Audi presents new sports range at Qatar Motor Show

In its appearance at the Qatar Motor Show, the brand is proving how its strategy of innovation through motorsport is achieving its objectives.

Taking center stage is the Audi R18 TDI - the race car that clinched the victory at the 2011 24 hours of Le Mans for Audi for the 10th time since the brand's debut in 1999. With its new car exhibits at Qatar Motor Show Audi depicts the further development of motorsport innovation into series production.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, Member of the Board of Management for Marketing and Sales of AUDI AG, hosted the official Audi press conference, which received much attention by regional VIPs and media. With a view towards the Audi R18 TDI Le Mans race car, Schwarzenbauer set the direction for Audi's participation in the Show: "At Audi, we're convinced that to strive for sustainability does not mean having to give up on what gets the heart racing. Our aim is to combine passion and reason in every Audi and our engineers give their best to achieve this every day."

Audi had only recently announced a sales increase of 26.8% in 2011 (7,865 units) and intends to maintain the momentum with further model introductions in the region in 2012, explains Jeff Mannering, Managing Director of Audi Middle East. "With the new models revealed as well as the new Audi Q3 - our first compact SUV - we still have several surprises for Audi fans to look forward to this year."

At the 2012 Qatar Motor Show Audi presents the refreshed A5 model series with the new Audi RS 5. The RS 5 Coupé is undoubtedly the star athlete of the A5 family. Powered by a normally aspirated 4,163 cc V8 engine it delivers 450 hp at 8,250 rpm, with the peak torque of 430 Nm available between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm, giving a zero to 100 km/h in 4.6 seconds. The new Audi A5 models are expected to arrive in the Middle East in the first quarter of 2012, the RS 5 in the second quarter.

Audi also revealed the R8 GT Spyder as the new open-top flagship model of the R8 model line. Thanks to the Audi ultra lightweight technology the Audi R8 GT Spyder delivers scintillating performance. The 5.2-liter V10 develops 560 hp and 540 Nm of torque at 6,500 rpm, accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 317 km/h. As with the coupe GT, just 333 of the high-performance sports car will be built.

With the new Audi S7 and S8 on display, Audi furthermore presents its new
S models for the first time in the Middle East and showcases innovative production solutions. The new Audi S models are powered by a new engine - a four-liter, twin-turbo V8, which combines ample power with low fuel consumption in keeping with the times. The newly developed "cylinder on demand" technology deactivates four of the eight cylinders under part load for an efficiency gain that is particularly pronounced at moderate highway speeds. The S6 and S7 use the 420 hp version of the new 4.0 TFSI. The twin-turbo V8 provides a constant 550 Nm of torque from 1,400 to 5,300 rpm. It accelerates the S6 and S7 from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds and 4.9 seconds respectively.

The Audi S8 is the new head of the Audi S model family. Its new 4.0 TFSI generates no less than 520 hp and delivers a constant 650 Nm of torque between 1,700 and 5,500 rpm. The result is outstanding performance: The sprint from zero to 100 km/h takes just 4.2 seconds. With all three models, the electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h is just a formality. The new Audi S models are expected to be launched in the Middle East in summer 2012.