The Audi A3 TDI Quattro gets a very good road test review from The German Car Blog:

‘The first thing I noticed when turning the key of this A3 TDI is the 2.0L turbo diesel comes to life not with a sputter and burble, but with a quiet purr. There is no old diesel rumbling, no old diesel exhaust stench and no old diesel noise. This new clean diesel technology in the Audi is run on common rail direct injection and piezoelectric injectors for smooth and efficient performance at all speeds.’

For a full specification of  the Audi A3’s available at Audi Nationwide, please visit the product page.

What a year it has been so far for Audi, on the year it celebrates 100 years of existence its comprehensive range of cars simply can’t stop winning awards all over the world.

In Germany, Audi won nine awards in the Sport Auto Readers Choice Contest organised by the automotive magazine Sport Auto. The Audi RS6 once again, led the way and it was voted the best vehicle in its class, while the Audi S3,  A3 2.0 TDI, TT Roadster 2.0 TFSI, TT RS Roadster and Audi R8 were voted second in their respective categories and to wrap things up the A4 3.0 TDI Quattro, the A4 3.2 FSI Quattro and the Audi S4 grabbed three outstanding third places.

Meanwhile in the UK, Audi’s range won for the fourth consecutive year the British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards held last week at the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre in Thatcham, Berkshire. For those of not familiar with Thatcham, they are one of Europe’s leading authorities in the field of vehicle security; its experts have been assessing the theft protection standards of vehicles for over ten years.

Audi not only won the Manufacturer do the Year Award but also achieved three categories wins, the A4 range was votes most secure in compact executive class, while the S8 was awarded in the performance car class and the newly launched Audi A5 Cabriolet won the open-top class.

All these awards are the rewards for a company that is always trying to improve the safety and driving experience of its customers.

Audi has just released details of the brand new Audi A5 Sportback.

The model is based on the A5 coupe, but has a more practical five-door body. Audi says it’s ‘as emotional and elegant as a coupe, as comfortable as a sedan and as practical as an Avant’.

It has a coupe-style roofline and rear end design, but Audi promises a 480-litre boot and 980 litres of load space with the rear seats folded, according to What Car?

Despite a lower height than the A4 saloon, Audi says the A5 Sportback has comparable head- and legroom.

Five engines will be on offer from launch: 2.0 TFSI and 3.2 V6 petrols and 2.0 TDI, 2.7 TDI and 3.0 V6 TDI diesels.

The 3.2 and 3.0 TDI V6s both come with four-wheel drive and the 2.0 TDI has a stop-start system to save fuel.

A further entry-level model will follow in 2010.

The new 5-door coupe will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show and be available from September 2009.

For a full specification on all of our Audi A5’s available at Audi Nationwide please click visit our product page.

For the second consecutive year, Audi’s luxury salon the Audi A8 was named Green Luxury Car of the year by the What Car? Green Awards highlighting Audi’s ongoing process of optimising fuel efficiency and reducing emissions.

Once again the Audi A8 2.8 FSI triumphed in the premium sector over stiffer competition from newly developed technologies from its competitors. Despite all these newly introduced technologies the Audi A8 2.8 FSI continues to have the lowest CO2 and NOx emissions in its segment as well as unique diesel combustion free of particulates.

The Audi A8 2.8 FSI sprints form 0-62 mph in exact 8 seconds with a top speed of 147mph while maintaining fuel efficiency at 34mpg and an impressive CO2 emission of 199g/km which means you won’t have to pay 3% company car tax penalty levied on diesel engines.

The success of such highly efficient cars is only possible thanks to three key factors only found in Audi Cars; first we have the FSI direct injection technology feeding the engine with incredible precision and negligible waste, then Audi’s high tech multitronic automatic transmission channels the power without the need of a fuel-sapping torque converter and finally we have the exclusive aluminium body which minimises overall weight creating the first two factors perfect conditions in which to perform.

To cut a long story short, here is what the What Car? team wrote to justify their decision of favouring the Audi A8 for the second consecutive year:

“Step forward, for the second year in a row, the aluminium-bodied Audi A8, which emits less than 200g/km of CO2 and can manage an impressive 34.0mpg on average. These are produced by a smooth V6 petrol engine, too, so if you’re swinging by the school to pick up the children, you don’t have to worry about any of those nasty particulates blowing into the playground. It also means that you don’t have to pay the 3% company car tax penalty levied on diesel engines, and NOx emissions are also very low.”

Next month, Audi celebrates its 100th anniversary. The celebrations started back in January when Audi became Germany’s favourite premium brand and will go on throughout the year.

To prove Audi’s success in Germany, the Audi A4 Salon is the top selling premium salon, its big brother the Audi A6 also reigns in its segment while the Audi TT was crowned Germany’s best selling sports car and on top of all that, does a 13th consecutive year record growth say anything?

To mark this special birthday, Audi prepared an Events Calendar to celebrate its 100th anniversary with events spread out throughout the year.

To praise Audi’s 100th anniversary we prepared a collection of new wallpapers with some classic models from Audi and the extinguished Auto Union, right now you can download the wallpaper of the 1939 Auto Union Type D, also available is the Audi Q5 Custom Concept wallpaper and many more, visit our Audi Downloads page and choose your favourite Audi Model.

From now till the big day on the 16th of July, the exact date Audi will turn 100 years old, we’ll be uploading more wallpapers for you to download, so stay tuned here at Audi Nationwide’s Blog for more.

When the subject is highly efficient eco-friendly turbo charged engines, no other auto maker in the world has more authority than Audi. Over the years Audi has developed their diesel engines with excellence merging efficiency with driving pleasure and proving that performance and fuel efficiency can be combined.

A perfect example of this are the newly developed 1.6 TDI engines for the Audi A3 with outputs of 90hp and 105p, these new engines combine performance and fuel efficiency with low CO2 emissions.

With a fuel consumption of 68.8 mpg the Audi A3 equipped with the 105hp 1.6 TDI engine sprints from 0-62mph in impressive 11.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 121mph while maintaining CO2 emissions at only  175 g/mile (109 g/km).

Meanwhile, the smaller engine with 90hp also proves to have great fuel efficiency and good performance with its high torque of 230 Nm. This engine allows the Audi A3 to sprint from 0.62mph in 12.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 112mph and CO2 emissions of 190 g/mile (118g/km).

Audi combines a series of factors to achieve these impressive numbers, first we have Audi’s start/stop technology, extremely effective for city driving, as soon as the vehicle comes to a stop, the shift lever is in neutral, and once the driver removes their foot from the clutch pedal, the system turns the engine off. The engine then turns back on as soon as the clutch pedal is depressed.

But fuel saving starts before the A3 stops at the traffic light, with Audi’s energy recovery system the alternator converts kinetic energy to usable energy during a vehicle’s coasting and braking phases before temporarily storing it in the battery. This stored energy is then used in electrical components when driving off or accelerating reducing the load on the alternator saving of to 3% fuel.

Audi has achieved an 8.8% share of U.S. imported luxury vehicle sales in May, showing another month of improved results.

The showing for May 2009 meant Audi increased its portion the luxury vehicle market nearly two full percentage points from a year earlier.

Audi showed market share strength in both car and SUV sales when compared against the results reported by other imported luxury vehicle manufacturers. Audi cars sales made up 9.6% of the May total in the imported luxury vehicle sector, compared with the 8.5% in May ‘08.

Audi luxury sport-utility vehicle sales have risen to 7.3% of that market segment compared to just 2.9% a year earlier.

Also continuing its strength in 2009, the Audi A5 sales increased over last year by more than 59.5 percent, due to 716 units sold this May. The A5 has recorded 3,150 total units sold in 2009, surpassing the total sales from 2008 during the same period by 48.4 percent.

Johan de Nysschen, from Audi of America said: “Consumers once again proved that when you offer the right product? Sporty, yet sophisticated, design with exceptional dynamic character? Sales will follow, no matter the economic headwinds.”

For a full spec on Audi’s new cars please visit the Audi Nationwide website.

This is the second and last part of our guide to help you choose an Audi Company Car to best suits your company needs. Last week we listed what is considered the lower branch of our Audi range, but if you own an Audi you know that there isn’t such a thing as a low quality Audi.

Audi A8 – Luxury Redefined

There is no conflict between sportiness and common sense in the case of the Audi A8: the luxury saloon brings together quattro four-wheel drive, the light but sturdy Audi Space Frame ASF® aluminium body and adaptive air suspension in a single car. The Audi A8’s design and technology redefine the benchmark in every respect.

If you want respect from your employees, this is the company car you need. The new Audi A8 is due to launch soon so stay tuned for more information on one of Audi’s most luxurious models.

Audi A8 Leasing for Company Car and Audi A8 Specifications

Audi TT Coupé and Audi TT Roadster – Inspirational

The Audi TTs perfect performance have come together to create the ultimate sports car. The Audi TT Coupe is of pure design. Perfect performance. A serious sports car with turbo-charged engineering and sports ratio 6-speed gearbox. And if you prefer a Cabriolet there is the Audi TT Roadster, automotive purism in its most beautiful form – for boundless open-top driving pleasure.

Audi has recently added the Audi TT to its RS line of cars with the launch of the Audi TTRS and Audi Roadster.

Audi TT Leasing for Company Car and Audi TT Specifications

Audi Q5 – Sports SUV

The new Audi Q5 combines the poise of a sports car with highly variable interior and versatile options for leisure and family use, with strong and fuel-efficient engines, Quattro permanent all-wheel drive and agile running gear incorporating a seven-speed S-tronic dual-clutch auto/manual transmission and performance for all seasons and all surfaces.

The Audi Q5 is not even one year old but it has already gained the respect of world’s top auto critics by winning some respectful awards such as the Golden Steering Wheel, one of the most prestigious awards in the auto industry.

Audi Q5 Leasing for Company Car and Audi Q5 Specifications

Audi Q7 – The Performance SUV

For 25 years we’ve made Quattro for our cars. Now we’ve made the car for Quattro – the new Audi Q7. Refining the raw power of the Quattro drive train. The Audi Q7 7 seater is a true performance SUV, at home on any road even when there isn’t one.

The Audi Q7 doesn’t compromise on safety. Exceptionally strong build and innovative, all-round protection keep you – and your family – safe. Audi’s philosophy on safety is at the very heart of the Audi Q7.

Audi Q7 Leasing for Company Car and Audi Q7 Specifications

Audi R8 – True Art

The Audi R8 was built to take your breath away. Audi’s leading designers have pushed the boundaries of racing technology, futuristic construction and luxury refinement to deliver a genuine masterpiece. The Audi R8’s features include a centrally-mounted, high-revving V8 petrol engine, Audi Space Frame (ASF) construction; front and rear double wishbone suspension and the stability of Quattro four-wheel-drive.

Audi R8 Leasing for Company Car and Audi R8 Specifications

Now that you know more about all Audi models available, choose the right Audi Company car that will best suit your company needs.