Vorsprung durch Technik is the overall choice of Fleet News management-level readership and judges also rank latest A3 and A4 ranges best-in-class

• Audi is Fleet Manufacturer of the Year for 2017
• A3 also voted Best Premium Compact Car and A4 Best Premium Car in annual awards identifying the best cars for business users

When asked to nominate the car maker that best serves the fleet sector more management-level readers of the UK's largest fleet-focused magazine ticked the box marked Audi than any other, ensuring that the brand famous for Vorsprung durch Technik is now also notable as Fleet News Magazine's Fleet Manufacturer of the Year 2017. This prestigious award was handed down to Audi at this week's high profile Fleet News Awards ceremony in London, where the recently updated A3 was also voted Best Compact Premium Car and for the second successive year the A4 was crowned Best Premium Car.

The Manufacturer of the Year Award is one of only two in the annual Fleet News hall of fame that are made on the strength of the votes cast by leasing companies, the magazine’s editorial team and fleet managers actively engaging with manufacturers and their products on a regular basis. It genuinely demonstrates the confidence that key fleet decision makers have in the Audi range and the infrastructure behind it, and rewards the great effort that Head of Audi Fleet Sales James Douglas and his team have invested in building a comprehensive fleet-focused support offer that exceeds customer expectations in much the same way as the cars in their charge.

Of those core fleet-oriented models, two major players - the A3 and the A4 - have also been voted best-of-class in their respective categories in the annual awards. The perennially popular A3, which was further refined during 2016 by a host of revisions and upgrades to styling, infotainment, driver assistance technology and standard equipment, was voted Best Premium Compact Car. In its awards citation for the car the Fleet News judging panel writes: 'Spacious, with a wide range of engine and trim options and best-in-class residuals', the A3 offers low overheads for fleets and low benefit-in-kind tax for drivers. It does everything well so it's no surprise that it enjoys such a high level of loyalty among company car drivers.'

For the second year in succession, the A4 also cleaned up with the Best Premium Car award, recognising the major advances in acoustic refinement, dynamics, comfort, efficiency and in-car connectivity that make this car so adept at catering for business users. The judges back up their verdict by describing the car as 'well equipped with a broad range of efficient yet dynamic engines.' They also confirm that 'running costs are very competitive, while build quality and interior quality are class leading', and assert that 'the Audi A4 has the greatest driver appeal of any car in this category'.

In his commentary on the awards Fleet News Editor Stephen Briers acknowledged the efforts made by Audi to not only build and enhance its range but also its relationships with fleet customers, writing: 'A busy 2016 saw Audi introduce the latest generation A4 and launch a car into a new sector with the Q2, as well as make important updates to the A3 range maintaining its desirability over rivals. They have ensured the company continues to offer one of the most appealing product line-ups for fleets and their drivers. Audi remains highly competitive on running costs while relationships with fleets have improved with a real focus on customer service at both a corporate and local businesses level.'

Head of Audi Fleet Sales James Douglas emphasised the value of the confidence shown by the readers and the judges in the brand's products and service: "Product awards made by the particularly discerning fleet sector always have a special significance for us, so we are absolutely delighted that two of our core models have excelled in the eyes of the Fleet News judges.

"It takes an awful lot to remain competitive in the fiercely fought categories in which the A3 and A4 operate, and I think the fact that the latter has prevailed for a second successive year is a real indicator of the car's calibre. Models like these and the many other strong business choices in the Audi range deserve to be backed by an exceptional and all-encompassing fleet customer support offer, and I am immensely pleased and proud that the influential Fleet News readership clearly believes that we deliver that - my team and I will never stop trying to further optimise our service, but this prestigious award indicates that we are making headway and it is a great honour to receive it."

Article source: www.audi.co.uk

Biturbo V6 TFSI powers new lighter, faster Audi performance benchmark

• All-new 2.9 TFSI with 450PS and 600Nm of torque from 1,900 – 5,000rpm
• 0-62mph in just 3.9 seconds – more than half a second quicker than its predecessor
• The first Audi Sport model to introduce the new design idiom
• Virtual cockpit with RS-specific displays available
• Standard 155mph top speed can be increased up to 174mph
• Combined 32.5mpg and 197g/km of CO2 – up 17 percent compared to before
• quattro all-wheel drive, wheel selective torque control and Audi drive select as standard
• Overall weight reduction of up to 60kg
• Optional carbon fibre roof and fully milled wheels
• RS sport exhaust system and sport differential also available
• State-of-the-art driver assistance, safety and connectivity systems
• Ordering anticipated to open in May with first deliveries due in summer

Ingolstadt/Geneva, March 7, 2017 – Reaffirming its status as the indisputable head of the A5 pack and a cornerstone of the Audi Sport stable, the all-new RS 5 Coupé makes its world debut at the 87th annual Geneva Motor Show this week, delivering phenomenal pace from its brand new V6 biturbo TFSI, a lighter overall weight and a healthy hike in torque. The very latest in Vorsprung durch Technik is also comes to the fore, from the cutting-edge driver assistance and connectivity systems to the even more comprehensive specification as standard. Ordering for the 450PS, sub-four second gran turismo is expected to open from May this year, ahead of first examples reaching UK roads this summer.

“The new Audi RS 5 Coupé is the gran turismo among the RS models from Audi Sport. The high-performance Coupé combines elegant aesthetics with high everyday usability.

The car’s V6 biturbo has been developed from the ground up and provides significantly more performance coupled with higher efficiency,” said Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Audi Sport GmbH, in describing the new model.

The RS 5 Coupé is also the first car to bear the new Audi RS design idiom that will be introduced to the Audi Sport range. The designers drew inspiration for the RS 5 Coupé from the distinctive racing details of the Audi 90 quattro IMSA GTO. Massive air inlets with the honeycomb structure typical of RS models characterise the front end of the new Audi RS 5 Coupé. The Singleframe radiator grille is much wider and flatter than in the base model. Next to the headlights are additional lateral air intakes and outlets; tinted bezels differentiate the optional Matrix LED headlights. quattro blisters on the flanks emphasise the pronounced bulges over the wheel arches, which have been widened by 15 millimetres.

Appopriately purposeful accents are provided by the RS-specific diffuser insert, the oval tailpipes of the RS exhaust system and surface-mounted spoiler lip. The RS 5 Coupé rolls as standard on 19-inch wheels, with 20-inch wheels available as an option. Gloss black, carbon and matt aluminium packages provide even more customisation options. With a length of 4,723 millimetres, the new Audi RS 5 Coupé is 74 millimetres longer than the previous model.

Packing a mighty punch, the car’s all-new 2.9 TFSI biturbo engine produces 450PS and delivers 600 Nm (442.5 lb-ft) of torque, with a charismatic soundtrack that is reminiscent of the V6 TFSI housed in the original B5 RS 4. Developed from the ground up, it offers sharp increases in power and efficiency as well as an incomparably full-bodied RS sound. It produces 450PS and peak torque of 600 Nm (442.5 lb-ft) – up 170 Nm (125.4 lb-ft) from the previous model – is available across a wide band from 1,900 to 5,000 rpm. The top model in the A5 family sprints from 0 to 62mph in 3.9 seconds and with the optional dynamic package reaches a top speed of 174mph.

Two turbochargers are positioned centrally between the cylinder banks of the 2.9 TFSI unit. The ingested air flows to the respective turbocharger and into the combustion chambers through a dual-branch system for spontaneous response.

The B-cycle combustion process with central direct injection represents a new level of efficiency among the RS models. The shortened compression stroke used here enables an engine process with a significantly higher geometric compression ratio. Combined with a power stroke that, while normal, is longer relative to the compression stroke, this allows for more efficient combustion and increased engine efficiency.

According to the NEDC, the V6 biturbo is capable of up to 32.5mpg combined, corresponding to 197 grams CO2 per km – an efficiency gain of 17 percent over the previous model. Another factor in the greater efficiency of the new RS 5 Coupé is its significantly lower weight. It tips the scales at 1,655 kilograms, 60 kilograms less than before. A carbon roof with a visible fibre structure is available as an option.

The biturbo’s power flows through a dynamically-tuned, eight-speed tiptronic with optimised shift times to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive. The drive forces are distributed asymmetrically to the axles (40:60) to guarantee dynamic handling with optimal traction and the greatest possible safety. Audi Sport also offers a rear sport differential.

An updated five-link construction is used on the front axle. At the rear, a five-link suspension replaces the trapezoidal-link suspension used on the previous model, benefiting the deft driving characteristics and agility. It also improves comfort significantly. With the standard RS sport suspension, the new Audi RS 5 Coupé sits much lower than the production model.

Audi Sport also offers the RS sport suspension with Dynamic Ride Control (DRC), ceramic brakes and dynamic steering with RS-specific tuning. Drivers can make their personal driving experience more individual, dynamic or comfortable using the standard Audi drive select system.

Bathed in black, the interior of the new Audi RS 5 Coupé is extremely upscale and lavishly appointed. Details such as RS sport seats with optional diamond stitching in Fine Nappa leather and the flat-bottomed RS multifunction sport steering wheel underscore the character of the high-performance coupe in the interior as well. RS logos adorn the seats, steering wheel, door sill trims and the selector lever.

Special RS displays in the Audi virtual cockpit provide information on tyre pressure, torque and g-forces. A shift light prompts the driver to upshift upon reaching the rev limit. The RS design package uses red as a vibrant contrasting colour. Package highlights are the steering wheel, selector lever and knee pads in Alcantara plus seat belts contoured in red and floor mats with the RS emblem. Audi Sport offers Sonoma green metallic as an exclusive paint finish for the RS 5 Coupé.

A comprehensive range of infotainment choices is sure to keep everyone on board entertained. The optional MMI navigation plus with MMI touch includes the hardware module Audi connect, which connects the new RS 5 Coupé to the internet via LTE. Thanks to the Audi connect SIM, which is permanently installed in the car, the flat rate data package for the connect services including Europe-wide roaming is free of charge for three years. Passengers can go online with their mobile devices via the Wi-Fi hotspot option. The Audi smartphone interface uses Apple Car Play and Android Auto to make selected apps available in a separate MMI menu. Control is easy and intuitive, thanks to natural language voice control, free text search and the multifunction steering wheel.

The touchpad in the centre console is used to zoom, scroll and enter characters. Further high-end technologies, such as the head-up display and as many as 30 driver assistance systems enhance safety, comfort and efficiency. The intelligent interplay between these systems represents another step on the road to piloted driving.

Over 13,000 units of the first-generation Audi RS 5 Coupé have been delivered to customers since 2010.

Article source: www.audi.co.uk

• Audi presents business figures for 2016 on March 15
• Live broadcast of press conference including Q&A on Audi MediaTV and via SmartTV
• Insight into the Audi.Vorsprung.2025 strategy

At its Annual Press Conference on March 15, Audi will present the company's business figures for 2016 along with a forecast for the current fiscal year. With the Audi.Vorsprung.2025 strategy for the future, the premium automotive brand is launching a new corporate era and shaping the sustainable and digitalised mobility of tomorrow.

The Annual Press Conference 2017 begins at 9 a.m. (GMT) at the Audi museum mobile in Ingolstadt and will be broadcast including Q&A live on Audi MediaTV and via SmartTV using the Audi MediaTV app. Recordings and footage of the Press Conference will be available after the event ends at Audi MediaTV.

The live stream of the Annual Press Conference is also available for embedding on external media platforms.

The MediaInfo for the Annual Press Conference will be available from 9 a.m., and the press release on sales in February 2017 will be available from 9:30 a.m. in the Audi MediaCenter.

2017 Annual Press Conference of AUDI AG
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
09:00 a.m. (GMT)

on Audi MediaTV: www.audimedia.tv
via Smart TV using the Audi MediaTV app
Recordings on the Twitter channel of AUDI AG

Article source: www.audi.co.uk

Premium Audi SUV secures five-star crash test score

• Five-star Euro NCAP rating for the highly successful Audi SUV
• Top marks for occupant and pedestrian protection
• Extensive range of driver assistance systems available

Ingolstadt, March 2, 2017 – The new Q5 is the latest Audi to be awarded five stars by Euro NCAP, the organisation’s highest possible rating. The top score means the second generation of the bestselling SUV is among the safest cars in its class.

The Audi Q5 showed off its strengths in every type of test, scoring points for occupant protection, child safety and pedestrian protection. Also contributing to the SUV’s rating were the driver assistance systems that are fitted as standard equipment – including pre sense city, the emergency braking system that reacts to vehicles up ahead of the car and to pedestrians.

The Q5 achieved excellent values for crash safety, even though its overall weight has been reduced by up to 90 kg. The outstanding NCAP test results underscore the high standards the brand with the four rings upholds in the areas of active and passive safety, and in lightweight construction.

Euro NCAP has been conducting comparative testing of new cars for crash safety since 1997. The testing organisation’s membership comprises a number of European transport ministries and automobile clubs, insurance companies and consumer protection groups. Its comprehensive range of test requirements are considerably more demanding than the specifications set by European legislators.

Article source: www.audi.co.uk