Audi to launch more RS vehicles in China
Audi A1 was officially launched in Beijing on October 9. Zhang Xiaojun, deputy managing director of FAW-Volkswagen’s Audi sales division, accepted an interview before the model’s launching ceremony.
Zhang Xiaojun revealed that besides Audi A1 1.4TSI, Audi will introduce more A1 products of other displacements, including a 1.2TSI model and a highly-tuned 1.4TSI model. However, Zhang Xiaojun said firmly that Audi A1 won’t be made locally. He also said that Audi will introduce S and RS series next year to enhance Audi’s brand image.
As Audi’s smallest and youngest model, Audi A1 is seen to rival against MINI COOPER and Smart. However, Zhang Xiaojun said that A1 is the first A0-class car launched by a luxury brand, and A1 is superior to its rivals in terms of craftsmanship, material and high-tech configurations.
FAW Audi introduces three imported models in the second half of 2011. Accordingly, the sales proportion of Audi imported vehicles has increased from 14% to 18%. Zhang Xiaojun promised that all of Audi products will be introduced to Chinese market by 2015.
Zhang Xiaojun sees the trend of small luxury vehicles as the result of traffic jam and high-efficient powertrain technologies. He believes that the trend will continue as the consumer group of luxury vehicles grows younger.
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it
RSS Feed
RE: “superior to its rivals in terms of craftsmanship, material”
I agree. The materials and craftsmanship inside is fantastic. It’s a well built car. I just think it looks too plain jane to attract a cool hip young audience, the market it’s after. External wow-factor is what younger people want, not just a well built small family car.
Having seen an A1 here in the flesh, I don’t agree with you. What other small car here looks better to you?
I was with an Audi guy last week who told me the Polo GTI and A1 are not comparable, he said the A1 is a vastly superior product in terms of handling.
He did boast that the A1 is the best small car on the market right now compared to the MINI, Fiat 500 and the Smart.
Isn’t that his job to tell you that? I guess here he compares it to the lower spec mini cooper because of the price here. Any other market it would be against the cooper s which probably beats it.
Just an informal dinner side chat, he even interjected with ‘not because Im an Audi man, but because Im a car man’