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Foretaste of a production model: Audi Q8 concept premieres in Detroit

“With the Audi Q8 concept, we have created a new spearhead within our Q model line. Its design strongly evokes sportiness and prestige,” declared Audi Head of Design Marc Lichte. “What’s more, we believe an important aspect of this showcar is that it offers a spacious interior with four equally comfortable seats, even with the flat roof line.”

The study vehicle’s front end is imposing. The octagonal Singleframe is considerably wider than that in Audi’s current production models. It is positioned well forward, with three-dimensional sculpting. Many design elements of the Q8 concept are reminiscent of the Audi Ur-quattro of the 1980s. They include the extremely flat but very wide C-post, and the prominent, flared shoulders above the wheels. These balanced proportions give equal emphasis to the front and rear wheels – typically quattro.

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Dieter Gass to become new Head of Audi Motorsport

At the beginning of 2012, Head of Motorsport Dr. Ullrich persuaded Gass, who has a Diploma degree in electromechanical engineering, to return to Audi with the aim of grooming him as his successor. Following five joint years at the helm of Audi Sport, the time has come: Dieter Gass will become the new Head of Motorsport of AUDI AG, taking charge of all factory-backed Audi commitments, currently comprising FIA Formula E and the DTM.

“Dieter Gass is going to lead Audi Sport through the upcoming transformation stage and continue to write Audi’s success story in motorsport,” says Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “He knows Audi Sport like few others do. From November 1994 to March 2001, he worked there as an engineer – initially in the super touring car and subsequently in the sports prototype program. Afterwards, he held leading positions in Formula One for eleven years. In that period, he gathered a wealth of know-how that Audi Sport has been benefiting from ever since his return in 2012. Following one year as Head of Racing Commitments and four years as Head of DTM, he is now taking his next, carefully planned step. I will be assisting him in this role in an advisory capacity, but not in the operational side of the business. I know that Audi’s motorsport commitment is in good hands with Dieter Gass.”

“The footsteps left by Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich are very large,” says Dieter Gass. “He was at the helm of Audi Sport for 23 years and is credited with exceptional achievements during this long period of time. In addition to the global development of partnering teams and countless championships in super touring car racing, the 13 victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and numerous DTM titles stand out as lasting milestones. But I’d be remiss not to mention the development of customer racing at Audi and Audi Sport’s move to the modern Competence Center Motorsport in Neuburg designed for today’s needs. Careers like these are very rare in motorsport.” 

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Deliveries of the Audi RS 3 LMS have begun

“Following successful development and testing, production of the RS 3 LMS was launched at the end of November,” says Chris Reinke. “The delivery of the first cars to customer teams is a special moment for this project that is still young. We are delighted about the great demand and already very excited about the first races of the RS 3 LMS in the customer’s hand.”

The Audi RS 3 LMS has been developed by Audi Sport GmbH for the burgeoning TCR touring car category for which more and more fielding opportunities exist around the globe. By now they include the new TCR Middle East debuting as part of the 24-hour race in Dubai from January 12 to 14, 2017. For the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring and the VLN Endurance Championship dedicated classes for TCR touring cars have just been established as well.

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Awards for Audi from October through December

Success for Audi in the 2016 Auto Trophy
The readers of Auto Zeitung have decided: with a total of seven prizes, Audi is once again the front-runner in the Auto Trophy 2016 competition. This year the honors go to the models Audi A1, Audi Q2, Audi Q5, Audi A5 Sportback* and Audi Q7. The premium brand also took first place in the “Best Design” and “Best Brand” categories. (November 29, 2016)

Golden Steering Wheel: Double win for Audi
The Audi Q2 and the Audi A5 Coupé* both finished triumphantly in the 2016 Golden Steering Wheel awards. The premium carmaker based in Ingolstadt won in both the “Compact SUV” and “Sports Car” categories. Together with a panel of experts, readers of Auto Bild magazine and Bild am Sonntag newspaper selected the best automotive innovations of the year. (November 8, 2016)

Top rating in US crash test: five prizes for Audi
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gives both the Audi A4 and Audi Q5 their Top Safety Pick+ rating and the Audi A3, Audi Q7 and Audi A6 the Top Safety Pick rating. All five Audi models received the highest grade of “good” from the IIHS in all crash disciplines and are thus among the safest cars in the US market. The Audi A4 received the Top Safety Pick+ award due to its optional LED headlights with their likewise optional high-beam assistant and the Audi Q5 due to its adaptive xenon headlights and Audi adaptive cruise control. (December 8, 2016)

Australia: three first-place finishes for Audi
Audi is celebrating honors in three categories in this year’s Car Sales Car of the Year awards. The Audi A4 Sedan won the “Best Prestige Car Under $100K” category and the Audi Q7 took top place in the “Best SUV Over $50K” category. “Best City Car” honors went to the Audi A3 Sportback e-tron* with its innovative plug-in hybrid drive. (November 10, 2016)

USA: award for the Audi A4
The Audi A4 was crowned winner of the “Luxury Car” category in the Kelley Blue Book Best Buy Awards. Winners are selected each year in a total of twelve categories by Kelley Blue Book, a ratings portal for new and used cars. The jurors particularly emphasized the modern design, advanced technologies and dynamic driving experience. (November 15, 2016)

UK: Audi A4 is “Best for Big Miles”
The Audi A4 has made the list of the Best Cars in the World in world-renowned Top Gear magazine. The premium car took first place in the “Best for Big Miles” category. The magazine praised the car’s comfortable interior, technical equipment and outstanding handling. (November 25, 2016)

Mexico: first place for Audi from J.D. Power
Audi has left its competition in the dust in the Mexico Vehicle Dependability Study. In addition, the Audi A1 and Audi A5 won awards in their respective vehicle segments. J.D. Power surveyed 9,400 car owners throughout Mexico for the study. (October 20, 2016)

South Africa: nine awards for Audi
Audi finished first in several categories in the IPSOS Vehicle Quality Survey. In the “Top Hatchback” category, prizes went to both the Audi A1 and to the Audi A3 Sportback*. The Audi A4 and Audi A5 Sportback* took first and second place in the “Medium Sedan” category. The winner of the “Top Sedan” category is the Audi A3 Sedan*. The Audi A5 Coupé* was voted the best “Sports Coupe.” In the “Small RV” category, the Audi Q5 and the Audi Q3 took home the trophies. In addition, the premium brand won the prize for “Best Luxury Passenger Car Brand.” In the survey, 30,000 customers shared their experiences and rated the quality of recently purchased products. (November 7, 2016)

Spain: prize for the Audi Q2
Readers of Spain’s Car and Driver magazine have chosen the Audi Q2 as Car of the Year. Guillermo Fadda, Head of Audi Spain, accepted the Overall Best Car award during a gala event in Madrid. (December 1, 2016)

Japan: the Audi A4 is “Import Car of the Year”
The Audi A4 received the Import Car of the Year prize in the selection of the 2016-2017 Japan Car of the Year. Jurors based their choice on the extensive selection of driver assistance systems, connectivity and infotainment features. They were also impressed by the driving experience and high quality standards. (December 9, 2016)

Audi wins Product Placement Award
For the successful product placement in the Marvel movie Captain America – The First Avenger, the premium brand has received the Product Placement Award 2016 in the “Cinema” category. The award was presented during the Branded Entertainment Summit ProPKo. Audi triumphed thanks to the excellent collaboration and successful integration of the brand into the film. (October 26, 2016)

Audi is the Red Dot: Brand of the Year 2016
In the judgment of the Red Dot jury, Audi leads in communication design and has for first the first time received the Red Dot: Brand of the Year distinction. The honorary title, established in 2015, goes to the most successful brand in the competition that creates especially innovative design solutions in communication and that convinces the jury with a variety of submitted individual projects. A total of 17 Audi projects bear a Red Dot this year for outstanding communication design, including, among other things, the appearance of the four rings at the 2015 International Motor Show and the “Mission to the Moon” presentation – the company’s involvement with the German team as part of the Google Lunar XPRIZE. The appearance of the website for the Audi 2015 Annual Report also scored points. Audi had already secured a prize from the Red Dot jury three times in previous years: the Red Dot Client of the Year award, presented between 2010 and 2014 for the most successful cooperation with creative partners. (November 4, 2016)

Audi selected 2016’s Brand of the Year
The market research firm YouGov has crowned Audi the Brand of the Year for 2016 in the “Automotive” category. This makes the third time that YouGov, working in conjunction with Handelsblatt newspaper, has distinguished the brands German consumers rated highest with awards in 31 categories. The results are based on a representative survey with more than 700,000 online interviews. (November 2, 2016)

Fuel consumption of the models named above:

Audi A5 Sportback:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.5 – 4.1** (31.4 – 57.4 US mpg);
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 170 – 106** (273.6 – 170.6 g/mi)

Audi A5 Coupé:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.4 – 4.0** (31.8 – 58.8 US mpg);
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 170 – 105** (273.6 – 169.0 g/mi)

Audi A4 Sedan:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.5 – 3.7** (31.4 – 63.6 US mpg)
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 170 – 95** (273.6 – 152.9 g/mi)

Audi A3 Sportback e-tron:
Combined fuel consumption l/100 km: 1.8 – 1.6** (130.7 – 147.0 US mpg)
Combined energy consumption in kWh/100 km: 12.0 – 11.4
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 40 – 36 (64.4 – 57.9 g/mi)

Audi A3 Sportback:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.1 – 3.8** (33.1 – 61.9 US mpg);
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 163 – 99** (262.3 – 159.3 g/mi)

Audi A3 Sedan:
Combined fuel consumption in l/100 km: 7.1 – 3.7** (33.1 – 63.6 US mpg);
Combined CO2 emissions in g/km: 163 – 98** (262.3 – 157.7 g/mi)

** Figures depend on the tire/wheel sets used and the engine/transmission variant

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First German location for Audi on demand

The service offered by Audi provides very flexible, customer‑focused access to premium mobility. Depending on their personal preferences, users can choose a specific model of their desire and book their Audi for as long as they need it, starting with a one‑hour minimum. The service is billed on an hourly basis, with no mileage cap. The Audi on demand selection consists mostly of new products from the brand that have only recently made their debuts. With prestigious top models and an extensive range of innovative technologies, Audi on demand turns airport transfers into a special driving experience.

In the spring of 2015, San Francisco became the world’s first location for the premium mobility service. Its claim of combining flexibility and exclusiveness has met with an exceptionally positive response from premium customers. 90 percent of Audi on demand users in the United States say the service exceeds their expectations.

Audi on demand is one of the brand’s four innovative usage models: Audi select, which allows customers to choose between different models for an all‑inclusive rate; Audi at home, a mobility solution for upscale living in megacities; and Audi shared fleet for intelligent management of company cars. Now that the services have successfully completed their test phase in selected markets, Audi is gradually launching them internationally – most recently with Audi at home in Hong Kong, Audi shared fleet in the United States and Audi select in Denmark.

myAudi Sphere opened in mid‑2016 at Munich Airport, where it is the central hub for Audi on demand. Here customers can also personally book their car, benefit from the advice of Audi experts and also experience digital innovations from the Audi sales world.

More information about Audi on demand under: www.audiondemand.de/en