Audi Unleashes Two Pumped-Up Performance Models at Detroit Auto Show

Nashua, 01/30/2013 / SubmitMyPR /

With its sights set on becoming the best-selling luxury auto brand in the United States, Audi is taking steps to not only broaden the appeal of its lineup, but to boost its reputation among high-end luxury buyers. Addressing that latter goal, the automaker debuted two new high-performance models at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month: the 2014 Audi RS 7 Sportback and 2013 Audi SQ5 crossover.

As the latest addition to Audi's expanding RS performance line, the RS 7 is based on the Audi A7 five-door coupe, but it gets a twin-turbo V8 to elevate output to a massive 560 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. While that power enables a zero-to-62-mph time of just 3.9 seconds, the car's engine is surprisingly fuel efficient, thanks to a standard stop-start system, thermal-management technology and a cylinder-on-demand system that allows the unit to act as a four-cylinder during cruising.

"The elegant styling and dynamic ride of the Audi A7 has won over buyers and critics alike since it went on sale in 2011, and drivers will be able to enjoy those qualities to the nth degree when the RS 7 arrives later this year," said Larry Bedell, general manager of Audi of Nashua, an Audi dealer in New Hampshire. "Unlike some other high-performance models, the Audi RS 7 doesn't just churn out huge amounts of horsepower; it uses technology like torque vectoring to properly harness all that energy in the turns, and it cuts down on fuel consumption when that power isn’t needed."

While its 354 horsepower might seem strangely conservative compared to that of the RS 7, the new Audi SQ5 uses a supercharged 3.0-liter V6 to sprint from zero to 62 mph in 5.3 seconds, the quickest time in its class. A sportier version of the Audi Q5 crossover, the SQ5 receives 82 more horsepower than standard V6 models, as well as a lower ride height, a firmer suspension and available 20- or 21-inch alloy wheels.

The new Audi SQ5 won't go on sale until the third quarter of this year, but existing Q5 models are more than holding their own on the sales floor in the meantime. The Q5 was Audi's second best seller in 2012, moving 28,671 units for a 15 percent increase year-over-year. That tally helped the brand post a record year in the United States, with overall sales rising 19 percent compared to 2011, totaling 139,310 units.

"After its impressive year in 2012, Audi has good reason to believe that it can steal the luxury sales title from its fellow German competitors in the near future," Bedell noted. "While models like the RS 7 and SQ5 aren't likely to be high-volume sellers on their own because of their exclusivity, they will play a big role in augmenting Audi's reputation for performance across the lineup. In the long term, that could be just as important."

About Audi of Nashua:
A five-time winner of Audi’s prestigious Magna Society award, Audi of Nashua invites those in search of the world’s finest vehicles to explore its inventory of new and used Audi cars for sale. New Hampshire Audi owners will also find a complete selection of Audi parts and accessories, as well as expert Audi service from factory-trained technicians. Discover the quality, performance and engineering that make every Audi special by checking their inventory at www.audinashua.com, liking them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/audiofnashua, or calling their dealership, located at 170 Main Dunstable Road in Nashua, N.H., at 888-475-5701.