Audi shines with five premieres at Qatar Motor Show

Audi presents a spectacular lineup of no less than five regional premieres at the 2011 Qatar Motor Show. The new Audi A7, A8 L W12 and R8 GT are shown to the public of the region for the first time during the exhibition. The Audi e-tron Spyder concept car also made an appearance as Middle East premiere. As the highlight of the show Audi revealed unexpectedly, and just days after the world show premiere at the 2011 NAIAS Motor Show in Detroit, the new Audi A6, which is expected to reach the Middle East region in the second half of 2011. 

Present for the occasion were Audi’s global CEO Rupert Stadler and Jeff Mannering, Managing Director Audi Middle East. “The Middle East and Qatar are growth markets for Audi and important as part of our strategy to become Nr. 1 premium manufacturer worldwide” stated Stadler. “For 2011 we are aiming for a 25% volume growth in 2011 to achieve an all time sales record in the Middle East. Above all however, we want to delight our customers with great new products and a true Audi experience at our dealerships.“ 

With the new A7 Audi is targeting a new vehicle class. The large, elegant five-door model unites the emotion-packed character of a coupe with the comfort and prestige of a sedan and with the functional utility of a station wagon. The Audi A7 will roll into dealerships in the first quarter of 2011 with a 3.0 TFSI V6 engine with 300 hp, quattro four-wheel drive and S tronic transmission.

The new Audi A6 is set to make its market debut in the Middle East in mid 2011 with two V6 engines. The 204 hp 2.8 FSI and the 300 hp 3.0 TFSI models both feature the new S tronic transmission and latest generation of quattro four-wheel drive. With its light body, sporty chassis and a wide array of new assistance and multimedia systems, the full-sized sedan is packed with innovative solutions in every area of technology. 

The new A8 L W12 quattro will arrive in the region in the third quarter of 2011. With a long wheelbase and a twelve-cylinder 500 hp engine it sets new standards of luxury, dynamism and efficiency in the top automobile manufacturing league. 

Even more powerful, lighter and faster: Audi presents a limited-production version of it R8 high-performance sports car, the R8 GT. The output of its 5.2-liter V10 has been increased to 560 hp; vehicle weight has been reduced by roughly 100 kilograms. The R8 GT accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.6 seconds and reaches a top speed of 320 km/h. 

Showcasing Audi’s capabilities in the development of mobility systems of the future is the Audi e-tron Spyder, the study of an open sports car with plug-in hybrid drive. The two-seater is equipped with a 300 hp twin-turbo V6 TDI at the rear axle and two electric motors producing a total of 64 kW at the front axle.