The Hindu Business Line : Audi plans to add four new variants this year

Audi, the German luxury car manufacturer, is set to expand its product portfolio in 2007 by introducing four new variants alongside the existing eleven in the country. These models will be introduced in a phased manner during the year; Mr Rahil Ansari, Country Manager, however, declined to divulge the details.

Taking on Merc

To counter the largest selling luxury model in the E-segment — the Mercedes Benz E-class — the company has decided to introduce the 2.7-litre (petrol and diesel) variants priced on par with the Mercedes Benz E-280 (petrol and diesel variants). Audi's existing fleet in the E-segment — the A6 3-litre (petrol and diesel variant) — cost Rs 5 lakh more than the existing E-class range of Mercedes Benz (Rs 48 - 50 lakh).

In addition to the existing A4 range (3-litre petrol and diesel variants), the company is to introduce the 3.2-litre V6 engine variant priced in the Rs 40-lakh plus bracket. The model could have limited sales, said industry sources.

Popular model

The most popular among all Audi models and the latest to be introduced in the country, the Q7 would have an additional petrol model, the 3.6-litre variant.

To snap up orders from the corporate sector, the company intends homologating (certifying the road worthiness of the car by a testing agency) the existing 3-litre diesel variant.

Earlier it was imported sans homologation under an individual name.

The new models are in addition to the sporty models (RS4, S8 and the Audi TT Quattro) to be introduced by mid-2007.

With eight dealerships (one each in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore and five new dealerships across the country) the company intends selling 600 units in 2007, said company officials.

The company is also looking at the possibility of setting up a manufacturing facility in India.