Audi sales boss rules out A1 for the U.S.

Peter Schwarzenbauer says the brand isn't well established enough in the US to support sales of small cars

Audi's sales boss says the brand isn't well established enough in the US to support sales of small cars.

Peter Schwarzenbauer, responsible for global sales and marketing at Audi, also ruled out bringing the upcoming A1 to the US market for that same reason.

Audi has spent the better part of the last 15 years successfully building its brand to compete against its chief rivals, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. But Schwarzenbauer doesn't believe the brand can easily go down market in the US like the 3 German premium brands have done in Europe. Over the last decade, those automakers have introduced smaller models such as the Mercedes A and B Class, the BMW 1-series and Audi with the A1, A2 (discontinued) and A3 models. Schwarzenbauer also ruled out a sub-brand like BMW has with MINI and Mercedes has with Smart.

Automotive News has previously reported that Audi dealers were initially keen on the A1 until they found out the car would come with a price tag of 25,000 US dollars, while they were thinking more along the lines of an 18,000 dollar starting price.

Of course, given current exchange rates, it is simply not viable to sell small, European-produced cars in the US. And the US consumer is still resistant to paying a lot for small vehicles.

Apparently, Schwarzenbauer thinks so too.

"...if you look at the real numbers [MINI and Smart sales in the US], it's not huge volumes. I'm not so sure yet we really see a trend to small cars in the United States," Schwarzenbauer told Automotive News.

Sportec boosts the Audi RS6 up to 700hp

Swiss tuner Sportec usually specializes in Porsche models, but now the company has unveiled a highly modified Audi RS6 Sedan at the Geneva Motor Show. Labeled the Sportec RS700, the new car has a number of modifications that make it an even more formidable machine than it was before the Swiss tuners got their hands on it.

If you're wondering, the figure of '700' referred to in the model name is the amount of horsepower that the modded Audi carries under its hood, a full 120hp (90kW) up from the standard car's 580hp (433kW). Meanwhile, torque is up to a whopping 590lb-ft (800Nm), an improvement of around 111lb-ft (150Nm) compared to the original car.

While the original Audi RS6 was no slouch on the road, the new RS700 is lightning fast thanks to its increased power output. The sprint to 60mph is dispensed within just four seconds, and 120mph comes up in just over 12 seconds. If you keep the accelerator firmly pressed down and find yourself a long enough stretch of road, the delimited RS700 will take you all the way up to 192mph - not bad for a five-seater with a boot.

The stunning performance increases come from a number of modifications, including new high-flow catalysts and reprogramming of the engine CPU. Sportec also offers a lowering kit that puts the RS700 30mm closer to the ground than the standard RS6 to help it slip through the air more easily. On top of this, there are also custom rims and a carbon-fiber front spoiler lip and a matching carbon-fiber rear diffuser to increase downforce.

Audi R15 TDI to contend three ALMS events this yearAudi R15 TDI to contend three ALMS events this year

Diesel is fast - scary fast - as Audi's R10 TDI proved when it swept through the world of Le Mans and endurance racing by storm in previous years. Since then rule changes have dampened the flame somewhat, but it's still a competitive and formidable platform. This season, it's getting a full-scale upgrade with the launch of the R15 TDI Le Mans Prototype racer.

The first test-in-anger of the new car will be at the legendary 12-hour race at Sebring, Florida, on March 21, but according to a new report the car will contend two additional Le Mans races on American soil. The Bleacher Report claims Audi has reversed an earlier decision to avoid most of the 2009 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and will now compete in a total of three races.

The information comes from Audi boss Rupert Stadler, who revealed that the two new R15 TDI race cars will appear at the Petit Le Mans event at Road Atlanta on September 26 and the season finale at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on October 10.

In the cockpits of the first R15 for the first rate at Sebring will be Allan McNish, Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen, while the second car will be manned by Lucas Luhr, Mike Rockenfeller, and Marco Werner. The two trios hope to pilot the new car to a ninth victory at the event.