The Chinese actress Maggie Cheung has done a advertising shoot for the Audi A5 and Audi S8, Maggie Cheung  is well known from movies such as In the Mood for Love, Irma Vep, and 2046 and is the first asian actress to win a prize at the Cannes .

Maggie posed alongside the Audi A5 bellow  and the luxurious Audi S8 (above). Audi gives us the opportunity to discover through several pictures the enchantments of this Chinese  beauty together with its sport and luxurious cars.

Maggie Cheung is also Audi’s Brand Ambassador in China, where she has been doing some  charity work for Audi and UNICEF project “Driving Dreams” aiming  to bring life-skills  and sports activities to some 30,000 out-of-school children in over 150 poor villages  across western China.

Car magazine (who do seem to have a mole inside Ingolstadt) are reporting the Audi will be showing the Audi A7 at the 2009 Frankfurt motor show, The Audi A7 is designed to compete in the 4 door coupe market (e.g. the the Mercedes CLS). The Audi A7 targeted to arrive in the show rooms in 2010.

The only pictures so far are of the A7 caught on test in a very fetching tent outfit.

A range of engines will be offered with the ‘Base’ models will run a 2.8-litre direct-injection FSI V6 while more sporty models may use the  S4’s new 3.0-litre supercharged V6. Three transmissions options will be offered, with a six-speed manual and a choice of seven-speed dual-clutch or automatic transmissions.

Wait there’s more

As well as the Audi A7  Both S7 and RS7 variants are expected – both with the 5.2-litre V10 engine already seen in the Audi RS6 . With and without turbos, it will guarantee power delivery of approaching 600hp in the RS7.

There are also rumours of  a hybrid Audi A7  said to combine V6 diesel or gasoline engines with the VW group’s lithium-ion batteries from Sanyo.

Wait there’s even more

Car also say that it looks like there may be a Audi A7 Cabriolet- I think we are going to need a bigger showroom/website.

Sources indicate a price point between £35,000-£50,000 for standard models. You’ll naturally pay more for the Audi S7 and Audi RS7 models.

The Audi A1 (Audis response to the BMW Mini)  has been speculated about for a while now but now there is some more concrete news on the Audi A1

The Audi A1 is confirmed for the upcoming Tokyo Motor Show. Th Audi A1 is also confirmed to be shown as hybrid presumably using the dual engine system that was part of the Metroproject Quattro where the main engine 1.4 TSI  drives the front wheels - with a secondary electric powertrain driving the back wheels.

• The Audi A1 will come with iPod interface and MMI
• Available in Coupe and Speedster forms
• The 1.4 TSI is currently being modified to include a turbocharger, but no compressor. But it will get a power upgrade to 125 bhp
• There are no plans currently to bring the Audi A1 anywhere else than Europe

At the recent 2008 Motor Trader Awards. Essex Audi won the Used Car Retailer of the Year Award 2008.

This is the biggest awards event in the automotive retailing calendar and is seen as the industry’s version of the Oscars with over 1,300 professionals from right across the industry in attendance.

We are proud to have won such a prestigious award - and would like to thank all our customers and colleagues for making this possible.

Update 22 July you can see a full list of Winners here

Audi uses some terminology specific to Audi’s so if you want to know what the difference is between S-Tronic for Multitronic or what Vorsprung Durch Technik means is read on…

• Vorsprung Durch Technik- this means Advancement through technology.
• Sportback- This is the name of the 5 door version of the Audi A3, it’s available in all the same engines as the 3 door and is the same specification as a standard Audi in the pricelist.
• Avant- This is the Estate version of our Saloon cars Audi A4 and Audi A6. 
• FSI- Fuel Stratified Injection- petrol is injected directly into the combustion chambers at high pressure which reduces heat loss and increases output all whilst reducing fuel consumption and exhaust emission.
• DPF- Diesel Particulate Filter- Removes particulate matter from diesel exhaust by physical filtration therefore lowering CO2 emissions.
• ASR-Anti- Slip regulation also known as Traction control reduces power to the wheels when traction/ grip is lost whilst accelerating.
• ESP- Electronic Stability Program The electronic stabilisation program (ESP) makes the vehicle easier to control in handling situations close to the limit & reduces the danger of swerving. ESP identifies the car’s intended direction and response. It applies the brakes on individual wheels, thereby generating one-sided forces that help to keep the car moving in the desired direction. The program uses the Anti Lock Braking system (ABS) , electronic brake-force distribution (EBD- ensures maximum braking performance for the front and rear wheels) and also the traction control system.

Important safety Note: ESP cannot override a car’s physical limits. If a driver pushes the possibilities of the car’s chassis and ESP too far, ESP cannot prevent an accident don’t drive like a C%$k to use top gears preferred term

• S-Tronic (previously known as DSG)- The technical basis of the S-tronic gearbox is a double clutch. This consists of two wet plate-type clutches with hydraulically regulated contact pressure. One of the two clutches engages the odd-numbered, the other the even-numbered gears. This principle enables gear shifts to be made without interrupting the power flow and keeps the shift times extremely short.
• Multitronic- is a 7 Speed continuously variable transmission with a steel link-plate chain running in tension in an oil bath between two pairs of bevel wheels of variable diameter. It can transmit torque of up to 310 Nm - a world-first for this kind of transmission.
• Tiptronic- is a 6 Speed transmission and has all the advantages and technical features (Dynamic Shift Program (DSP), key lock, shift lock) of an Automatic. Tiptronic allows the driver to override the automatic mode by moving the lever into a second (Tiptronic) shift gate. All gear changes take place without any interruption in engine power. This is particularly advantageous when towing a trailer. The six-speed Tiptronic has wider transmission spacing, thus reducing fuel consumption and the noise level and increasing ride comfort. On all models it has an additional Sport program which delays upshifts for a sportier driving style and is largely found on Quattro as it has the power/ functionality to drive two axles.
• MMI- Multi Media Interface- All the vehicles information is controlled Via one clear display located in the centre console including car set up, radio/ CD control and additional features such as Sat Nav and phone kit (if fitted)
• Quattro- A permanent 4 wheel drive system- drive power is continuously distributed between the front and rear axles depending on weather conditions, surface and gradient.

In the past there have been persistent rumours (we blogged about one here a last year) that Audi may get involved in F1.  Normally these are squashed by Audi but the most recent ones have been sparked by Mario Theissen, head of motor sports at BMW.

Mario Commented recently:

Volkswagen/Audi/Porsche are closely considering entering F1, along with several unnamed Asian automakers. Although its sister company Renault already runs a team, Nissan has been touted as a possible entry. More likely, however, is that Hyundai/Kia will seek the prominence and the technology to go with its rise in the ranks by joining the fray.

Adding to the speculation is the fact that Audi’s parent company Volkswagen already has a relationship with Red Bull, the two companies working together on projects like the Touareg rally car.  Gerhard Berger has been mooted to lead Audi’s involvement in F1, having links with both former Volkswagen Group chairman Bernd Pischetsrieder and Red Bull energy drinks magnate Dietrich Mateschitz. Most German racing Tifosi would love to have Michel Schumacher come out of retirement or to get involved with the team - given his relationship with Ferrari this seems unlikely.

Despite such rumours, however, Audi chairman Rupert Stadler underlined in an interview with German news agency SID that:

“F1 is still not an issue for us.”

Though with F1 emphasising fuel economy and energy recovery in the next set of changes  to the F1 Regs - and  given F1s propensity for unleashing bombshells like Brands Hatch losing the British GP to Donnington - we may all be surprised.

On last Sundays (Jul 6th ) Top Gear, James Corden along with Rob Brydon where the stars in a reasonably priced car segment of the show – both of them are Audi fans.

James Corden commented that he had  had a Mercedes C180 but really did not like it and was was thinking of getting an Audi A5 or Audi S3. Rob Brydon also commented that he currently has an Audi A4 Cabriolet and was getting Audi A6 Allroad

Jeremy Clarkson comment that he hadn’t seen an Audi A5 and was convinced they only made one for the adverts ? Just to put your mind at rest Jeremy they do exist.

How about a nice 2007 Audi A5 3.0 TDI Quattro Coupe  in topaz blue.

only £37500.00

Or if you’re a company rep looking to standout from the herd of Merc drivers how about a Audi A5 1.8T FSI Sport Manual COUPÉ  For £426.00* a month from out contract hire division at audi nationwide.

Audi has a big surprise for this year’s Festival of Speed at Goodwood, for those of you that are not familiar the Goodwood’s Festival of Speed is the biggest classic car racing event in the world. This year Audi will debut the reconstruction of a classic racing car from Auto Union, the famous “Silverarrow” Type D Dual Compressor from 1939.

The reconstruction of this racing car was not easy; it took four years to reconstruct the “new” Auto Union Type D. The car was entirely built in England by the specialist workshop Crosthwaite & Gardiner in East Sussex using some original parts and by Roach Manufacturing, near Southampton, who had the hardest task in hand, rebuilt the bodywork based only in a handful of historic photos.

The “Silverarrow” will be driven by Pink Floyd’s drummer Nick Mason. Nick has driven in the famous Le Mans 24h Hours in five occasions and has an impressive collection of classic racing cars. Had already driven an Auto Union car at last year’s Festival Audi couldn’t think of anyone else rather than Manson to drive its new master piece.

The new “Silverarrow” won’t be the only Audi car on the line-up. The Audi A4 Supertouring that won the 1996 British Touring Car Championship (BTTC) will also be on the line-up, and will be driven by it’s former driver Frank Biela who also won Le Mans 24 Hours five times.

Another Audi section will be present at Goodwood’s Festival of Speed, Audi Sport will exhibiting the Audi R10, winner of this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours.

Audi plans to cut CO2 output from its cars by 20% by 2012, Audi has just introduced its cleanest Audi A4 TDI model ever and at the same time launched an all-new 2.0 TFSI engine to complete its efficiency-focused overhaul of the Audi A4 petrol range.

The Audi A4 is notable as the compact executive car that will attract the lowest company car tax liability in the premium sector, the new 120PS Audi A4 2.0 TDI is available to order now in Saloon and Avant body styles with standard, SE or S line specification. The powerful 211PS Audi A4 2.0 TFSI with new performance-enhancing Audi Valvelift technology is offered in SE or S line forms.

The new TDI is based on the latest generation 2.0-litre 143PS unit first seen in the Audi A4 at its launch earlier this year, and shares its advanced common rail piezo fuel injection system. With an output of 120PS, and 290Nm of torque delivered via a six-speed manual transmission from just 1,750rpm, it combines strong performance with the potential to cover in excess of 55mpg, a bi-product of this impressively low fuel usage being a low CO2 figure of 134g/km.

This impressive efficiency ensures that drivers of the new Audi A4 2.0 TDI 120PS will enjoy the lowest tax burden in the premium sector, with benefit in kind tax liability of £1,582.20 per annum or £131.85 per month for a company car user in the 40 per cent tax bracket.

Fleet Buyers check out Audi Nationwide for the Best Audi A4 Contract Hire Deals