OTOF

Copyright 2002 Crain Communications Inc.
Automotive News


March 11, 2002, Monday

SECTION: Pg. 6

LENGTH: 211 words

HEADLINE: Audi to make sports car, crossover

BYLINE: Luca Ciferri, Wim Oude Weernink

DATELINE: GENEVA

BODY:


Audi will launch a sports car above the TT and a new crossover vehicle.

Martin Winterkorn, head of VW's new sporty brand division, confirmed Audi's plans. Winterkorn previously was head of development at Vokswagen AG, Audi's parent.

''My priorities for the Audi brand are to enhance its sporty image with a crossover similar to the Avantissimo concept car,'' Winterkorn said.

The Avantissimo was unveiled in September at the Frankfurt auto show.

''We will also launch a sports car above our current TT, but under the forthcoming small Lamborghini.''

The small Lamborghini, code-named LB140, will be powered by a V-10 engine.

The Lamborghini would cost about the same as entry-level versions of the Porsche 911 and Jaguar XK8.

Separately, an Audi official said Seat may become a direct subsidiary of Audi AG.

''That is thinkable indeed,'' said Peter Abele, Audi's board member for finance and organization. ''But for the moment, bringing marketing, sales and product development in line with the new brand strategy has priority.''

Audi, Seat and Lamborghini are part of Volkswagen AG's new sporty division.

At the beginning of the year, design boss Walter de' Silva moved from Seat to oversee the sporty group's design operation.



GRAPHIC: The Avantissimo concept: Producing something like it is an Audi priority.

LOAD-DATE: March 11, 2002

GuilTTy

Sounds like bigger plans than simply releasing a V6 TT.

ZGTT

Pictures? :-)

OTOF

Nope just press article.

OTOF

Yes, sounds like plans for a different model entirely.

42N8 TT

Hope it has wings! "Launch... above the TT"

JustJeff

sounds like it will definitely be on the new stretched A3 platform then.

chillzatl

don't get me wrong, I love my TT and like all their other cars a good bit. I just feel that the direction of the new A4 feels a bit too influenced by other companies designs for me. I like it still, but the rear of the car does not look and feel like an Audi should. If they develop something new is it going to look and feel like an Audi? Or is it going to be part Audi and part "generation hype"?

Bluto

''We will also launch a sports car above our current TT, but under the forthcoming small Lamborghini"

The small Lambo is slated to come in around 70k.

So the new Audi sports car will come in at 40-70k.

That's atleast what I make of it.

OTOF

three or four more years ;-)