What’s the ideal company car like? A vehicle that has high fuel efficiency, low CO2 emissions which means less taxes and the best long-term quality. The Audi A6 fit these characteristics with perfection; add to that the fact that the Audi A6 is the most reliable business sedan and viola: the ideal company car.

The Audi A6 long-term quality and reliability has been confirmed for the second year in a row by the Faults Report 2010 published by the inspection company DEKRA. Audi’s business sedan was awarded the title “Best of all Classes” with a score of 88.1%.

DEKRA Faults Report awards the models with the lowest fault rate over a high mileage, thus rewarding high long-term quality. Besides the fact that this special evaluation is an excellent marketing for the question in question, but also provides buyers with an important purchase guide.

For the first time DEKRA is also awarding cars with the lowest fault rate overall. With 97.3% the Audi A4 came second grabbing another accolade for the Ingolstadt carmakers.

Earlier this year the Audi A6 also landed the top spot in the ADAC breakdown statistics in the prestigious field of the “Upper Midsize/Full-Size” segment, reassuring even further the A6’s long term quality.

To make it even more tempting for companies, Audi offers exclusive finance options, Audi A6 leasing and contract hire options.

As an Audi dealer we are a bit suspicious of affirming that the Audi A6 is the ideal company car. So why not share your thoughts and opinions with us? Is the Audi A6 the ideal Audi company car?

Female car purchasers are on the rise, with worldwide sales figures rising year after year. Without a doubt, the female voice within the auto industry is stronger than ever. That said; an award of worldwide significance defined exclusively by women and their relationships with cars, has been long overdue.

Up until now the auto industry has never seen an award with a judging team of only women. Over the past year, eight female motoring writers from around the world have tested 21 cars from the short list.

These awards had four main categories: Women’s World Family Car of the Year, World Sports Car of the Year, World Economy Car of the Year and World Luxury Car of the Year.

The judging criterion was nice and simple: judges are asked to vote according to the criteria women utilise when buying a car. Thus safety, value-for-money, aesthetic appearance, storage space, child–friendliness, ease-of-driving, colour, sex appeal and environmental footprint are all categories the judges will be analysing.

Audi had two models listed among the 21 selected vehicles. The Audi A6 was competing in the luxury car category where it came second while the Audi TTS was named Women’s World Sports Car of the Year after beating some high calibre competitors.

Certificates will be awarded to individual category winners and to the supreme winner early in 2010. The certificates have been designed by Bob Child of graphic design company Peartree Studios in Colerne, Somerset, England.

The Audi A3 and the Audi Q7 V12 added two more awards to the huge collection of accolades Audi models have amassed this year. The A3 was named UK’s Executive Used Car of the Decade by CAP while the Q7 was elected SUV of the year by Top Gear’s Team.

CAP is a leading vehicle valuation body that supplies substantial data to finance institutions, contract hire, leasing companies as well as insurance companies. According to Mark Norman from CAP the Audi A3 range pioneered the concept that a small vehicle can succeed in the premium sector, “true benchmark vehicle” and a “genuine pioneer” was Norman’s exact words for the Audi A3.

One of the main reasons the Audi A3 was named executive car of the year was the fact that models like the 2.0 TDI retains 43% of its value over 3 years – highest for a premium compact hatchback. The fact that the A3 1.6 TDI led the way in its segment when the fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions factor helped the A3 grab one more accolade to Audi.

With a CO2 output of only 109g/km the A3 1.6 TDI can save serious money in road car taxes add that to Audi leasing and contract hire options and you have of the most cost effective vehicles on the market today.

In the mean time the Audi Q7 V12 6.0 TDI quattro was named by Jeremy Clarkson & Co as SUV of the Year. The 2009 Top Gear’s Car of the Year award that is coming in this month’ issue of the Top Gear magazine will have the Audi Q7 V12 TDI as the best SUV of 2009.

Audi Q7 V12 – a magnificent whirlwind of sins – our SUV of the Year

TopGear Team

Vorsprung Durch Technik means “progress through technology” and a literal translation would be ‘advancement through technology’. This strapline has been used by Audi since the 80’s to highlight the company reputation for technical expertise.

Progress through technology has not only been Audi’s ad strapline but has also been the company’ working philosophy since its creation back in 1909. Since then, Audi has contributed to a number of milestones for the auto industry.

Over the past decade, Audi has revolutionised the auto industry with a number of technological advancements that prove performance and efficiency can be combined without sacrificing one or the other.

When Audi’s engineers develop a new technology, they have only one thing in mind: increase vehicle efficiency without sacrificing performance – hence Audi Space Frame and the ultra-precise S-tronic transmission.

ASF (Audi Space Frame) is an innovative way to build a vehicle’s body with a lightweight high-strength aluminium frame that gives a car outstanding safety, excellent performance and phenomenal efficiency, while the S-tronic transmission – with its shorter gear changes increase fuel efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions – combines the agility and responsiveness of a manual gearbox with the convenience of an Automatic.

With the TDI engines, Audi simply redefined the diesel engine; with its unique common rail system for more efficiency and power delivering better performance along with a 15% reduction in fuel consumption while the TFSI engines where the first to combine petrol direct injection and turbocharging to provide greater power with reduced fuel consumption.

On the new TDIe engines, the ‘e’ stands for efficient. These engines are without a doubt the most efficient diesel engines in the world and it’s already on the roads running models such as the Audi A6 2.0 TDIe and the Audi A4 2.0 TDIe (with remarkable CO2 emissions of only 139g/km, resulting in an annual road tax of just £120 and a competitive 18% company car tax rating).

Audi is cleaning up the premium sector with its highly efficient models. The new Audi A3 1.6 TDI has the lowest CO2 emissions in its class with just 109g/km. For Audi, good efficiency means low emissions and low emissions means cheaper road tax, making the A3 range one of the best choices for a company car. Add that to the Audi contract hire and leasing options you can potentially save thousands of pound each year.

One of Audi’s most innovative and economy focused technologies is the Recuperation Technology, which recycles the energy used to brake to lighten the engine’s load reducing fuel consumption by up to 3%. Already making the difference in models like the new Audi A8 and the next gen of Audi A3s.

As you can see, Audi follow the “Vorsprung Durch Technik” strapline from the design to the quality inspection process each vehicle goes through. Such attention to detail coupled with a genuine environmental concern has earned Audi a series of awards over the years. The most recent high-profile accolade going to the Audi A3, which has been named 2009 Green Car of the Year by the Green Car Journal. Another massive award coming from What Car? Magazine, who have given the title of “Most efficient luxury car” to the A8 2.8 FSI.

Now its time for you to have your say about Audi highly efficient models, if you had to choose which Audi model would you crown the most Highly Efficient of them all?

What a year this has been for Audi. In the year of its 100th anniversary, the German automaker won an array of accolades and this week; with four more being added to the collection.

First one comes from Wards magazine and wardsauto.com, for the fourth consecutive year. Audi’s 2.0 TFSI turbocharged engine came first on Ward’s 10 Best Engines, considered by many as the “Oscars” of automotive engine awards.

The award honours the engine’s excellence, taking in consideration a series of factors like efficiency and technological innovations. Audi AG’s new generation of 2.0-litre TFSI turbocharged 4 cylinder engines had little trouble in winning this years awards thanks to small but highly effective innovations including an optimised turbocharger; variable exhaust-valve-lift technology; revised electronic controls; a lower compression ratio (9.6:1 vs. 10.3:1) and refined internal components.

Meanwhile, down under in Australia Audi celebrate a triple triumph at the 2009 Australian Best Car Awards. The Audi Q5 3.0 TDI was named “Best Luxury 4WD” while the Audi TTs TFSI won for the second in the “Best Luxury Sports Car” category and the trifecta was completed with the Audi A6 Sedan 3.0 TFSI Quattro claiming the title of Best Luxury Car.

During the recent unveiling of the new Audi A8, Rupert Stradler, chairman of Audi, came under a horde of questions from journalist, enthusiasts and dealers eager to find out about the new model.

Stradler was able to confirm much speculation around whether there will be a Hybrid A8 and other tech questions surrounding efficiency, commenting:

“Yes. We are working on a full hybrid solution for Audi and we’ll be announcing something in spring 2010… We want to take out weight and want to further diesel and FSI technology. We can still improve fuel consumption.” A statement that’s assuredly reflected in the A8’s efficiency stats, as the average fuel consumption in the new Audi A8 has fallen by 20 per cent.

Another interesting topic of questioning was the potential for electric within Audi’s performance based technology, to which Stradler made clear that Audi envision hybrid as a significant step towards the electrification of the car, but brought expectations down to reality by saying it’s impossible to tell if that eventuality is 10 or 20 years away.  However he was able to say with confidence that:

“Electric power will give Quattro more possibilities, such as powering the rear axle like in the Audi A1 concept, or four wheels in motors like the E-tron. In fact, we want to launch a production E-tron in small volumes at the end of 2012.”

He also declared with assurance that the integration of Porsche into the VW Group would not change Audi’s plans for the worst, stating that:

“Audi has a clear product portfolio and a clear strategy with or without Porsche. Engineers are now talking about a lot of things with Porsche. We would work without them, but Porsche will make it better.”

When asked the precarious questions ‘how are Audi doing at the moment?’ was again grounded in his assertion that reaching 2007s ales levels would most likely not be possible until 2012, given the current economic climate, but went on to explain that 2010 will undoubtedly be a growth year because:

“Audi has got momentum and the product is accepted. The luxury market will start growing again in the mid and long-term. But there’s no doubt that it will come back again.”

Lastly, when asked about the possibility of a four cylinder A8, stradler replied with:
“This is not a question for engineers, it’s a question for the customer.”

So that’s exactly the question we’ll propose to you, Audi enthusiasts. Does the prospect of a four cylinder Audi A8 sound like an attractive prospect or not a fitting match?

A week after we announced that Audi was cleaning the premium sector with the next gen of Audi A3 with array of highly efficient diesel and also petrol engines comes the first accolade for this eco-friendly generation of Audi A3s.

The Audi A3 TDI earned the prestigious title of 2010 Green Car of the Year. The announcement was made yesterday morning during the L.A Auto Show as Ron Rogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal and editor of Greencar.com presented the award to Audi of America President, Johan de Nysschen.

Since 2005 the Green Car Journal has been awarding manufacturers who are working hard towards developing vehicles with an environmental concern. This year the Audi A3 TDI emerged victorious among five other finalists.

The trailblazing TDI 2.0 engine powering the A3 delivers 140hp with an impressive 236 lb-ft of torque, yet achieves a remarkable 50 mpg (42 mpg US) fuel efficiency, lowest in its segment. That means the Audi A3 TDI achieves 50% better fuel economy than a comparable gasoline engine.

“We consider the Green Car of the Year® title one of the most important industry accolades. It is of paramount importance for us to develop vehicles that achieve the very touchstones this award stands for: fuel efficiency and environmental impact. Rather than novelty features, we consider these attributes imperative to the future of automobile design. We are honoured with this recognition for the Audi A3 TDI.” said Johan de Nysschen, President Audi of America.

The Audi A3 TDI was not the only model to take an accolade back to Ingolstadt, the Audi A5 was named 2010’s Best Resale Value Award luxury car winner by Kelley Blue Book’s (www.kbb.com) and was honoured in two categories: Top 10 Model overall and Best Luxury Car. Not only did the Audi Q7 take home the Earth, Wind & Power(SM) environmental award, it was only named Most Environmentally Progressive Truck of the Year.

The new Audi A8 has redefined auto luxury in the premium sector with an array of technologies; hence the all aluminium construction using Audi’s exclusive ASF technology contributing to a best-in-class economy and exemplary comfort. As we anticipated, Audi presented its newest flagship model this week at the Design Miami exhibition in Florida, USA.

With a fascinating design conveying homogeneity, the new Audi A8 gives the impression that it was modelled from a full volume, with sculptured surfaces that convey calmness and prestige that’s reinforced with sharp lines. The new and progressive design elements of the new Audi A8 has gone some way towards solidifying Audi’s leading position in the field of automotive design.

The skeleton of the new Audi A8 is built with the evolved ASF; a lighter and 24% more rigid aluminium body. Three newly reworked FSI and TDI will be available from launch – the 3.0-litre V6 TDI with 250PS and 550Nm of torque (up from 233PS and 450Nm), the 4.2-litre V8 TDI with 350PS and 800Nm (up from 326PS and 650Nm) and the 4.2-litre V8 FSI with 372PS and 445Nm (up from 350PS and 440Nm) – and an even more economy and emissions focused version of the 3.0 TDI is expected some time in 2010.

The upgraded 4.2-litre FSI benefits from a 13% improvement in fuel economy, taking its combined figure to 29.7mpg and dropping CO2 output to 219g/km. The equivalent V8 TDI gets a 19% boost to 37.2mpg with CO2 emissions down to 199g/km, while the 3.0-litre TDI moves to the top of the luxury saloon class in economy terms, with a 22% economy hike to 42.8mpg with CO2 of 174g/km.

Further fuel and CO2 savings are complemented by recuperation technology available as standard in all A8 models – incidentally the A8’s engine, the 3.0 TDI, is only engine to feature Audi’s economy focused Start-Stop technology, which is capable of enhancing fuel savings even further.

These new highly efficient engines are matched by the new eight-speed tiptronic automatic transmission which reduces fuel consumption by another 6% thanks to its quick virtually seamless changes.

Looking inside the new Audi A8; Audi have raised the bar with its interior design. At first sight the layout is similar to its predecessor with a two-circle instrument cluster and the revolving, hidden navigation screen larger than previous ones. However on closer inspection, you’ll find Audi’s latest MMI system, which features a touch pad with an iPod Touch-style sensitivity that changes the function for preselected stations.

Attention to detail has been broadly improved by a luxurious and extensive combination of aluminium alloy paired – with handsome new wood accent applications for a familiar Audi-style beltline trim. Add to that a mounted clock – adorned with four-rings that resemble the Audi logo – for a classical touch.

Here’s what the Auto Industry press has been saying about the new Audi A8

Fourtitude

“The new flagship’s generously designed interior captivates with its luxurious equipment, newly developed control system MMI and the excellent quality of its workmanship. Innovative assistance systems lend even more confidence to driving.”

AutoBlog

“More evolutionary than revolutionary in style, the new wundersedan is nevertheless an impressive looking piece with the visual charisma to go toe-to-toe with the celebrities that filed in to fawn over its broad shoulders.”

Car Magazine

“There’s also a gorgeous interior, some very cool gadgets, and the promise from Audi that the A8 will be the sportiest luxury saloon in its class.”

Now we want to hear your opinion. What do you have to say about the new Audi A8?

P.S: This elegant new saloon range opens for UK orders this month and Audi leasing as well contract hire options should be available soon.