Steve White Audi

08.11.2010 - The summer of Peace Love Punch Dub at Steve White VW Audi in Greenville SC concludes with an exciting family event on Saturday, August 28, including child safety demonstrations, a concert with The Will, food and drinks, and prize giveaways. Make plans to bring your family for the day to the Steve White VW Audi dealership at 100 Duvall Drive right in Greenville SC, and be sure to get an official Steve White tie-dye t-shirt! Also check out great deals on many new and used VW vehicles on display on the lot and talk with the friendly salespeople.



The event will kick off at 10 AM with several child safety exhibitions. The Greenville Sheriff's Department will give talks and demonstrations on keeping your child safe in the car sitting in a properly installed car seat and on a bicycle wearing a correctly sized helmet. They will also talk about common-sense steps to prevent crime and protect oneself in various situations. Also, the local fire department will put on an exhibition about preventing fire and staying safe if you find yourself in or near a burning building.

Families can then eat hot dogs right off the grill, as well as other snacks and drinks. Even if you don't have kids, you can come to enjoy the food and the music! From 12-3, The Will, a popular local alternative rock band that recently appeared on Channel 7, will be playing a wide selection of songs, with something for everyone.

Mark your calendar for August 28 from 10-3. You can come at anytime and leave at anytime you want. Don't miss this chance to end your summer with music, food, and fun at Steve White! Follow their Facebook page to keep up with the latest updates on the event.

08.06.2010 - Volkswagen and Audi both increased U.S. sales considerably during July. Steve White VW Audi is pleased to sell these successful brands of the VW Group to customers in Greenville SC Spartanburg SC Columbia SC Charlotte NC Atlanta GA Greer SC.

Volkswagen of America saw a 16% rise in sales from last July, up to 23,880 units. In fact, this was the best selling month for VW in several years, apart from the Cash for Clunkers period last year. Overall, sales have gone up 27.5% for the year to date. One popular car was the 2010 VW CC, a luxury sedan, with sales up 140%.


2010 Audi Q5

Audi saw an even higher increase in sales of its luxury line of vehicles, up 22% to 7,817. Customers especially want the 2010 Audi Q5 mid-size crossover SUV, as shown by its 89% jump in popularity. Audi believes that this will be its most successful year in the US so far.

Customers know and trust the quality they can receive from the German car manufacturers Volkswagen and Audi. Visit http://www.stevewhitevwaudi.com today to see Steve White Motors' selection of new and used VW and Audi cars. Follow Steve White on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/stevewhiteaudivw. Until August 27, tag yourself to win an iPad!

Information taken from http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/08/volkswagen-audi-hyundia-kia-and-subaru-outpace-big-six-in-july-sales/1

07.28.2010 - Rupert Stadler, chairman of Audi, presented the new 2011 Audi A7 Sportback on Monday, July 26, at an art museum in Munich. Steve White Audi of Greenville SC looks forward to selling this new stylish, sporty Audi sedan. Customers from Spartanburg SC Taylors SC Easley SC Travelers Rest SC Greer SC can come to see this car when it is available next year.

Drivers will enjoy showing off this car, with its sleek, streamlined, low-to-the-ground look. Audi's concept developers say the car's design harks back to classy Italian cars in the 1960s.

This Audi sport sedan comes loaded with features for comfort, handling, and safety. All models sold in the United States come with Audi's Quattro permanent all-wheel-drive system. The 2011 A7 also contains a 7-speed automatic transmission and adaptive air suspension to conform to a stiff sport option or a comfortable option.

In addition, the 2011 Audi A7 includes an electromechanical steering system that saves on gas and functions together with the active lane-assist system for smooth lane changes at high speeds. The model Audi will sell in the U.S. comes with a supercharged 3-liter V-6 engine.

Drivers can choose extra features such as the Multi Media Interface operating system, with an 8-inch touch control display for music, telephone, and more. They can also have front-seat ventilation and massage, an upgraded sound system, in-car Internet, and layered wood inlay panels.

Audi will begin selling the 2011 A7 Sportback in Europe in the fall, starting around $67,000, but has not revealed when the car will be available in the U.S. A spokesman says the vehicle will be available for sale in America next year.

Follow Steve White Audi's press release page at http://www.stevewhiteaudi.com/press-releases.htm to stay up to date with the Audi A7 and other Audi- and dealership-related news. Steve White Audi is located at 100 Duvall Drive in Greenville SC and sells a variety of new and used Audi cars and SUVs.

Information from NY Times Wheels Blog

07.23.2010 - Audi recently sold its 2 millionth car in the U.S., a 2010 Audi A3 TDI, and looks forward to offering its high-end vehicles to customers all over the country. Steve White Audi of Greenville SC anticipates helping to increase this number of Audis in the States by selling quality cars to satisfied customers. Steve White Motors sells a variety of new and used Audi cars and SUVs to customers from Greenville SC, Simpsonville SC, Anderson SC, Spartanburg SC, Easley SC, Travelers Rest SC, Greer SC.

A customer bought the 2-millionth Audi, an A3 TDI, at Keyes Audi in Van Nuys, California, in late June. Audi has sold cars in the U. S. for 40 years and is proud that many Americans have recognized the quality of the manufacturer's stylish, reliable cars. Audi first sold the Audi Super 90 and Audi 100 in this country.

"The story of Audi in the U.S. is really a story written by the hundreds of thousands of people who've invited our brand into their lives," said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. "We're grateful for those opportunities."

The car company anticipates attaining 3 million cars sold in less time than it took to reach this current mark. In fact, over the last decade, Audi has doubled the number of models available in the U. S. and plans to further expand. 

Audi encourages car enthusiasts to log onto Audi's Facebook page to share their opinion of what Audi vehicles and personal vehicles will be like at the time when the company sells its 3 millionth vehicle. Audi has been at the forefront of creating new technology throughout its years, in cars such as the Audi Coupe quattro, Audi 5000, Audi V8, Audi A4, Audi TT, Audi R8, Audi Q5, and Audi Q7.

Steve White Motors is located at 100 Duvall Drive in Greenville SC and sells a large variety of new and used VW and Audi vehicles. Visit them online at http://www.stevewhitevwaudi.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/stevewhiteaudivw

07.20.2010 - A recent consumer study by J. D. Power and Associates ranked the Audi Q5 and Q7 as the best luxury Crossover/SUV vehicles. These vehicles are Audi's only two SUVs and both represent excellent build quality. Steve White Audi of Greenville SC is proud to sell both of these well-made crossover SUVs.

J. D. Power and Associates conducts the Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout Study each year. The APEAL Study surveys owners on over 80 vehicle characteristics to see how pleasing a new vehicle is after someone has driven it for 90 days. Buyers have some time to evaluate what they think of a car when they have been able to experience it in a variety of situations over time after they have owned it for a while.

"These latest J.D. Power and Associates study results demonstrate what our customers have been telling us for years," said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. "Audi vehicles are thrilling to drive and captivate the consumer whenever they enter one. Our company's exceptional growth in recent years is a testament to the quality experience our products provide."



The Audi Q5 is a small sized SUV that still provides plenty of room for families and their gear with all-wheel-drive to drive off-road. An excellent suspension combines with the S tronic seven-speed dual-clutch transmission for an outstanding driving experience.



The Audi Q7 holds up to seven people with a third row in its luxurious interior. It comes in either a gasoline engine or the environmentally-friendly Audi TDI® clean diesel engine.

Generally, vehicles that attain top APEAL rankings sell more quickly as consumers realize the quality. Customers trust ratings from a reliable organization.

Come visit Steve White Audi to check out these and other models among a selection of Audi cars and Audi SUVs. Visit them online or on Facebook.

Information taken from this article

07.15.2010 - The management at Steve White VW Audi of Greenville SC, most of whom are big coffee drinkers, recently decided it was time to 'kick it up a notch' in terms of the coffee selections we offer our customers. Mr. White got in touch with Mitch Goldenberg of Canteen Refreshment Services to see what they had to offer. Mitch and his wife own a 2009 Volkswagen Eos and use our service department at Steve White regularly, so we figured who better to offer input on various coffee options!




So we ended up with two completely different, but equally excellent, systems for our Greenville SC Volkswagen and Audi customers. At VW, we chose a Starbucks I-cup French press brewer. This bad boy brews two different blends of Starbucks beans, as well as hot cocoa and Tazo tea. We understand that using the French press process, the machine makes an even better cup of coffee than is available at Starbucks locations. We can say from using it for a couple of days now that the coffee is incredible and the aroma in our waiting area has made even non-coffee drinkers want to sample a cup!

For our Greenville SC Audi customers, we decided to go with the Flavia Creation 400 brewer. In under a minute, this machine can make delicious drinks such as cappuccinos, mochaccinos and lattes, as well as teas and specialty drinks -- even one that tastes like an orange popsicle! Of course you can get 4 varieties of regular coffee and several hot teas are available as well. This new Flavia machine has been a total hit with our Audi customers and we imagine that as the colder months approached, it will be even more utilized!




Of course, if you're a VDub customer and are craving a cappuccino; or if you're an Audi customer who also happens to be a Starbucks addict, it's ok to venture over to the other side and brew a cup a joe!

Steve White Motors is located at 100 Duvall Drive in Greenville SC and sells a wide variety of new and used VW and Audi vehicles. Visit them online at http://www.stevewhitevwaudi.com or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/stevewhiteaudivw

07.09.2010 - As Audi expands its operations, the car manufacturer hopes to double the sale of its luxury cars in the United States over the next 8 years. Sales in the U.S. are already up over 30 percent from last year at this time. Steve White Motors is proud to sell a selection of new and used Audi cars at its Greenville SC dealership.

Successful sales of vehicles have created records for Audi. This May, the company experienced its fifth-best month of sales in the U.S. and its best May of all time. The manufacturer's best selling vehicle in the country is the Audi A4 sedan. Consumers bought 40,000 models of the Audi A4 last year from dealerships such as Steve White Audi of Greenville SC. Diesel vehicles like the Audi Q7, a large SUV, and the Audi A3 TDI, a diesel-powered sedan, have been popular with Americans.


Audi plans to expand its already extensive selection of vehicles available in the U.S. with, among others, a gas-electric hybrid model of the compact Q5 SUV. Existing vehicles already have excellent fuel efficiency, like the Audi A3 TDI (built with the same engine as the VW Jetta), which gets 30 mpg in the city and 42 on the highway.

Audi's list of offerings in the US include the Audi A3, Audi A4, Audi Q5, Audi Q7, sports cars including the Audi A5 and Audi TT, sedans including the Audi A6 and Audi A8, and the Audi R8 sports car. The company looks forward to continuing to make its vehicles available to satisfied American customers.

Visit Steve White Motors at 100 Duvall Drive in Greenville SC to see their selection of Audi and Volkswagen vehicles. Go to their website at http://www.stevewhitevwaudi.com to see their selection of new and used VW and Audi vehicles or follow them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/stevewhiteaudivw

06.29.2010 - Audi plans to improve an already popular car with the release of the 2011 Audi TT. The new vehicle will offer an improved engine, chrome dual tailpipes, and classier bumper and grille designs. Steve White Motors of Greenville SC proudly sells the 2010 Audi TT and will offer the 2011 TT when it is available (most likely early next year). This dealership sells new and used Volkswagen and Audi models to customers in Taylors SC Spartanburg SC Travelers Rest SC and all around upstate South Carolina.

The 2011 Audi TT's new 2.0-liter engine is the most lauded upgrade to the vehicle, producing 211 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, more powerful than the previous model. This car can reach 60 mph in 5.6 seconds, impressive for the small engine. It receives 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.

This updated Audi TT also includes options of redesigned magnetic ride suspension control system and new Nappa leather trim. This leather resists heat retension to keep the seats from getting unbearably hot in the sun. The car comes standard with all-wheel drive and the S tronic dual-clutch transmission.

Consistent with Audi's high-class look, this car includes plenty of decorative chrome around the lights and the body and has a stylish design inside and out. Drivers will feel sophisticated behind the steering wheel, riding in comfort. LED daytime running lights help with visibility and add to the modern look of the 2011 TT.

Be sure to check out this car in early 2011 when Audi releases it to dealerships. Stop by Steve White Motors at 100 Duvall Drive in Greenville SC to test drive it and check out the features. You don't have to wait--travel there now to look at a 2010 Audi TT from this year. They sell a wide variety of new and used Audi and Volkswagen models.

Visit Steve White VW Audi on the web at http://www.stevewhitevwaudi.com or check out the Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/stevewhiteaudivw

Information taken from http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1043867_2011-audi-tt-preview, http://www.audisite.com/1557/audi-tt-and-tts-get-some-tweaks-for-2011-2/

Audi said today that its diesel-powered Q7 3.0 TDI will get 17/25 mpg city/highway. That’s 25% better than the non-diesel Q7 V-6. Audi spokesman Chris Bokich called the figures official estimates; earlier reports had only pegged the highway figure, and final EPA certification is still pending. If the numbers hold up, they’ll put the Q7 TDI squarely between three-row diesel competitors like the Mercedes-Benz GL320 Bluetec (17/23 mpg) and BMW X5 xDrive35d (19/26 mpg). Mercedes’ smaller ML320 Bluetec (18/24 mpg), meanwhile, is about even with the Audi. All four have standard all-wheel drive.

There’s no pricing info yet — the TDI goes on sale in April — but we imagine it will rank in the Q7 lineup somewhere between the regular V-6 ($43,500) and V-8 ($59,220). The X5 diesel costs $51,200; Mercedes’ M-Class and GL-Class diesels run $48,600 and $58,200, respectively. We wouldn’t be surprised to see the Q7 qualify for tax credits, too. Under the IRS’ Advanced Lean Burn Technology Vehicles program, the X5 diesel qualifies for an $1,800 tax credit. The ML320 and GL320 Bluetecs qualify for $900 and $1,800 credits, respectively.

- Audi Q5 will change views on how a luxury crossover should look and perform

- Segment-exclusive features include three-zone climate control, standard LED tail lights, reclining and sliding rear seats and available Audi drive select

- Best-in-class EPA fuel economy ratings of 18 mpg city/20 mpg combined

Audi set the base price for its all-new and segment-redefining 2009 Audi Q5 crossover vehicle at $37,200.

The Audi Q5 will begin to arrive in U.S. dealerships next week and will be offered in three equipment levels. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price for the 2009 model-year Audi Q5 Premium starts at $37,200. Pricing for the Audi Q5 Premium Plus starts at $41,500, and the Audi Q5 Prestige starts at $48,200. Prices do not include a destination charge of $825, taxes, title or dealer charges.

With the new Q5, Audi will have its first crossover vehicle for luxury car buyers who otherwise might have considered buying the Lexus RX, the BMW X3 or the Mercedes-Benz GLK.

The launch of this new vehicle allows Audi its first opportunity to surpass those, and other, contenders in the popular luxury crossover vehicle segment. The new Audi Q5, with its combination of head-turning exterior and interior design, comprehensive safety features expected of a premium luxury vehicle, technological innovation and responsive Audi performance, more than achieves that goal.

"Luxury crossover vehicles appeal to a wide audience seeking both practicality and performance," said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. "But monotony has developed in that segment - sameness we're certain the Audi Q5 now disrupts with its array of distinctive styling cues and forward-thinking features."

The Q5 indeed offers plenty of unique features that give it a balance of functionality, luxury and performance. The Q5 will be the only vehicle in its segment with three-zone climate control, which lets drivers and passengers select their own comfort levels. It is the only vehicle in its segment with 40/20/40 rear seats that recline and offer fore-aft adjustment for the comfort of passengers and for balancing cargo-carrying capabilities.

Audi is also equipping the Q5 with its signature LED tail lights as standard equipment, including running lights, brake lights and turn signals. The Audi Q5 will offer standard hitch preparation for 4,400-pounds of towing capacity, which puts it at the head of its class. Also standard are roof rails with aluminum cross bars that sync with the Audi ESP system to adapt accordingly.

Audi has a strong reputation for outstanding automotive interiors and that tradition carries through in the Q5 with standard twelve-way power front seats, leather seating surfaces throughout and genuine wood or brushed aluminum inlays. Available exclusive luxury touches on the Audi Q5 include the Bang & Olufsen Sound System and the exclusive Audi drive select system that allows motorists to choose among four distinctive driving configurations.

The Audi Q5 will be the first model sold in the U.S. with available MMI Navigation plus, the third generation of Audi's acclaimed MMI (Multi-Media Interface) system, which manages entertainment, communications and navigational information.

The new MMI Navigation plus offers a high-capacity hard disk with 40 gigabytes of memory (including 10 GB for media storage), DVD drive and an automotive grade NVIDIA(TM) chip for graphics processing. The added processing power allows MMI Navigation plus to render 3D maps of the entire U.S., including branded points of interest, and detailed images of buildings while offering real-time traffic information. The system also features a new, larger screen that measures seven inches from corner to corner, a vocal command recognition system that understands complete words in a variety of languages and improved joystick controls.

The Audi Q5 is derived from the same Audi-exclusive platform first developed for the A4 model range. The versatility of that vehicle platform gives the Q5 the driving comfort and performance characteristics of a luxury performance automobile and the longest wheelbase in its class. The efficient engineering and design of the Q5 also translated into shorter front and rear overhangs for better weight distribution to help stability. Audi also widened the vehicle platform to increase shoulder room inside the Q5 and to optimize the driver's seating position for a more commanding view of the road.

The Audi Q5 will also lead the segment of AWD, gasoline-powertrain crossover vehicles in fuel economy. According to the U.S. EPA, the Audi Q5 achieves 18 mpg city mileage and 20 mpg combined - both tops in the category - along with 23 mpg highway mileage.

Note: Audi defines the segment for the 2009 Audi Q5 as luxury AWD, gasoline-powered crossover vehicles

We  were recently invited to attend a sneak preview screening of the NFL Film  Truth in 24 but unfortunately missed the opportunity to see the film. Luckily it has been picked up by ESPN to be aired in a primetime slot between 8pm and 10pm on March 20 th 2009 which means being able to watch it from the comfort from home and probably in HD format! In the future the Truth in 24 film may also may it to big screens across the US over the next few months which is also a great way to check out the film and make you feel like you are part of the team.

The NFL Film Truth in 24 "captures the bid by Audi’s racing program to extend its nearly decade-long dominance of the 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, one of the world’s most fabled and grueling motorsports competitions." Additionally the documentary is also a great marketing effort by Audi to help get the word out about their motorsport efforts, and technologies such as the TDI clean diesel.

To see trailers of the film and get more information head over to Truthin24.com.

luxvelocity.com

Steve White Audi achieved a customer service score of 94.7% in the month of November, which places the Audi service team in the top 10% of Audi dealers nationwide.  Perhaps even more noteworthy is that among the 27 Audi clients that completed surveys conducted by Audi of America, a 0% "Not Fixed Right First Time" score was achieved, so 100% of the vehicles were repaired correctly on the first visit.  Thank you to all of our loyal customers who took the time to answer the Audi survey.

Our team has been hard at work to achieve top honors, but even more importantly we appreciate the positive feedback we receive from you directly.  Visit our About Us page to hear some of the comments we've received recently.

	CSI	NFRFT	# Surveys
National Average	91%	11.3%	14,585
Steve White Audi	94.7%	0%	27

Congressman Bob Inglis of South Carolina’s 4th District paid a visit to Steve White VW Audi in Greenville, S.C. Friday. The visit was part of the American International Automobile Dealers Association’s (AIADA) Dealer Visit program. The program functions to connect dealers and dealership employees with their legislators while highlighting the fact that international nameplate automobile franchises are a vital source of well-paying, stable jobs for Americans.
 
Representative Inglis was met at Steve White VW Audi by Vice President and General Manager Marc White. “Representative Inglis' trip was beneficial to our employees who were able to participate in this forum,” said White. “It’s not very often a dealer gets a visit from his congressman. Conversations like the one we had are more important than ever in these tough economic times.”
 
During a mini-town hall meeting held in the dealership’s conference room, Rep. Inglis spoke to a dozen employees from all different departments. Unsurprisingly, the topic of the day was President George Bush’s morning announcement that the government would loan automakers Chrysler and General Motors $17.4 billion in order to help those troubled companies avoid bankruptcy.
Congressman Bob Inglis, 49, was elected to his 6th term representing the people of South Carolina’s 4th district in November 2008. He and his wife live on a northern Greenville County farm with their five children. Rep. Inglis serves on the Science & Technology Committee and is Ranking Member on the Energy & Environment Subcommittee. He chaired the Research Subcommittee of the Science Committee in the 109th Congress and served on the Judiciary Committee and on the Education and Workforce Committee. He co-chairs the House Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus.

Floor it!

Not everyone is hurting.  Audi this week bought a 60-second TV commercial spot during the Super Bowl at a time when regular advertisers like FedEx Corp. and General Motors Corp. decided to pass.

"We've gained two points of market share this year,"

Audi chief marketing officer Scott Keogh said.

"We think when others are hitting the brakes, we can make gains."

For the record: A 30-second advertisement was priced at $3 million, according to a report in USA Today.

By Mark Phelan
DETROIT FREE PRESS

The 2009 Audi A4 is the culmination of a 30-year strategy by VW's luxury brand, and it was worth the wait.
Audi's march to parity with BMW and Cadillac as makers of the world's finest sport sedans began with a commitment to technology and style that dates to the ground-breaking 1980 Quattro coupe, which introduced buyers to the idea of full-time all-wheel drive as a performance aid, not just for extra traction on slippery surfaces.

It's a tribute to corporate vision or German stubbornness — maybe both — that Audi persevered through missteps and mishaps. Problems along the way included rusty bodies in the 1970s, damaging reports of sudden acceleration in the 1980s and the slow and ungainly A2 breadbox of recent years, to name just three.

Pigheadedness in the pursuit of building a great car is no vice, however. Audi has turned it into a great virtue.
Prices for the 2009 A4 sedan start at $30,700 for a front-wheel drive model powered by a brawny turbocharged, direct-injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder that produces 211 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Front-drive A4s come with a continuously variable transmission; all-wheel drive A4s get a smooth and precise six-speed automatic.

The least-expensive all-wheel drive model features the 2.0-liter turbo engine and a $32,700 base price.
A4 sedans equipped with a 265-horsepower direct-injection 3.2-liter engine start at $40,000. Audi also builds an A4 station wagon equipped with all-wheel drive and the four-cylinder engine. Prices for the elegant A4 wagon start at $34,500.

I tested a well-equipped A4 2.0T Quattro sedan that stickered at $40,000. All prices exclude destination charges.

The A4 competes with the BMW 3-series, Cadillac CTS, Infiniti G37, Lexus IS and Mercedes-Benz C-class. Those cars all offer base models with more responsive rear-drive layouts than the front-drive A4.

The A4 2.0T Quattro all-wheel-drive sedan matches them dynamically, however, and costs less than all but the smaller and less-powerful Lexus IS250.

The A4 also leads the pack in fuel economy. The front-wheel-drive model scored 23 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway in EPA tests. The sportier and more satisfying 2.0T Quattro I tested rated 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. That beats all the six-cylinder competitors above except the Lexus IS 250 by at least 2 mpg.

The A4's roomy and attractive interior offers more passenger space than the Lexus IS or Mercedes C-class. The 12.4-cubic-foot trunk is among the smaller in the segment, but a low liftover and regular contours still make it very suitcase-friendly.

None of this would matter if the A4 were not beautiful, comfortable and exciting to drive. It's all of those and more.
The 2009 A4 rides on a sporty new chassis and is 4.6 inches longer and 2.1 inches wider than the car it replaces. Audi's engineers developed the chassis so the engine, transmission and steering box are lower and farther rear than in previous models, which had the nose-heavy weight distribution common to front-drive models.

Combined with precise speed-sensitive steering and a supple suspension, the result is the best-handling Audi sedan ever, and the first Audi that can compete with the 3-series and CTS.

Road noise is higher than in some competitors, however, and can become obtrusive on some surfaces. Wind noise is minimal.

Audi's direct-injection turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline engine puts the future of the sports car under your hood, as other automakers prepare to follow Audi's lead and use small-displacement DI turbos to provide excellent power and fuel economy.

The only drawback to the smooth and powerful engine is its requirement for premium fuel. Some automakers — including Ford in its upcoming Ecoboost engines — have managed to tune the system to run on regular gasoline.
The roomy and comfortable interior is trimmed with Audi's usual attention to detail. The materials uniformly look and feel good, and the fits between pieces are excellent.

In an industry that's often criticized for planning from quarter-to-quarter, the A4 is the payoff for more than a quarter of a century of planning.

CHICAGO — In the boldest statement yet of its intent to sell clean diesel engines in the U.S., Audi organized a 4200—mile fuel economy test drive across America. The route went the long way from New York to Los Angeles, using a fleet of specially prepared Q7, Q5, A4 and A3 vehicles.   

The Drive
The event was sanctioned by IMSA, the same group responsible for the American Le Mans Series where Audi races its R10 diesel sports cars. Every vehicle was refueled and had its gas flap sealed and signed by an IMSA official each day.

Audi told us that the formula for winning would entail maintaining a combination of both a high average speed and a very high fuel mileage figure each day. It was altogether a very sophisticated approach, masterminded by Florian Urbitsch the same man who did the Paris—Beijing diesel rally for Mercedes—Benz in 2006, and who now works for Audi.

We set the adaptive cruise control system to maintain the shortest distance possible between the Q7 and the vehicle ahead of it in traffic, and dialed the speed to 72.5 mph wherever possible. That speed is the engine's sweet spot in top gear, where the torque curve is at its highest, but engine revs are lowest, between 2200 and 2500 rpm.


The Bottom Line
After four long days, the PM team won the Q7 class fuel economy competition, with an overall average fuel economy of 29.6 mpg and an overall average speed of 61.6 mph over the 1842 miles of the second leg. Not bad for a fully laden 5400—pound, seven passenger crossover. So what's next? Perhaps a fuel economy challenge with an Audi R8 TDI? Sign us up.

While every major automaker reported sales declines of 20% or more for October, Audi of America Inc. set a new record for vehicle sales in the United States and said Friday that its market share rose.

The import high group is a competitive set of vehicle brands that includes Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes, Porsche, Saab, Volvo, Acura, Infiniti and Lexus.

Audi's vehicle sales in October increased 0.3%, to 7,443 vehicles. By comparison, competitors BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Lexus saw car sales drop 13.9%, 34.2%, 15.8% and 35.2%, respectively for October, and all other competitors reported sales declines of at least 13.2%.

Audi said its October sales were helped by the recent launch of its all-new 2009 A4. Audi sold 3,784 A4's, a 7.7% increase over last October.

If there was one aim Audi had in mind when developing the new A4, it must have been to beat the 3-Series. That would be no mean feat: the BMW has a blend of handling, quality and desirability many car makers can only dream of.

So it's all the more impressive that Audi was successful in its quest -- the all-new A4 is a winner!

The sleek four-door is a great example of the brand's cutting-edge design. There's nothing revolutionary about the looks, yet the sharp lines and sometimes unexpected features create a dashing compact executive model.

The high-quality design continues inside, with an attractive and beautifully built dash in place of the 3-Series' sombre ambience.

High-spec cars offer a cabin fit for the luxury class. What's more, Audi's MMI interface is the best solution to centralised cabin controls yet. And while in the past, the A4 has been left trailing by its rivals on the road, that's no longer the case. With the help of a superb new platform and the latest front and four-wheel-drive powertrains, the A4 is as agile and enjoyable to drive as any rival.

And then we come to the engines. The latest FSI gasoline units are superb.  Even the 3.2-litre V6 is capable of both blistering acceleration and 35mpg economy when cruising.  Compact executive car buyers have never had it so good.

COMMENDED
BMW 3-Series
It's taken only silver here, but the 3-Series is far from a poor second.  With a facelift just around the corner, will it win back its crown in 2009?

In Depth: 2009's Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

Actually, it's the German manufacturers that are leading the most market segments in terms of fuel efficiency on 2009 models. Across the new model year, six from Daimler AG and Volkswagen AG rank among the most fuel-efficient, beating every new model in five classes and tying in one. Japanese models placed at the top of only one category (but tied in two); one South Korean model was the best in its category, and one category and one tie went to American cars.

Behind The Numbers

To find the most fuel-efficient cars of 2009, we looked at each model's combined city and highway gas mileage provided by Environmental Protection Agency site fueleconomy.gov (or Edmunds.com, if the EPA didn't yet have the information), and checked those findings against the manufacturers' gas-mileage claims. The figures were compared in 10 market segments, with the best in each making our list. In the case of a tie, both vehicles are included.

Volkswagen AG's 2009 Audi models don't feature alternative fuel or compact frames--they simply best their competition. The 2009 Audi A4 (automatic transmission) and A4 Quattro (manual) both get combined gas mileages of 25 mpg, tying Honda's 2009 Acura TSX (automatic S5 transmission) for the top of the upscale sedan segment. The A4 Cabriolet and the Audi TT Roadster, the convertible trims of the A4 and TT models, both get 25 mpg as well, while the Audi TT Coupe gets 26 mpg, placing it at the top of the sportscar segment.

Consumer research firm Strategic Vision's Total Value Index is a measuring tool that combines what consumers have to say about their vehicles with various ownership measures calculated by Strategic Vision. Variables incorporated into the index include a consumer's expected reliability, expected fuel economy, price paid, and expected resale value. The Value Index has determined consumers are looking for the best pricing along with quality cues that indicate a vehicle's long-term value.

In the Total Value Index for luxury SUVs, the Q7 managed to beat out such strong competitors as the Mercedes-Benz GL and ML models, the Lexus GX 470, and the BMW X5. Standard equipment, technical innovations, and affordability in class were all used as vehicle measuring points in the Total Value Index.

Due to current economic uncertainty, consumers are scrutinizing more over their new vehicle purchases. The increased scrutiny allows manufacturers to focus more on product quality, thus increasing their product and brand image.

According to Alexander Edwards, president of Strategic Vision's automotive division, "When economic conditions become more favorable, the manufacturers who have focused their efforts in enhancing product quality and communicating a message of trustworthy products and overall value will be in a position to regain and even take over new market share."

Other Audi vehicles to get top honors in the 2008 Top Value Index were the Audi A3 and A4/S4 Avant models in the luxury multifunction category, with the A4/S4 Avant following closely after the first-place A3.

INGOLSTADT – Automobiles from Audi are front-runners in their market segments – thanks to Vorsprung durch Technik, the technological lead that also extends to the field of manufacturing. The Production operation at Audi is innovative, and is characterized by uncompromising precision and strict quality-consciousness. It takes into consideration such aspects as the needs of our employees and efficient use of resources. And today, in a media workshop at the Ingolstadt site, Audi will be demonstrating all of these strengths of its manufacturing operation.

The dynamic, elegant design of the Audi models stems from Audi’s high competence in the use of steel and aluminum. The presses operate with the utmost precision – even a hair’s-breadth deviation would not be tolerated. High-tech sensors check every sheet metal blank for potential flaws before it ever reaches the press – a technology in whose evolution Audi played a crucial role together with young scientists. Press-hardened steels – a further pioneering achievement – lend the body maximum strength and impact resistance, while simultaneously reducing its weight.

And Audi is also at the cutting edge when it comes to engines. The cylinder barrels of the V6 and V8 TDI engines are exposed with laser light. This process, which displays precision ranging down to thousandths of a millimeter, makes diesel engines even more efficient and longer-lived. Laser exposure is one of numerous Audi production technologies that are already being used in mass production today.

Manufacturing at Audi is innovative. The first step in creating every new production line is to plan it on the computer as a ‘Digital Factory’; it is designed for high efficiency and flexibility. A textbook example is the way doors are manufactured in the Body Shop operation at the Ingolstadt site, where the Audi A4 Sedan, the Audi A4 Avant and the Audi Q5 run on a single production system.

Throughout the entire Production operation, Audi places tremendous emphasis on the efficient use of energy; the company’s own cutting-edge power plant supplies portions of the Ingolstadt site with electricity, heat and refrigeration. The logistics chain, too, is highly efficient and designed throughout with an eye to resource conservation – from shipment of the components to the factory right through to rail distribution of the finished automobiles.

The Audi Production System (APS) guarantees the high level at which Audi builds cars. It defines the manufacturing rules with the objective of maximum efficiency: it describes the standardizations, the materials management systems, the quality processes, the way the workstations are organized and the Continuous Improvement Process (CIP). The CIP is an instrument that ensures that progress never stops at Audi.

The focus of the entire production process is on people – on our customers, who receive the utmost in quality and innovative technology, as well as on our employees, for whom the ergonomic manufacturing concepts are designed; in fact, Audi has even developed special shoes for the assembly workers. And when it comes to the sum total of improvements stemming from the initiative of our employees, the brand with the four rings is at the forefront of its competitive field – a concrete manifestation of the high levels of motivation that prevail throughout the entire Audi family.

In a year when Audi has lined its awards cabinet, its Q7 quattro luxury SUV has added another accolade to the maker's resume, this time KBB's 2009 Best Resale Value Award. The award recognizes vehicles that are expected to retain the highest proportion of their original retail value price five years after purchase, per the vehicle's specific segment.

The importance of resale value is demonstrated through the annual depreciation a vehicle faces after purchase. In most cases, depreciation can be the largest expense any new-car purchaser experiences, with many vehicles losing as much as 20% of their retail value as soon as the new owner takes possession. Higher resale values also help encourage motorists to move into newer vehicles, when the timing is appropriate, with the assistance of higher tradeins and higher-valued private-party sales. Vehicles with higher resale values tend to indicate a solidly built vehicle that may be more desirable in the used-car market.

The Q7 quattro has won other awards this year, including the Top Safety Pick by the IIHS and leading consumer research firm Strategic Vision's SmartGreen Index and Total Value Index for luxury SUVs. In addition to the Q7 quattro winning the Best Resale Value award for luxury SUVs, Audi's A5 coupe won the Best Resale Value award for luxury cars.