Audi’s new ‘sports car’ image to help boost sales in U.S.

According to Marc Trahan, Audi’s No.2 executive in North America, Audi is hoping to attract more people to the German brand by adding more sporty cars to its lineup. Trahan believes that the ‘dream car’ image is just what Audi needed in the U.S. to spice up its lineup and boost sales.

For 2007 Audi has three such vehicles headed to the U.S. First and foremost, Audi starting taking orders for the popular 420 horsepower Audi R8 earlier in September. The Audi R8 will carry a $110,000 price tag. Next month, Audi will be bringing the 420 horsepower Audi RS4 Cabriolet to the U.S. with a price tag of $82,675. The 354 horsepower Audi S5 will be available mid-November for a price of $51,275. Deliveries for the S5 aren’t expected until March of ’08.

Of course other models are in the pipeline for Audi to expand its ‘dream car’ lineup. The four-door A7 coupe has already confirmed along with an expected S7 model. Audi is also expected to debut the Audi RS5 later next year which will produce close to 450 to 500 horsepower.

The sports cars “help to further strengthen and clarify what Audi is all about,” Trahan said at a press event here. “They help us sell in new markets. The S5 and the R8 are also completely new segments for us.”

Audi is hoping to sell 300 R8’s this year and 1,000 to 1,200 R8’s next year.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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