Audi Canada Wins Triple Crown In 2008 AJAC Awards

Audi Canada’s all new R8 and S5 models are triple crown winners today after being named by the members of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC) as the best cars in their respective “Prestige” and “Sports Performance Over $50,000” categories. In addition, Canada’s leading automotive writers and editors, forced to revise their list of ‘dream cars’, have selected the all-new Audi R8 as the “Most Coveted” new car for the 2008 model year. The two winning Audi vehicles were evaluated against a long list of discerning criteria amidst a group of strong eligible competitors.

The AJAC Canadian Car of the Year competition gathers over 70 prominent Canadian automotive journalists in Niagara-on-the-Lake for several days in October for the annual “TestFest” event. This program has received high praise from journalists and consumers alike because the evaluation and voting processes are carried out in a professional, extremely fair, serious and equitable manner.

The participating journalists have the opportunity to test drive all the entries back to back in identical conditions. An extensive list of important criteria is assessed by a group of journalists assigned to a specific category, and all journalists also vote for their individual choice for car of the year.

This year, participating AJAC members were asked to select one vehicle from the 59 Canadian Car of the Year entries as their dream car, truck or SUV. They were told that, without regard for price, they were to select the vehicle they would most like to own. The majority of the 74 voting journalists had to cast a ballot and, of those, two-thirds must have voted for the same vehicle in order for AJAC to make a “Most Coveted” award presentation. If the two-thirds criterion had not been met, the award would not have been presented

According to a number of AJAC surveys, the Canadian Car of the Year Awards have a significant influence on the purchase decision of Canadian car buyers.

“Winning these awards marks a defining moment for the Audi brand in Canada”, said Diego Ramos, Executive Vice President of Audi Canada, “especially when you consider the other fine automobiles with which the R8 and S5 were competing. I applaud the tremendous level of professionalism and integrity with which AJAC operates this annual competition.” He added, “Clearly, these awards attest to the fact that both are leaders in their segment and that Audi is on the rise.”

The 2008 Audi R8

Audi’s first ever premium mid-engine sports car began appearing in Canadian Audi retailer showrooms in September.

“Inspired by every great idea we have ever had, the all-new R8 will create a higher profile for Audi in Canada,” said Doug Clark, Audi Canada’s Director of Communications, Marketing and Public Relations. “Equipped with the expertise that Audi has garnered through its involvement in motorsport and from building sporty premium-class automobiles, the R8 is a precision sports car that embodies Audi’s superlative road manners, pioneering technology and advanced design.”

The incredible R8’s lightweight aluminum chassis, high-revving 420-hp 4.2L FSI V8 engine, race-inspired suspension, quattro all-wheel drive system, and low centre of gravity combine to make the R8 handle in an unparalleled manner.

With a base price of $139,000 for the 6-speed manual version and $150,500 for the automatic R tronic edition, the 2008 Audi R8 is positioned very competitively considering its technological standards, road performance, high quality and its extensive standard equipment levels. Audi’s R8 production facility at Neckarsulm, Germany is geared up to build just over 20 cars a day.

The 2008 Audi S5

The all-new 2008 Audi S5 is unique among the high-performance coupes available in Canada, thanks to its singular combination of V8 FSI technology and quattro permanent all-wheel drive. The 4.2-Liter, 354-hp eight-cylinder engine with its superb power delivery has worthy counterparts in the specially tuned sports suspension and high-performance brakes. Subtle, but clear design elements outside and inside serve to distinguish this coupe as a high performance athlete in a league of its own.

“The new Audi S5 opens an entirely new chapter in the Audi product portfolio. It follows the function of movement in design and technology, and inspires a pure desire to get inside and behind the wheel,” explained Mr. Clark. “For the engineers and designers behind this exciting new model, perfecting the driving experience was their motivation. It’s the scale against which the innovative power of ultramodern technologies, and the fascination of progressive design, will have to be measured from now on.”

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the all-new 2008 Audi S5 Coupe starts at $65,900 for the all-wheel drive V8-powered 6-speed manual version, which is in Audi dealer showrooms now, and $67,400 for the S5 featuring a 6-speed Tiptronic automatic gearbox with paddle shifters, which will be available in the Spring of 2008.

AUDI CANADA

Audi’s history in Canada dates to 1971, when the brand was first introduced on the Canadian market. Today, a network of over 37 Audi retailers nationwide sell and service a range of premium vehicles that include the Audi A3 sportback; the sporty A4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the high performance S4 sedan, Avant and Cabriolet models; the pulse-quickening RS 4 sports sedan; the design-leading A6 sedan and Avant; the Audi Q7 performance SUV; the all-aluminum Audi A8; the V10-powered S6 and sovereign S8 performance sedans; and the all-new 2008 TT Coupe and Roadster models and the incredible new R8 mid-engined sports car.

Audi Canada is headquartered in Ajax, Ontario and markets a line of luxury cars built in plants in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm, Germany, Bratislava, Slovakia and Györ, Hungary. The parent company, AUDI AG, is headquartered in Ingolstadt, Germany.

More information on all Audi models can be found at www.audi.ca