Cars & Autos | Saturday 11 November, 2017 12:30 am |

Audi Middle East continues its product offensive with a dynamic range of new models showcasing the latest innovations in technology and performance at the 2017 Dubai International Motor Show from 14th to 18th November 2017. Three regional premieres include the fourth generation of its flagship model, the Audi A8, together with the all-new Audi RS 5 and the first Audi race car for the GT4 category- the R8 LMS GT4, as well as a brand new range of Audi Sport Performance Parts.

 

With the reveal of the all-new A8 –Audi presents the future of the luxury class. Now in its fourth generation, the brand’s flagship model again provides the benchmark for “Vorsprung durch Technik” – with a new design language, an innovative touchscreen operating concept and a systematically electrified drive. The Audi A8 is also the first production automobile in

the world to have been developed for conditionally automated driving. From 2018, Audi will gradually be taking piloted driving functions such as parking pilot, garage pilot and traffic jam pilot into production.

 

The second regional premiere is the Audi RS 5. Available in the Middle East region from December 2017, the car’s all-new 2.9 TFSI bi-turbo engine produces 450 hp and delivers 600 Nm of torque. Standard quattro drive distributes the power to all four wheels.

The engine offers sharp increases in power and efficiency with 600Nm of torque as well as an incomparably full-bodied RS sound. This top model in the A5 family sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and can reach a top speed of 250 km/h.

Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Audi Sport GmbH, describes the new model at the show as “The new Audi RS 5 coupé is the gran turismo among the RS models from Audi Sport. The high-performance coupé combines elegant aesthetics with high everyday usability.”

 

The third big highlight of the show for Audi is introduced by Audi Sport customer racing, the customer racing program of Audi Sport GmbH. Following Audi Sport’s launch of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 race car in 2009, the presentation of the second generation of this successful model in 2015, and the RS 3 LMS for the TCR category in 2016, the portfolio of race car models Audi offers to customers has been extended with the R8 LMS GT4 this year.

 

The Audi R8 LMS is unveiled in its GT4 version for the first time in the region. With up to 364 kW (495 hp) it is the ideal entry level model for amateurs in GT racing. The Audi R8 LMS GT4 shares more than 60 percent of its assemblies with the road approved sports car, and is produced at the Böllinger Höfe site in Germany, as well.

 

This new racing car debuted in the 24 hours endurance race at the Nürburgring in May this year headed by Audi Sport customer racing and will have its first race in the hands of Audi Sport customers in the Middle East at the Dubai 24hours in January 2018 at the Autodrome.

Staying within the Audi Sport portfolio, the Audi R8 is shown for the first time at the Dubai International Motor Show with new livery of Performance Parts, which make the supercar even more distinctive, sportier and faster. Audi Sport Performance Parts will soon be available through all Audi dealers in the Middle East for R8 models as well as the Audi TT.

 

The range of cars on display on the Audi stand is completed by the recently launched all-new SQ5, together with the S5 Sportback, RS 3 Sedan, the Q2 and the TT RS - all of which were introduced to the Middle East during 2017. The R8 Spyder and Middle East favorite, the Audi Q7 equipped with all the latest accessories will be another popular draw for Audi customers to the show.