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It has been an exemplary month for Audi, even more so from a South African perspective, with the launch of three new models to the local range last week, culminating in a win for local Audi race ace Kelvin van der Linde in the Suzuka 10-Hour Endurance race on the weekend.
This was a significant feat, as the victory for Van der Linde and his Belgian team mates Dries van Thoor and Frederic Vervisch in the Interncontintal GT Challenge race in Japan – in their WRT Audi R8 LMS sporting the racing number 25 and painted in Nogaro Blue, the signature colour for the original Audi RS2 Avant – celebrated 25 years of Audi RS in fine style.
At South Africa’s biggest automotive showcase, the Festival of Motoring, that took place at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit last week, the Ingolstadt brand launched key new models into the South African market as part of its "New era for Vorsprung" campaign.
In addition to this, visitors were treated to an exciting Audi brand experience in the form of high performance, instructor-led track driving in Audi R8, RS 5 Sportback, RS 4 Avant and RS 3 models (in celebration of a quarter-century of RS) and a meet and greet opportunity with international racing legend Mattias Ekström, a FIA World Rallycross Champion, two-time DTM champion and a three-time winner of the Race of Champions.
Pricing released
On the new model front Audi introduced the new Audi A1, the athletic and stylish Audi Q3 as well as the premium, Audi A7.
The A1 and Q3, launched under the banner of #LiveInTheNow, will officially retail in South Africa from September at local Audi dealerships with the A7 Sportback following in later this year.
Added to this, the brand’s first fully-electric vehicle, the Audi e-tron, made its South African debut.
With 300kW and 0 to 100 km acceleration in 5.7 seconds, the e-tron with its electrical all-wheel drive catapults Audi into a new era and represents the next step into the future for the Four Rings brand.
While we cannot bring you any dynamic impressions on the compact Q3 SUV, now badged 35 TSFI, just yet (it is being presented to the media this week) pricing for the range has been released; starting from R565 000 for the entry-level 110 kW S tronic model, moving to R585 000 for the Advanced and R599 000 for the S line (without any options added).
The sporty, good-looking Audi A1 Sportback, to be launched to the media early in September, will be available with 85 kW, 110 kW or 147 kW TFSi petrol engines and in Advanced and S line trim, with prices ranging from R359 900 for the normal entry-level 30 TFSI model up to R488 000 (without options) for the 40 TFSI S line S tronic flagship model.
