi, m-b and lexus wouldn't try to make their cars dynamic, with out audi, an ergonomic interior wouldn't be so important, without m-bs failings (and lexus' highs), the others wouldn't try so hard to keep quality high. it is a big cycle. s class is very gizmo-ey and luxurious, lexus tries to top that (with a perfect ride comfort and quiet interior), bmw tries to top that (plus great handling and an avant-garde design), audi tries to top that with a perfect interior and a blend of handling and sure-footedness, and a restrained design. then m-b tries to....etc etc for eternity.

First Audi has NOT tied BMW in Europe... Audi has been leading BMW in Europe for a long time now (and so is MB). BMW is third in Europe after Audi and MB.

Yes, Audi will lead BMW in the near future, as it has better technology, design, interior and certainly more wins in competitive sports.

And to BMW's great greeat disadvantage, Audi is based on AWD rather than a summer only RWD configuration. This mean that outdoors people like me who love to ski can enjoy driving sporty in the wet, dry and snowy conditions rather than take the bus or buy another vehicle (SUV) to do the job a single Audi sports car can with ease.

hmmmm....a convertible off-roader? now there's an interesting niche. it would be the perfect car. good in summer, good in winter, has utility, has style. xcc90? mlk? or maybe a rav-mr4? or rxc 350? it could work, take a roof like a mini's and stick it on the top of an ml-class or touareg.

It will never happen,but
I think Lexus will dethrone BMW from the front seat till 2010.Same like what Toyota did with GM,FORD,VW...etc

LEXUS FOR LIFE

JUGNU

Lexus?...don't you know that it stands for Luxury EXport to the US?...it has been and always will be a toyota..they're nice, but come on..as for Audi taking BMW in the US, probably not going to happen for a while..here in Colorado, people prefer the quattro, but I think BMW and MB are perceived to the better brands nationwide..

thats what lexus stands for? i read it was a mis-hear of "alexis" (because japanese cars are usually given names, lexus/acura/infiniti are the exception because premium cars don't have names) alexis/ A Lexus. and the lexus was born.

but yeah i agree with you quattro, lexi (for that is the plural) are nice, but nothing special. audi has taken down m-b in uk, sold 10% more cars that m-b in the first half of this year. we like the more subtle and edgier styling, m-b always looks a bit..old. c-class especially.

By 2010 Lexus will Rule the Lexury segement in American and become the number #1 prefer Lexury car in American society. While Audi, BMW and MB busy trying to out do each other, Lexus will pass by so fast they never know what will hit them. Just like Toyota did to GM,Ford and Chrysler. Especially with up and coming Japanese super cars. From Honda the NSX with with 500 to 550 hp, Nissan skyline GTR with 450-500 hp. And from Toyota, the Supra with 450-500 HP, and and from Lexus IS450/500 with 450 to 500 HP, and finally the Lexus LF-A/GT with over 500+ horse power.

So by 2010 the in America and Europe it will be saturated with more Japanese Super car and Japanese Lexury brand.

Lexus for Life

Can you smell..... what Lexus.. is Cookin?.. read above statement and find out. Ah...ha..ha..ha..ha..

p.s. Lexus interior is way Superior than Audi interior or any other competitor out there for sure in their segment.

Lexus never has been and never will be the interior benchmark. That title will always go to Audi.

lexi are boring
is450 won't be a patch on the big three (m3, clk 63 amg, rs4)
lf-a won't sell, skyline gt-r isn't a supercar, it's a tuner car. lexus won't rule, especially not in europe.

BMW > Audi.

To janos2769:

Were did you get ideas.
BMW (brand) OUTSELLS Audi in Europe curently.

Audi outsold BMW between 1999 and 2003 in Europe.
Since 2004 Audi lost its second spot to BMW.

Audi are FWD at base cars.
By adding Torsen (B and C) and Haldex diferentials they become AWD.

BMW are RWD cars at base, and have always been so.


To JUGNU:

Fantasiveing again.

By 2010 Lexux will be very lucky/miracolously if it's going be anywere near the sales BMW has today.

By then BMW/MB/Audi sales will reach new level.

Even if would have 0 growth until 2010 Lexus would still be (far) behind.

Oh well wishfull thinking.

What I've meant was "even if BMW/MB would have 0% growth
until 2010, Lexus would still be (far) far behind.

No, your right even if BMW/Audi would have 0% growth until 2010, Lexus would still be (far) far behind.

in 2010 Lexus will have a segment on 60min (by that time they will call it 47min where they find dead bodies are grinded up to form the paint and everyone will start buying the new Chineese brands.

Audi has come a long way in the US. Back in the 90's I would hear from people "that is the same price as the BMW or MB. Why would I buy one?" almost every day. Now I hear that only once a month or so. The Amazing thing is that I now see people that are willing to may more for an Audi. Who knows what will happen in 2010.

So I guess Understeer is not good but oversteer is good? The US market has watched to mmutch Starsky & Hutch.

The behind the front wheel engine of the new generation cars will help push Audi over the edge in driving feel. Having a few trucks will help US sales. Lexus is almost a SUV only company. BMW lives for the US market. For BMw the US market is everything but for Audi we are 3rd or 4th. Audi needs to run some ads, get these new products to market (r8, q5, a5, s8, s6 , rs6, a4 coupe, TDI models, new A4 (2008), what am i missing?

the germands need to devalue the Euro like the Japaneese do the yen so they can export more cars to the USA.

I think that already next year or the year after that Audi will move on. BTW: who even say that BMW is the king??? -that is just unlogical

The king is still the Mercedes or Porche, noone will ever come close, now if u are talking about cars and not the brands, in Europe I think Audi is pretty much already number one, and its unpopularity in the US is keeping it down.... say that Audi is a rebadged VW in Europe everyone is gonna look at u weird, keep going on with the crazy stuff u write on here and u might even get beaten up

In 10 years from now Audi will be #1 selling luxury premium brand that will rule the auto industry.

If the reliability is fixed and all future models (there are 12-16 new models coming) will handle & accelerate & give feedback just like the RS4 and new (model year 2008) TT and this is combined with the best interiors in the industry along with competitive pricing??

What can stop them?

To IamEvilHomer:

Get you facts straight.

1.
- why does Audi has to push the driving feel;
- driving feeling and dynamics is BMWs diferentiation idea/motto/philosophy
- can't Audi come up with their own diferentiation
idea/motto/philosophy ?!
- this is wrong because people will say, I'll buy the real thing (BMW) vs. the copy cat/wannabe (Audi);
- Audi need to find its own idea/motto/philosophy to diferentiate itself;

2.
- Lexus were an SUV company, but now they have an almost 50-50 SUVs/Cars split.
- But the RX is still the no.1 reason for their sales

3.
- oversteering is preferable acording to a german study

4.
- the US is not everything for BMW;
- it is their largest market (as a country), BUT they only sell about 23% of their cars+SAVs in the USA
- the USA is closely followed by Germany ~ 21% of their sales
- so since 77 > 23, BMW is not living for the USA only
- now if you consider the EU as a common market the it's the EU that is BMWs larget market, even if you throw in NAFTA

4.
- it's called the euro, not the german
- yes the strenght of the euro is a problem
- but it's the european central bank that deceides what happens to the euro

Also to every clueless person in here:

- Audi does not outsell MB/BMW in Germany and/or Europe

audi sold 10% more cars than m-b in the uk this half-year. not much but consider how many models m-b has compared to audi.

"who even say that BMW is the king??? -that is just unlogical"

BMW is the king

wait for BMW new models. audi/lexus will b nowhere near BMW in 2010. KEEP DREAMING!!!!!!!!!