OTOF

Copyright 2000 The San Diego Union-Tribune

The San Diego Union-Tribune

May 27, 2000, Saturday

SECTION: AUTO;Pg. WHEELS-15

LENGTH: 426 words

HEADLINE: Lobbying for Sizzle; Audi of America asks Germany to send over more
performance, power

BYLINE: Ralph Kisiel; AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

BODY:
Audi of America is lobbying Germany for another "S" performance car and is
adding more horsepower to its 2001 TT Coupe and TT Roadster.

Both moves are part of Audi's strategy to increase performance across its
product range.

When Audi of America last fall added the S4 sports sedan to its A4 range of
sedans and wagons, it anticipated selling about 200 a month. Actual S4 sales
have been about 500 a month.

"We've had a runaway success with the S4," says Len Hunt, vice president of
Audi of America. "So we've talked to our German colleagues, and we're looking
to expand the S strategy in the United States."

Hunt would not say which S car he is pursuing, but the parent company in
Ingolstadt, Germany, builds a full range of S cars -- the S3, S4, S6 and S8 --
for Europe and other markets.

The S6 is a likely S candidate for the United States. Audi unveiled the S6
with a 340-hp V-8 engine during the Frankfurt auto show in September.

The 2000 S4, a high-performance version of the A4 sedan, went on sale in the
United States in September. The S4 has a 250-hp V-6 engine with two
turbochargers, one for each bank of cylinders instead of a single, larger unit.

The S4 has become a sort of halo car for the brand, Hunt says. Audi sold
1,932 S4 sports sedans in the United States during the final four months of
1999.

"Being in a position as export market No. 1, you can have a longer wish list
than before," says Walter Hanek, marketing director at Audi of America. North
America was Audi's top export market during 1998 and 1999.

For the 2000 model year, Audi of America introduced two additional A6 models,
one with a more powerful V-6 engine, the other with a V-8 engine.

Now the TT Coupe gets a power lift. The TT Coupe was introduced last May in
the United States with a 180-hp, turbocharged, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine.
A 225-hp version will be available in the 2001 TT Coupe in May and in the 2001
TT Roadster, which arrives in the United States in May.

Audi also has stretched its A8 sedan to better compete with Mercedes-Benz and
BMW premium luxury products. "The A8 long wheelbase is an important car for
us," Hunt says.

Audi will begin offering the 2000 A8 L this spring, as well as the original
A8 model.

The A8 L has a 118.5-inch wheelbase, an increase of 5.1 inches. The added
length provides 4 cubic feet more interior volume for rear-seat passengers.

"Research shows us that our competitors are selling about 80 percent of their
top-line vehicles in a long wheelbase format here in the U.S," Hunt says.



GRAPHIC: 1 PIC; On the go: The 2000 S4 sports sedan is a high-performance
version of the A4 sedan and a surprise sales success. Audi which expected to
sell around 200 a month, has sold about 500 a month since last fall.

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

LOAD-DATE: May 30, 2000<p>

SkyPiloTT

<p>'00 Raven Black TTQ
No Mods
Protected by V1

Episport

An S6 Avant might just get my wife off the SUV kick...

1VR62G0

Could be referring to the S8 model that is now due.....? (e)

Lone Starr (Ivan)

<p>Ivan
<i>Jacksonville, Florida<i>
<img SRC="http://www.geocities.com/y2ktturbo/tinytt.jpg" BORDER=0>
"Zorro" 2000MY, 180hp, Fronttrak, Silver/Ebony, MKII suspension, spoilTT
K&N, Garmin EMap GPS, Audi "mask", Cobra R/D

OTOF

<p>

Episport

Got an allroad brochure... wife wants SUV, but thinks it looks too "butch"

Stinky J. Sock

Either the San Diego Union-Tribune is severely behind or I am having a really bad case of deja vu.

-Brent

john s

<p><a href="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/"><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/AudiWorldPics/2000/0.jpg" border="0">
darn satellite signal is off - honest, ask anyone
<b>base link</b></a><ul><li><a href="https://www.audiworld.com/forum/m/tt/msgs/41391.phtml">old news</a></li></ul>

Lone Starr (Ivan)

They definitely do not look butch.<p>Ivan
<i>Jacksonville, Florida<i>
<img SRC="http://www.geocities.com/y2ktturbo/tinytt.jpg" BORDER=0>
"Zorro" 2000MY, 180hp, Fronttrak, Silver/Ebony, MKII suspension, spoilTT
K&N, Garmin EMap GPS, Audi "mask", Cobra R/D