Alfa Romeo’s 156 Sportwagon is to get the same facelift as the sedan – and an Audi Allroad-style all-wheel drive crossover version called, somewhat unimaginatively, the Crosswagon.
Parklands Audi came under a bit of pressure recently.
Sytner is believed to be trying to beat off rival groups in a move to acquire Harrogate-based Massingberd Group plc, which has three Volkswagen dealerships and one Audi centre.
Revisions to the Audi retail network have seen around 38 of the 120 outlets change hands over the past 12 months. The process is part of a strategy that will see the company cut the number of partners from 90 in 2000 to 40. At the end of this year it expects to have 50.
Trevor Finn, Pendragon chief executive, is confident manufacturers will refranchise most dealerships acquired in the acquisition of CD Bramall, despite the announcement that Tony Bramall has bought back two Audi sites
Although still the blue chip choice for luxury saloon buyers, the Mercedes-Benz S-class is now the oldest car in the segment. BMW, Audi, Jaguar and even VW have all launched high-tech, high quality rivals within the past three years, and in Britain it faces tough competition from Range Rover
A8 stretches out to tempt luxury market
Audi has launched more EU4 emission compliant A4's to its existing range
Motor retailing entrepreneur Tony Bramall, who sold his group to Pendragon for £230m in February, has paid around £4m to buy back standalone Audi sites at Lincoln and Grimsby
Audi has announced that it has sold more cars worldwide than ever before in the first quarter of 2004
TRW Automotive has launched its next generation electric parking brake (EPB) system on the new Audi A6. The system, a step-up in electrical braking systems, handles emergency stop and conventional parking brake applications
A6 snubs nose at 5-series
As part of the pre-audit review of its maiden annual results, body repair group Just Car Clinics Group plc has identified a 'significant overstatement of trading results' in three of its twelve locations.
German trade paper Autohaus reports that some manufacturers, including BMW, Audi and VW have ceased to offer manufacturer warranties following changes to German product liability law.
Poole Audi is to plough its profits into moving its bodyshop to a standalone 1.5-acre site. The retailer, which posted turnover up from £14.4m to £20.1m in 2003, says it recorded a “substantial” profits increase.
Winner: Audi Academy
Audi has officially unveiled its new face by taking the wraps off its new A6. Making its world debut at the Geneva motor show, the new luxury saloon will arrive here in May.
Audi's net profit in 2003 was up 5% year on year at €816m, but pre-tax profit was hit by exchange costs and dropped 11.6% to €1.1bn.
Toyota and eBay have concluded a unique marketing agreement in the US that includes a one-year exclusive sponsorship deal on eBay reaching a 95m audience.
Lamborghini London, the official sole UK dealer for Audi-owned Automobili Lamborghini SpA and part of H.R. Owen Plc, will account for approximately 10% of Lamborghini's production in 2004.
