New format driver tuition programme puts stars from S1 to R8 in the hands of Audi enthusiasts keen to hone their skills in safety

• Get to grips with the 367PS RS 3 Sportback, 310PS TTS Coupe and 231PS S1 for just £299
• Move up to the 560PS RS 6 Avant and 610PS R8 V10 plus for £749
• quattro experience using Q3, SQ5 and Q7 focuses on SUV control on road and in the rough
• Instruction on Silverstone’s Stowe Circuit and off-road facilities involves a wide variety of dynamic disciplines to build knowledge and experience
• Selected course dates running through to October 2016

Indelibly memorable, immensely rewarding and edge-of-seat exciting – these come close to describing the all-new Audi R8, but they apply just as much to the 2016 Audi Driving Experience in which the 205mph super sports car plays a starring role. From this month the spectacular R8 and an all-star supporting cast of Audi performance cars will be seen, heard and thoroughly enjoyed as part of a restructured ADE programme of high performance driver tuition taking place at Northamptonshire’s Silverstone Circuit.

The 610PS R8 V10 plus tops the bill in the fleet that will be lapping the hallowed venue’s Stowe Circuit as part of the full-blown Audi Sport Experience, but Audi enthusiasts will also have access to an Introductory Experience costing under £300 that puts them in the driving seat of a trio of powerhouses including the 367PS RS 3 Sportback.

Open to UK driving licence-holders aged 21 and over*, irrespective of the car they own, the latest Audi Driving Experience has been condensed into three core modules - the half-day Audi Sport Introductory experience, half-day quattro experience and full-day Audi Sport experience. All are available on selected dates running through to October.

Costing £299, the morning or afternoon Audi Sport Introductory experience includes instruction on cornering techniques and management of fast lane changes, plus a challenging slalom course, and enlists the help of the 231PS S1 quattro, the 310PS TTS quattro and the 367PS RS 3 Sportback quattro.

The Audi Sport Experience, costing £749, ramps up the excitement several notches further still by pitching the RS 3 Sportback in with the 560PS RS 6 Avant and the 610PS R8 V10 plus for a full day of clipping apexes and perfecting racing lines. During this high-octane session delegates focus on everything from cornering and high-speed lane changes to braking at speed, and are then treated to a high-speed passenger ride in a R8 V10 plus with an expert Audi instructor.

The increasing number of fans of the flourishing Audi SUV family are also taken care of at Silverstone by the quattro Experience, available for £349. This half-day module divides time between special handling areas within the circuit and its purpose-built 4x4 area.

The Audi Q family on parade

Tackled in the Q3 and the potent 326PS SQ5 TDI, the ‘hard surface’ elements of the quattro Experience allow drivers to develop their confidence in the on-road control of these agile and imposing machines and to understand how that control is dramatically enhanced by quattro all-wheel-drive. Away from the asphalt, the challenging gradients and rough terrain of the 4x4 section are the domain of the latest Q7 with its height adjustable air suspension, and subscribers to this module are given plenty of opportunity to experience how adeptly this luxurious seven-seater with state-of-the-art quattro drive can iron out the undulations.

The half-day Introductory and quattro modules include breakfast and light refreshments, and lunch is also served during the full-day Audi Sport Experience. All delegates who complete their modules leave with a ‘graduation’ certificate.

For an additional cost of £49 participants can invite a guest spectator, who can enjoy refreshments during the training and will also have the opportunity to try a ‘taster session’ on the off-road course in a Q model alongside an off-road driving expert.

The thrilling Audi Sport Experience is included as part of the ‘standard equipment’ for customers purchasing a new R8 Coupe or Spyder, and is offered at reduced cost to recipients of a new RS 6 Avant or RS 7 Sportback (including 605PS performance versionsm.

The compelling Experiences at Silverstone don’t have to be the end of the action-packed journey for committed drivers. They can continue to hone their skills at an international level through exciting Audi driving experience programmes involving everything from ice driving in Finland to conquering the 170+ corners making up Germany’s gruelling Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit.

To purchase a voucher for the Audi driving experience visit http://www.audi.co.uk/about-audi/audi-driving-experience.html

* With fewer than 9 driving licence penalty points. For some of the European ADE courses, customers will need to be over the age of 25.

Article source: www.audi.co.uk

Detail changes to the executive class Saloon, Avant and five-door Sportback ranges enhance styling, connectivity and comfort

• New highlights for exterior, interior and equipment
• Even more connectivity and entertainment features
• A6 Saloon 2017 Model Year pricing from £32,995 OTR, Avant from £35,095
• S6 from £57,215 OTR, RS 6 Avant from £79,505 OTR
• A7 Sportback 2017 Model Year pricing from £46,865 OTR
• S7 Sportback from £64,380 OTR, RS 7 Sportback from £85,485 OTR
• UK ordering from May, first deliveries in the summer

Ingolstadt, April 22, 2016 – In the spirit of ‘never standing still’ which is a key tenet of Vorsprung durch Technik, Audi is making some detail changes to its executive class A6 and A7 Sportback ranges. Carefully considered styling refinements enhance the perennially popular A6 Saloon and Avant lines, while all models benefit from interior upgrades and new equipment. UK order banks for the latest A6 and A7 Sportback models and their S and RS counterparts will open in May and deliveries will start in the summer.

The basis for the newly updated A6 and A6 Avant ranges is a new SE Executive specification level, which replaces the entry level SE option available up to this point. It ushers in a new, bolder look courtesy of a new front apron incorporating more pronounced air inlets with gloss black horizontal struts, more sculpted side sills and a restyled rear bumper now housing a new diffuser at its lower edge.

The already more sporting stance struck by the S line and top flight Black Edition models has also been subtly enhanced by a new radiator grille with a matt black surround and chrome slats flanked by striking side air inlets also fringed with chrome.

Compatibility with the latest Audi connectivity and entertainment options is the headline news in the updated interiors of the A6 and A7 Sportback models. The Audi smartphone interface is now available for both models in combination with the optional Technology Pack, bringing Apple Car Play and Android Auto to the car.

If an iOS or Android smartphone is connected to the USB port (iOS from 7.1, Android from 5.0 Lollipop), the handset‘s contents such as navigation, phone, music and selected third party apps are offered in a separate MMI menu. They can be accessed conveniently by MMI or voice control. The Audi phone box feature that was already a part of the pack has also taken a step forward – as before it connects smartphones to the on board antenna by near-field coupling, but it now also offers the added convenience of inductive charging of compatible handsets (to Qi standard).

Detail upgrades to the standard equipment lists have also been made across the A6, A7 Sportback, S6 and S7 Sportback and A6 allroad ranges, starting with the addition of LED interior lighting, front seat heating, electric lumbar adjustment and elegant Aluminium Ellipse inlays for A6 SE Executive models over and above the previous SE specification.

At the pinnacle of the range, the 560PS RS 6 and RS 7 Sportback and their even more powerful 605PS RS 6 performance and RS 7 Sportback performance counterparts are now available in an expanded palette of matt effect colours including Sepang Blue, Nardo Grey, Glacier White and Floret Silver.

Equipment highlights for every A6 and A7 Sportback model already include bi-xenon or all-LED headlamps with LED tail lights, acoustic front glazing, full leather upholstery, MMI navigation, deluxe four-zone climate control, the Audi Music Interface channelled through the 180-watt Audi Sound System and various versions of the Audi parking system.

Article source: www.audi.co.uk

• Mixed mobility solution for urban areas
• Seamless navigation for car and integrated electric longboard
• New Audi Q3 debuts in China

Ingolstadt/Beijing, April 25, 2016 – At Auto China 2016 in Beijing, Audi presents the Audi connected mobility concept, a concept car based on the Audi Q3, the brand’s urban compact SUV. The concept offers sporty and multi-functional mobility for megacities with dense traffic and road restrictions. Tailored to markets with growing urbanisation such as China, this lifestyle concept was developed at Audi Research & Development in Beijing and focuses on young, progressive drivers.

An electrically powered multifunctional longboard, measuring 1.05 metres in length, is integrated into the rear bumper of the car for convenient storage and removal. To ensure permanent usability, the device is charged automatically while loaded in the car. The board’s premium design includes superior materials such as carbon fibre and aluminium.

The car’s infotainment system is linked to the smartphone calendar of the user. Based on the destination and planned arrival time, the system will calculate the fastest mobility mix based on real-time traffic data. In case the longboard option is faster, the system will recommend a parking space nearby so that the driver may continue the commute to the destination with the electric board. The navigation information synchronises with the Audi MMI connect App on the user’s smartphone that continues to guide the route.

The multi-functional longboard has a battery range of more than seven miles (12 kilometres) and reaches a maximum speed of 18mph. The board can be used in three riding modes: In “scooter mode”, the phone is conveniently clipped to the unfolded handlebar to display directions. The speed is adjusted via remote control attached to the right handlebar grip. A backpack can be conveniently clipped onto the steering rack. With the handlebar folded down in “sport mode”, the rider controls the speed via remote control in his hand. In a third mode, the board serves as a transport device for luggage or shopping bags: Connected wirelessly to a smartphone or smart-watch, the board automatically follows its owner.

The Audi connected mobility concept is based on the Audi Q3 which is produced locally in China. More than 70,000 units were sold in the region in 2015, making the Q3 the market leader in the premium compact SUV segment. At Auto China 2016, Audi launches the new Audi Q3 on the Chinese market.

Article source: www.audi.co.uk

One-off six-seater Audi limousine took almost a year to develop and finesse to the same exacting standards as a production-ready A8

• Premium manufacturer develops and builds 6.36-metre luxury saloon to special customer order
• Comfortable and spacious seating for six
• Wheelbase extended by almost 1.1 metres over the A8 L, with a completely reworked outer skin starting from the A-pillar backwards
• Additional use of aluminium to lengthen and strengthen the Audi Space Frame

Ingolstadt, April 11, 2016 – Audi has gone to even greater lengths to deliver all of the familiar trappings associated with its flagship A8 L model in an entirely unique format of considerable proportions. At the special request of a European customer, the premium brand has created the Audi A8 L extended, a built-to-order model measuring 6.36 metres (20.9 ft) in length and with a wheelbase of 4.22 metres (13.8 ft). The A8 L extended affords exquisite comfort for passengers occupying all of its six seats. Audi has further requests for the custom product already.

Experts invested almost a year in developing and building the exceptionally long luxury saloon. The result was an exclusive one-off specimen that meets the high standards of the production model in every domain. The major challenges concerned the safety and rigidity of the extra-large body, as well as the styling of the silhouette.

The Audi A8 L extended benefits from the low weight of the production model’s body, which uses an Audi Space Frame design and is made almost entirely from aluminium. For the built-to-order version the engineers extended the side sills and centre tunnel using extruded aluminium sections. Inside the tunnel, these also assist with the air routing. A double rear bulkhead separates the passenger compartment from the luggage compartment; the roof incorporates additional aluminium profiled tubes and cross-braces. These measures provide torsional and flexural rigidity almost on a par with the A8 L.

The representative XXL saloon in discreet moonlight blue, metallic offers 1.09 metres (3.6 ft) more wheelbase and overall length than the Audi A8. To maintain a harmonious roof line, the entire body from the A-pillar back has been reworked.

The experts embedded a 2.40-metre (7.9 ft) glass panel in the roof skin to enhance the sense of spaciousness.

The sun blinds – one for each row of seats – prevent overheating of the interior in strong sunlight. The headlights and rear lights incorporate small side marker lights, as is prescribed by law for vehicles of this length.

All passengers face the direction of travel in the Audi A8 L extended. The six seats are upholstered in extra-supple Valcona leather, in the colour velvet beige. Rows two and three feature electrically adjustable individual seats. The third row has a continuous centre console, a Rear Seat Entertainment display and a cool box.

The one-off A8 version is powered by a 3.0 TFSI engine developing 310 PS, delivering up to 440 Nm (324.5 lb ft) of torque. This propels the saloon from 0 to 62 mph in 7.1 seconds and up to an electronically governed top speed of 155 mph. An eight-speed tiptronic transfers engine power to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system. The 19 inch wheels in 15 spoke design conceal the brake system of the Audi S8, which assures outstanding deceleration of the over six-metre-long (19.7 ft) luxury saloon, with its unladen weight of 2,418 kilograms.

Article source: www.audi.co.uk