Poole Audi Blog

Fixed price Audi Servicing from Poole Audi - New Rates

2010-10-29T09:45:00.004+01:00

With the VAT rate increasing in January and oil prices rising, many of our competitors have been increasing their prices. Even the likes of Kwik-Fit have been struggling to get anywhere near the price of some of our more complex jobs. We have also been forced (along with the rest of the Audi network) to raise our prices from the 1st November 2010, however we still remain competitive and we have maintained the price on many jobs.

The best place to service and maintain your car is still Poole Audi. You may be thinking that main dealer prices would be too expensive, but I have good news for you. Our prices are still lower than our competitors. Here are some examples:

Front wiper blades £39.00
Brake fluid change £49.00
Brake pad change £129.00
Interim service £149.00
Brake pad and disk change £249.00
Major service £269.00
Cam-belt change £399.00
Clutch (non-quattro) £649.00
Clutch (quattro) £849.00

All these prices include parts, labour and VAT.

What’s more, you still benefit from all of the following:

Work completed by technicians trained by Audi UK
Genuine Audi parts with 2 years warranty
Software updates to provide your vehicle with the latest technology
Official Audi stamp in your service book
No additional work is ever completed without your authorisation
Complimentary wash and vacuum for your car
Assistance with transport to and from Poole Audi

To find out more about our fantastic fixed price services call us on 01202 775050.

Prices shown apply to any Audi over 36 months old and with an engine 2.0 litres or less.

Double award for Poole Audi – Audi Driver Awards 2010

2010-10-21T12:54:00.005+01:00

A big thank you to everyone that voted for us in the Audi Driver Awards 2010. Over 4,500 votes were counted in the most competitive year to date.

The award ceremony took place on Saturday 9th October in Swindon, the town made famous by having the only lighthouse not visible from any water! That’s right, this fantastic, although useless structure was built 40 miles from the nearest major waterway! Local councils in the 1830s were so concerned of rising water-levels caused by global warming, that they commissioned the construction of this urban lighthouse. Needless to say, the instigator of the plans was jailed for fraud, but the embarrassed council kept the light glowing for several decades to come.

The venue for this ceremony was the Swindon Hilton, however our first stop in Swindon was one a little more familiar – the Swindon Audi Dealership! Thanks to all the team there who put a lot of effort in and made everybody feel very welcome. After a brief look around the showroom, the guests were shuttled over to the hotel, where the main event took place.

The room was filled with owners clubs, Audi dealers, Audi UK representatives and of course the special guest, Allan McNish! It is always a pleasure to hear Allan speak at these events as he has so much passion for the brand and motor racing. His plane flight was certainly worth the effort, when he was awarded the final award of the night – Audi Personality of the Year 2010.

Our team were awarded two awards on the night. The first being for Audi centre of the year for events. We came second in this category, behind the hosts, Swindon Audi. An exact repeat of last years result and one that sparks some new competitive spirit. In response to our efforts to provide the best environment to purchase a new or Approved Used Audi, we were also presented with the silver award for Audi Retailer of the year.

Although, two silvers don’t make a gold, we are still very proud to accept these awards and this will only inspire us to work that bit harder next year to beat the hosts at their own game!

Once again, thank you all for your votes and your continued support

.

2 new Audi Concept cars unveiled at the Paris Motor Show

2010-09-30T16:46:00.002+01:00

Two new Audi concept cars grabbed the limelight on press day at the Paris motor show; the quattro concept and Spyder e-tron plug-in hybrid sports car.

quattro concept reborn

The quattro concept celebrates the 30th anniversary of the iconic quattro. Based on a shortened RS 5 platform, the concept is actually closer in spirit to 1984’s Sport quattro, a more compact version of the original coupe that was designed to improve the car’s agility on the world’s rallying stages.

The concept’s wheelbase is 150 mm shorter than the RS 5’s, its roofline is around 40 mm lower and the 4.28 metres overall length is around the same as a Volkswagen Scirocco’s, which is 200 mm shorter than an A5. However, unlike the RS 5, the concept is a strict two-seater.

Most of the bodywork is aluminium, but the bonnet and rear hatchback are carbonfibre. The car weighs approximately 1300 kg, around the same as the Sport quattro.
Power comes from a 400PS version of the TT RS’s twin-turbocharged five-cylinder engine, mounted north-south. This is comfortably more than the 300 bhp of the original road-going special. It is paired with a six-speed manual gearbox and the quattro can accelerate from 0-62 mph in just 3.9 seconds.

Like the RS 5, the quattro “has full four-wheel-drive, not the TT's Haldex system,” commented the quattro concept’s designer, Steve Lewis.

The front styling is dominated by a huge rectangular grille, while the side profile’s key feature is an extra-thick C-pillar that has the four-ring logo stamped into its metal. The cabin features a slender, ‘floating’ dashboard and bucket seats that are 40 per cent lighter than regular items.

Spyder e-tron plug-in hybrid sports car unveiled

The Spyder variant will be a diesel hybrid in contrast to the pure electric e-tron, which was shown at the Detroit motor show earlier this year.

It has a twin-turbocharged TDI unit powering the rear axle and a pair of electric motors at the front. The new concept’s dimensions are similar to those of the original e-tron. At 1.8 metres wide and 4.06 metres long, it’s 13 cm longer and 3 cm wider than the all-electric version.

Two new models arrive at the Poole Audi showroom

2010-09-29T16:41:00.005+01:00

The eagerly awaited Audi RS5 Coupe has arrived at our showroom. Our demonstrator is fully prepared and ready for viewing. The spiritual successor to the Ur quattro is fitted with a high-revving 450PS, 4.2 litre V8 FSI engine. This power along with its 430nm of torque is delivered to all-four wheels through the 7-speed S-tronic gear-box and quattro drive-train. All of this helps the incredibly sophisticated RS5 to reach 62mph in only 4.6 seconds!

In a more executive class, the new Audi A7 Sportback, due for release early next year is set to make a surprise appearance. From the 13-18th October 2010 we will have a left hand drive A7 on display in our showroom.

Highlights of the A7 Sportback’s specification include a retractable MMI unit with 6.5-inch colour display and SD Satellite Navigation, Audi Parking System Plus, DAB radio and Xenon Plus headlights with LED daytime running lights. There is also the option of adding a head-up display, which is an all-new technology for Audi, that will project important information, including speed data and navigation routing, onto the windscreen so that it appears to float around 2.5 metres ahead of the driver.

For more information on either of these new models, please contact our sales team on 01202 775050.

Audi A1 Launch at Poole Audi - 19th November

2010-09-29T16:02:00.001+01:00

On the evening of the 19th November, the fantastic new Audi A1 will be unveiled at our showroom. This event will be like no other and places are strictly limited. To reserve your place at the launch, e-mail chris.ryu@oceanautomotive.co.uk stating your name and address.

Fleet of electric Audi A1s create a buzz in Munich

2010-09-29T16:00:00.002+01:00

Twenty A1 e-trons will be part of a pilot project in Munich to monitor ‘green’ behaviour. The 102 PS battery-powered ‘Mega City vehicle’ fleet will be up and running by mid-2011.
The ‘eflott’ project will form part of the ‘Model Region Electromobility Munich’ initiative sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Transport. Two hundred newly installed charging stations will form part of the ‘power grids of the future’ according to Klaus-Dieter Maubach, member of the Board of Management of E.ON AG. The Department of Vehicle Engineering has developed a smartphone application that will monitor participants’ mobility behaviour. Experts at the Technical University of Munich will collate this information which will include how often they use buses, trains, bicycles, and their electric cars.

Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management at Audi AG, said: “We hope that this fleet trial will enable us to gain broad insights into the behaviour but also the expectations of our customers regarding their dealings with electric cars. Of course, the data that we will collect are another aspect. This market and technology feedback will enable us to further expand our expertise in electrification.”

For more information on the A1 E-tron, click here

Beat the VAT increase with new stock cars from Poole Audi

2010-09-29T15:27:00.000+01:00

On January 1st 2011, the VAT rate will rise from 17.5 to 20%. This can add anything from £300 to £2,500 to the price of your new Audi. To avoid the rise, customers must take delivery of their car before the end of the year.

The Audi brand continues to grow in popularity and lead times on most models vehicles already stretch into next year. Here at Poole Audi, we have managed to get hold of some very rare new cars available for delivery this year.

Contact us now to discuss your requirements.

A1 beats core competitors in battle of the insurance bands

2010-09-17T09:06:00.004+01:00

The new Audi A1 has stolen a march on its core competitors again – this time in insurance groupings released recently. Across the board, in diesel, low-power petrol and high-power petrol versions, A1s are classified in lower insurance groups than competing MINI and Alfa Romeo Mito models.

This gives Audi A1 owners another huge benefit to ownership. Those who have already obtained insurance quotes, may want to do so again now final figures are announced.

Details are in the comparison chart below.

Diesel Cars

Make	Model	CC	Rating 1-50	Suffix
Audi	A1 SE and Sport 1.6 TDI (105PS)	1598	14	E
Audi	A1 S-Line 1.6 TDI (105PS)	1598	15	E
Mini	Cooper D (112PS)	1598	18	E
Alfa Romeo	Mito JTDM (120)	1598	19	E

Petrol Low-power

Make	Model	CC	Rating 1-50	Suffix
Audi	A1 SE, Sport and S line TFSI (86)	1197	9	E
Alfa Romeo	Mito (95)	1368	11	E
Alfa Romeo	Mito Turismo Sport (95)	1368	12	E
Mini	One (98)	1598	13	E

Petrol High-Power

Make	Model	CC	Rating 1-50	Suffix
Audi	A1 Sport TFSI (122)	1390	15	E
Audi	A1 S line TFSI (122)	1390	16	E
Mini	Cooper (122)	1598	17	E
Alfa Romeo	Mito Lusso Multiair (135)	1368	18	E
Alfa Romeo	Mito Veloce Multiair (135)	1368	19	E
Alfa Romeo	Mito Cloverleaf(170)	1368	26	A

New winter wheel and tyre programme launched

2010-09-16T15:37:00.002+01:00

Poole Audi are launching its first winter wheel and tyre programme. Winter tyres bring significant advantages over regular 'summer' tyres in temperatures below seven degrees centigrade.

We are also offering customers a free set of wheel and tyre storage bags (illustrated right) worth £25, until stocks last.

Pre-order by 25 September to take advantage of this offer

Winter wheels and tyres – ideal for rain, low temperatures, ice and snow

• From temperatures below +7°C, winter tyres offer significant improvements in grip and braking. To achieve this, winter tyres are designed with different rubber compounds and tread patterns with countless ‘biting edges’
• As well as in snow, traction on wet and dry roads is dramatically improved, in temperatures below +7°C, because power is applied to the road more efficiently
• Reduced risk of aquaplaning – the greater proportion of ‘negative’ tread copes better with standing water
• Greater comfort – rubber compound designed to stay soft, smooth and quiet at lower temperatures
• Ideal companion to quattro four-wheel drive
• Simple – wheels and tyres are delivered complete, ready to fit to the car
• All tyres offered are from premium tyre manufacturers
• Outstanding quality and special painting processes ensure that our alloy wheels have maximum durability and protection against light, weather conditions and corrosion
• In the majority of cases, snow chains are available to accompany the winter wheels and tyres

Prices
The most popular UK sizes are shown below. Please contact our parts department on 01202 775050 for more information.

Set of four alloy wheels, winter tyres and storage bags (while stocks last).
A3 16-inch five-arm design Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D £840.00
A4 17-inch five-arm design Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D £1120.00
A4 allroad 17-inch five-arm design Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D £1200.00
A6 17-inch five-arm design Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D £1120.00
A6 allroad 17-inch five-arm design Michelin Pilot Alpin PA3 £1400.00
Q5 17-inch five-arm design Dunlop SP Winter Sport 3D £1160.00
Q7 18-inch seven-arm design Dunlop Grandtrek WT M2 £1480.00

Tyres are also available without alloy wheels, contact our parts team on 01202 775050 for more information.

TT on the Quay 2010 Meeting - 30th July

2010-06-29T12:34:00.005+01:00

‘Poole is a beautiful place’

For some years that was the slogan of Poole Tourism and while I always remember seeing the tag-line displayed on everything from bus backs to wheelie-bins across the town, the message never really got drummed in. You get used to the scenery, the colourful history evades you and the natural beauty blends into daily life. Until recently that is, when I attended the Harry Paye and Poole Afloat event on Poole Quay. Aimed at getting families interested in life near and indeed on the water. This fantastic event and the beauty of Poole Quay reminds us all why Poole really is a beautiful place.

Poole Quay is also the setting for another fantastic event this summer. On Friday 30^th July, the roads around the quay will be closed to all traffic (TTs exempt of course) for the 9^th Annual TT on the Quay event. The event has grown in popularity over the years and in some years has seen over 70 Audi TTs parked up on the quayside. This year will continue in the same format with a free BBQ provided for TT owners and as usual, we will be hiring the Brownsea Island Ferry provide a unique vantage point and seating.

There will be a display from the TT Owners Club, demonstrating a range of one-of-a-kind cars and examples of several specifications from throughout the years. We will also be putting on an impressive display, including our unique Audi R8 Spyder, the all-new Audi A8 and the Audi TT 2011 facelift.

The 2011 model year TT, has been fully revamped and while the styling changes are subtle and understated, the technical advancements are huge. All cars will now benefit from brake energy recuperation and the new driver efficiency programme which gives tips to improve fuel economy. General Fuel economy has been improved by up to 14%, while CO2 emissions have been cut by a further 30g/km in the 2.0 TFSI manual. Performance has also been enhanced with the 2.0 TFSI 200PS engine being replaced by the award winning 211PS engine from the A5 Coupe. This will now send a TT coupe quattro S-tronic from 0-60 in only 5.6 seconds and yet still returns 39.2mpg combined, reinforcing the TT as the best in its class. The new model opened for ordering back in April and we expect to see the first customer deliveries arriving very soon.

The event takes place between 6-9PM on the 30^th July. For the TT owners among you, please arrive from 6PM and our marshals will be on hand to position your car in the largest display of TTs in the south. Those not lucky enough to drive an Audi TT, parking is available just a few minutes away and with so many vehicles on display, with the water as the backdrop, it is well worth the journey.

For more information on the 2010 TT on the Quay event, please call 01202 775050 or e-mail chris.ryu@oceanautomotive.co.uk

Audi A1 Autocar Review - like an A4 only smaller

2010-06-28T15:30:00.005+01:00

“The A1 is an interesting addition to the super-mini ranks, quite different from the horde in that it is created to be much more conscious of the cars above. It’s like an A4, only smaller, or as one engineer put it, the car is meant to be; all the richness of an Audi shrink-wrapped into a car just four metres long”.

The above is a quote from the first road test review of the Audi A1 by Autocar Magazine. It was in my eyes, a report made by somebody that understands the real purpose of the Audi A1. Here the reviewer, Steve Cropley identifies the new A1 as “a baby-A4, a super-mini in a business suit” and that really is what was intended with this car, simply put it is ‘Vorsprung durch Technik condensed’. The car is sporty, stylish and sophisticated, fulfilling all of Audi’s core values that apply to every model in their rapidly expanding 36 model line-up.

A lot of comparisons have been made against the Mini Cooper and while in size the cars are very similar, they could not be more different. The BMW Mini is all about being retro and cute, quality was not really a concern and needless to say it shows, particularly with the interior trim. The remake of a cult classic has proved to be very popular though and sales have been very good since the word go. The A1 is not designed to be retro, nor is it supposed to be cute; it is the gateway to the Audi range and is therefore built with all of the attention to detail that any Audi should be. Steve sums it up very well; “settled into a beautiful-looking two-tone cloth and leather seat, the driver looks forward, through a steering wheel that could have come from an A8, to a classic twin dial instrument layout with an electronic info-screen between them. It goes straight to the top of the class”.

Technology has also been taken straight from the new flag-ship Audi A8 making the A1, the most technologically advanced small car on the market. A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to spend some quality time with the new A1 and having recently launched the new A8, I too found myself making references to similarities with quality highlights. The interior design is remarkably driver orientated and even the standard interior trim-level has little touches that would be comfortable in a car twice its price. The Autocar road-test goes on to agree; “a true Audi unique selling point, is obviously from the interior. Ingolstadt bosses decided long ago that Audi would concentrate on interior craftsmanship, because it was something every buyer noticed. Believe it or not, the A1’s dash design is quite reminiscent of the Jaguar XJ’s with high-quality double-stitched material that looks just like leather everywhere and four circular air outlets with metallic bezels, reminiscent of jet engine intakes”.

“In all, there is no room to doubt that you’re in a grown-up car, for all its sub-Fiesta overall dimensions. When it comes to driving, the business-suit analogy continues. The car is very smooth and quiet, especially when you select the automatic gearbox function and it rolls along on surprisingly low revs, slurring so gently around its seven ratios that you only really notice it when you’re going for it”

Over the course of the next few weeks the press will be filled with road-tests, previews and reviews of this car as journalists are fighting to get hold of an A1 for testing. For the rest of us, there will be a chance to see the car up-close at Goodwood this weekend (1st - 4th July) and the first showroom cars are likely to arrive in late October.

Mr Cropley’s full, un-biased report can be read in Autocar Magazine (23rd June) and more information on the Audi A1 can be found by visiting www.pooleaudi.com or calling 01202 775050.

1, 2, 3 for Audi at Le Mans

2010-06-15T10:24:00.005+01:00

Another record breaking weekend for Audi at Le Mans, as Audi drivers Timo Bernhard, Mike Rockenfeller and Romain Dumas cover a record breaking distance of 3,361 miles, taking the Le Mans title for the 9th time in 11 years. They flawlessly completed 397 laps of the circuit at Le Mans, beating a record set in 1971.

Second and third place also went to Audi, marking the new Audi R15 Plus as another Audi success. It almost ended differently for Audi though. Peugeot looked like it had clinched its second consecutive Le Mans win, until all four of its 908s were forced to retire from the race with mechanical failures. While Audi could not match the pace of the Peugeot, Audi proved their reputation for reliability and efficiency.

After the race DR Wolfgang Ullrich - Audi’s Head of Motorsport explained: “Squeezing higher output out of the engines without sacrificing reliability posed a great challenge, which our team mastered in an outstanding manner. We did not use the full potential of the V10 TDI engine this year to be absolutely on the safe side. That is why it was clear to us even before the race that we wouldn’t have the fastest car, but a very reliable and efficient one.”

This is the forth time that Audi have taken all three places on the podium at Le Mans and knowing Audi, this will not be the last.

Below is some onboard footage from the number 8 Audi R15 Plus:

Inspiring… The new Audi R8 Spyder

2010-06-11T12:34:00.008+01:00

When I first stepped foot in the door at Poole Audi, the first thing I really remember of my experience was being mesmerised by the phantom black R8 that was sat on the plinth in the showroom. I was so spellbound with this car, that at that moment I knew where I wanted to be and that just made me even more determined. I remember members of my family saying that the novelty will wear off and that after working with Audis for a while, they will just be ‘just another car’.

Well, they were wrong. This is my third year at Poole Audi and I am still very much in love. Not just with the R8, but with the entire Audi brand. It’s not just the enthusiasts among us either. Every-time anybody even gets a hint of complacency with the brand, a new model is released. This is what I believe really gives Audi the edge. It is the constant development, the constant need to improve; you could even say it is the Vorsprung durch Technik in their DNA.

Every brand has strengths and weaknesses, Audi is no different. However, they have managed to create such a desire and developed their products so effectively, that I honestly don’t believe they have a car in the range that I would not purchase, funds permitting of course! Every model in the range (even the most seasoned) looks modern and stylish, all thanks to subtle, regular enhancements to the design and specification.

So what has prompted me to turn my enthusiasm into a blog this morning?

It may have something to do with this:

Standing proudly on that same plinth that used to house the phantom black R8 that inspired me on my first visit, is a misano red R8 Spyder. Roof down, V10 engine begging to be started, light glistening off the new high-gloss design alloy wheels. Priced at £122,475 you would expect it to be nicely finished, but with this particular car, we have attempted to build something rather special and the specification of the car is truly unique.

The misano red, pearl effect paint is not normally available on this model and so has been carefully selected from the Audi exclusive range. The theme has been carried on inside the cabin, with red stitching around the exclusive alabaster white leather door inserts and red piping around the edges of the R8 embroidered floor mats. Carbon fibre has been added to the door sills, inlays and mirrors cars making this car a real one-off.

Even the standard specification of the R8 Spyder is impressive, standing above that of the V10 Coupe and over £13,000 of options on the V8 actually come standard on the Audi R8 Spyder. We only needed to add a few more options to make the car complete. These include wonderful 19” high gloss alloy wheels and the Audi parking system advanced with reversing camera, after all we wouldn’t want to damage those alloy wheels.

I haven’t had the pleasure of driving this truly beautiful car, but on paper the performance is equally impressive as the breath-taking design. It will go from 0-62 in 4.1 seconds, making it only a fraction slower than the lighter V10 coupe and has a top speed of 194mph, way too fast to be going with the roof down! It is worth taking some time to highlight the roof here. The innovative Z-fold design (first seen in the A3 cabriolet) allows the roof to open or close in only 19 seconds and at speeds of up to 31mph. The material and unique design of the fabric roof is so advanced that this car, with all of its added complexity and structural reinforcement, is actually only 100kg heavier than the Coupe – a real victory for German engineering.

What do I think about the latest addition to our range? Inspiring.

For more information on the new Audi R8 Spyder, please call 01202 775050 or visit our website www.pooleaudi.com

The new must-have Audi A1 for only £189 per month!

2010-06-07T14:20:00.007+01:00

A little while ago I wrote about this new exciting car and emphasised the fact that getting one on finance was likely to be a sensible option. Well today my theory has been confirmed.

The Audi A1 is now available on the Audi Solutions package, an innovative way to purchase your new car. It is well known that the ideal time to replace your car is often at the 3 year mark. It is at this time that the cost of ownership starts to increase, the vehicle needs its first MOT, the manufacturers warranty expires and it is likely that the owner would also like to upgrade to the latest model. The Audi Solutions package gives the customer the flexibility to either change his/her car at the 3 year mark, or keep the car and pay off the balance.

The key to the solutions package is the ‘guaranteed minimum future value’. What this means is that Audi Finance will guarantee that your new car will be worth a certain amount at the end of the agreement and this also acts as an optional final payment, bringing your monthly instalments down. If you wanted to keep the car past this point then you pay the balance of the finance and the car is yours* and as the value of the car is guaranteed, even in a worst case scenario you will have nothing left to pay on your finance.**

I mentioned lower monthly payments before, but let’s look at the actual costs of buying a new Audi A1 on Audi Solutions. The model currently most in demand is the ultra efficient 1.6 TDI, which when upgraded to the Sport trim level comes in at £15,980. The customer would only need to put down a deposit of £3,174.73 to give them a monthly payment of only £189 per month. There are of coarse cheaper trim levels and engines available and the packages can be tailored to your ideal car and budget.

The deal doesn’t end there! When placing your order you have the opportunity to purchase a 5 year service plan. This remarkable plan covers the scheduled maintenance of the vehicle for up to 5 years or 50,000 miles (whichever comes first), for a one-off price of £250. If you buy your car on Audi Solutions, this £250 could also be spread across the whole finance period.

There have always been many benefits to the Audi solutions plan, but with the announcement of the Audi A1 finance offer, also came the introduction of some extra features to the policy. All quotes will include Free Personal Accident Insurance and Free Misfueling Insurance, both new additions to the Audi finance packages. There is also the option to take a payment holiday during the terms, allowing you to defer payments (1 a year) until more convenient.

For more information on the next big thing from Audi, or for a quote tailored to your own specification, please call 01202 775050 or e-mail chris.ryu@oceanautomotive.co.uk

* Providing payments are up to date and subject to £60 optional final payment fee
** Providing payments are up to date. Excess mileage charges apply.
# Finance subject to status. Finance under-written by VWFS.

Audi Insurance Premiums Lower Than BMW and Mercedes!

2010-05-28T15:38:00.003+01:00

I am no doubt, one of the youngest Marketing Specialists in the Audi network and so for me, the cost of insurance is quite important. The Association of British Insurers has just released data comparing the average insurance groups of the leading German Manufacturers.

Every model in the Audi range comes fitted with security and safety features that combine to lower insurance costs. Even little touches such as the manufacturer having Thatcham approved locking wheel bolts and security marking all parts can dramatically lower the insurance cost of your new car.

The table below compares Audi models with comparable models from BMW and Mercedes. Your insurance company will look at these numbers and your own insurance risk to calculate your insurance premium.

Our new range of cars start with an insurance group of only 7 (1-20 measure), or 15 for the new 1-50 measure and the upcoming Audi A1 is predicted to be even lower.

For more information on the Audi range, please contact us on 01202 775050 or e-mail chris.ryu@oceanautomotive.co.uk

Poole Audi Launch the all new Audi A8 and Audi R8 Spyder

2010-05-27T16:44:00.022+01:00

The new Audi A8 and R8 Spyder arrived at Poole Audi on the 20th May 2010 - below is a short video of their arrival.

For more information on the latest additions to our range, please contact our sales team on 01202 775050 or e-mail a8launch@pooleaudi.com

A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A5 Cabriolet MY11 product changes

2010-05-26T15:34:00.000+01:00

2011 will see changes across the whole Audi range. Subtle changes will take place such as, all badges being changed to just state just the engine type (TDI/FSI) and no longer the capacity (3.0 TDI).

Below you will find the more specific model specific changes for the A5 Coupe, Cabriolet and Sportback models.

Product changes for the model year 2011 A5 range introduce subtle enhancements to standard equipment, including new optional 18-inch alloy wheels, a black styling pack (A5 Sportback) and option price changes.

Standard equipment changes

Status	Standard equipment changes	Change to	Models affected
New	Energy saving tips feature in Driver’s Information System	Standard equipment on all models	A5 Coupe / Sportback / Cabriolet
New	Misfuelling inhibition	All diesel models	A5 Coupe / Sportback / Cabriolet

Optional equipment changes

Status	Order code	Option description	Availability	Basic RRP	RRP (inc VAT)	Comments
New	PRR	18-inch x 8.5J ‘15-spoke star’ design alloy wheels	A5 Coupe / Sportback - SE trim only	£553.19	£650.00
New	n/a	Acoustic windscreen - reduces outside noise using an additional layer in the windscreen	A5 Coupe / Sportback	n/a	n/a	Only in combination with Lane Assist (7Y2) or auto-dimming rear view mirror (4L6). Cannot be ordered as a separate option.
New	4ZM	Black styling pack	A5 Sportback	£302.13	£355.00	Already available on A5 Coupe

New option prices

Changes to cost prices and exchange rates mean that some options will have new recommended retail prices (RRPs) from MY11:

Order code	Option description	Availability	Basic RRP	RRP (inc. VAT)	Change
8T1	Cruise control	All trim levels	£187.23	£220.00	+£30
7X1	Audi parking system (rear only)	Standard trim only	£280.85	£330.00	-£25
7X4	Audi parking system plus	SE trim and above	£272.34	£320.00	+ £25
4A3	Heated front seats	All trim levels	£234.04	£275.00	+ £25
UH2	Hill hold assist	All trim levels	£55.32	£65.00	+ £20
4L6	Auto-dimming rear view mirror	A5 Sportback 4-cylinder, SE trim upwards	£272.34	£320.00	+£20
4L6	Auto-dimming rear view mirror	A5 Coupe/Cabriolet and A5 Sportback 6-cylinder, SE trim upwards	£187.23	£220.00	+£20

Paint, upholstery and trim changes

Status	Code	Paint colour changes	Models affected
Discontinued	3W	Deep green	A5 Coupe and Sportback
New	4U	Teak brown	A5 Coupe and Sportback

If you would like more information on the new specification changes, please contact our sales department on 01202 775050 or e-mail chris.ryu@oceanautomotive.co.uk

A4, A4 allroad and S4 range MY11 product changes

2010-05-26T15:30:00.003+01:00

2011 will see changes across the whole Audi range. Subtle changes will take place such as, all badges being changed to just state just the engine type (TDI/FSI) and no longer the capacity (3.0 TDI).

Below you will find the more specific model specific changes for the A4, A4 allroad and S4 models.

Model year 2011 (MY11) A4 product changes will introduce subtle enhancements to standard equipment, new paint and upholstery colours and price changes for optional equipment

Standard equipment changes

Status	Standard equipment changes	Change to	Models affected
New	Acoustic windscreen - reduces outside noise using an additional layer in the windscreen	Standard equipment on SE trim upwards. Also on Standard trim when ordering Auto-dimming rear view mirror (4L6). Cannot be ordered as a separate option	A4 Saloon, Avant, allroad, S4
New	Energy saving tips feature in Driver’s Information System	Standard equipment on all models	A4 Saloon, Avant, allroad, S4
New	Misfuelling inhibition	All diesel models	A4 Saloon, Avant, allroad

New A4 SE price

From MY11 the premium for SE trim will increase from £1,000 to £1,200. Below you can see the new trim structure of A4 Saloon and Avant (changes are highlighted in yellow):

New option prices

Changes to cost prices and exchange rates mean that some options will have new recommended retail prices (RRPs) from MY11:

Order code	Option description	Availability	Basic RRP	RRP (inc VAT)	Change
	Metallic paint	All trim levels	£510.64	£600.00	+ £50
8T1	Cruise control	Standard trim only	£187.23	£220.00	+ £30
7X1	Acoustic parking system (rear only)	Standard trim only	£280.85	£330.00	- £25
7X4	Acoustic parking system plus	SE trim and above	£272.34	£320.00	+ £25
4A3	Heated front seats	All trim levels	£234.04	£275.00	+ £25
UH2	Hill hold assist	All trim levels	£55.32	£65.00	+ £20
6XK	Door mirrors - electrically folding	SE trim and above	£242.55	£285.00	+ £135
4L6	Auto-dimming rear view mirror	Standard trim only	£187.23	£220.00	+ £20

Paint, upholstery and trim changes

Status	Code	Paint colour changes	Models affected
Discontinued	3W	Deep green	A4 Saloon and Avant
Discontinued	X4	Stratos blue	A4 allroad
New	4U	Teak brown	A4 allroad
Status	Code	Upholstery colour changes	Models affected
Discontinued	ZW/SD	Silk Nappa leather in pearl silver	S4
New	SP/SQ	Silk Nappa leather in spectral silver	S4

If you would like more information on the new specification changes, please contact our sales department on 01202 775050 or e-mail chris.ryu@oceanautomotive.co.uk

A3, A3 Sportback and A3 Cabriolet MY11/2011 product changes

2010-05-26T15:09:00.004+01:00

2011 will see changes across the whole Audi range. Subtle changes will take place such as, all badges being changed to just state just the engine type (TDI/FSI) and no longer the capacity (3.0 TDI).

Below you will find the more specific model specific changes for the A3, A3 Sportback and A3 Cabriolet models.

Model year 2011 (MY11) product changes to the A3 range include design enhancements, new standard and optional equipment, the introduction of the 1.2 TFSI engine and the addition of start-stop technology to the 2.0 TDI 170 PS engine.

New 1.2 TFSI engine

The new 1.2 TFSI engine will be available to order in the A3 3dr and Sportback from 25 May 2010. This engine has already been launched for the Audi A3 Cabriolet range.

The 1.2 TFSI engine will replace the 1.6 MPI petrol engines later this year – final production for 1.6 MPI is expected to be in early September (week 36/10).

We are currently awaiting the key technical data for 1.2 TFSI. This information will follow as soon as possible.

Engine change - 2.0 TDI 170PS now with start-stop

From MY11, the 2.0 TDI (170PS) engine will be the latest model to include start-stop technology as standard. This means considerable reductions in fuel consumption and CO2 figures, and lower VED tax bands.

All other technical data for this engine will not change.

Design enhancements

There will be a number of design changes to refresh the interior and exterior of the A3,
mid-lifecycle. Changes include a new diffuser for the rear bumper, chrome trim for door handles and chrome surrounds for front fog lights.

Exterior changes

Interior changes

Interior changes for MY11 include:

Aluminium application for rear view mirror adjustment and power window controls
Air vent trim edge in high gloss black
New design S tronic gear lever

Left to right: Air vent trim edge in high gloss black, current S tronic gear lever, and new S tronic gear lever.

Standard equipment

Status	Standard equipment changes	Change to	Models affected
Change	Driver’s Information System (DIS) with efficiency program available on all engines	All models (excluding Standard trim)	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cab
New	New design standard ‘Sport’ alloy wheel 17-inch ‘5-arm-kinetic’ design alloy wheels (image below)	All Sport models	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cab
Discontinued	A3 ‘Sport’ alloy wheel 17-inch ‘5-arm’ design alloy wheels	All Sport models	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cab
New	New design standard ‘Black Edition’ alloy wheel 18-inch ‘5-arm rotor’ design in titanium finish alloy wheels (image below)	All Black Edition models	A3, A3 Sportback
Discontinued	A3 ‘Black Edition’ alloy wheel 18-inch ‘7-twin spoke’ design in titanium finish alloy wheels	All Black Edition models	A3, A3 Sportback
New	Technology package now standard	S3 and S3 Black Edition	S3, S3 Sportback

Optional equipment

Status	Option code	Option description	Availability	RRP (inc VAT)	Comments
Discontinued	CH7	17-inch '10-spoke V’ design' alloy wheel	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cab	-
New	C0X	17-inch ’10-spoke V’ design alloy wheel in high gloss finish (image below)	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cab	-
New	F41	18-inch ‘5-segment-spoke’ design alloy wheel (image below)	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cab	-
Change	7K6	Tyre pressure monitor	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cab	unchanged	Now informs driver which wheel has low pressure
Change	4ZM	Black styling package	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cab	unchanged	Also includes matt-black fog light trim and de-chromes door handles to body colour
Change	PS5	Bucket seats	S3, S3 Sportback	£2,000	Price change
Discontinued	3GD	Reversible load floor	A3, A3 Sportback	-

Paint, upholstery and trim

Status	Code	Paint colour changes	Models affected
Discontinued	9C	Garnet red	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cabriolet
Discontinued	9X	Dakar beige	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cabriolet
Discontinued	3W	Deep green	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cabriolet
Discontinued	Q9	Aruba blue	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cabriolet
New	1G	Volcano red	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cabriolet
New	Y7	Dakota grey	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cabriolet
New	1J	Tungsten grey	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cabriolet
New	S9	Scuba blue	A3, A3 Sportback, A3 Cabriolet

If you would like more information on the new specification changes, please contact our sales department on 01202 775050 or e-mail chris.ryu@oceanautomotive.co.uk

Audi A1 Competition Line and Accessories

2010-04-27T17:39:00.002+01:00

The Competition Line is a superb new range of options, dedicated to the new Audi A1. Options will be available to order from factory, or as a retro-fit accessory that can be fitted here at our centre.

The Audi A1 offers owners an exciting opportunity to personalise their cars – both inside and out – which is why a full compliment of accessories will also be available from launch, that fully compliment the unique design of the A1.

Factory Fitted Competition Line
There will be two competition line packages, exterior and interior, which offer the ultimate sports styling for the A1. The double-blade roof spoiler is also available as a separate option. Both packages are currently only available with the Sport trim level.

Exterior Package
The exterior styling package includes a body-kit that enhances the stance of the car, a striking double-blade roof spoiler, chrome tailpipe trims and 17" bi-colour alloy wheels. The full package is available from factory for £1,950. The double-blade spoiler is also available separately for £395.

Interior Package
The interior styling package brings together co-ordinated items from the competition line accessory range to give an even sportier feel to the A1’s cabin. The package includes exclusive competition line door handles, rear-view mirror, centre console trim, carpet mats, and air vent covers in high-gloss white. This complete package is available at a cost of £425.

Retro-fit Accessories
All items of the competition kit are available as retro-fit items to be fitted at our centre. If the competition kit is not for you, then you will also be able to change other elements of the car. These include air vent covers and even the colouring of the leather steering wheel and gear-lever gaitors.

Audi Sport Livery
The Audi Sport livery seen on the Geneva show car (see below), is being developed into a full accessory set that will be available to order next summer. This show car looks fantastic and highlights Audi’s sporting pedigree. The livery is based on that seen on the earliest Audi quattro rally cars, including one fittingly code-named ‘A1’.

Here at Poole Audi, we are very excited about the Audi A1. If you share our excitement and would like more information, call 01202 775050 or e-mail chris.ryu@oceanautomotive.co.uk

The Audi Q7 gets added Vorsprung

2010-04-27T12:01:00.002+01:00

Vorsprung durch Technik, roughly translated means advancement through technology. This has been the tag-line of Audi for some time, but to Audi it is not just a tag-line, it is an entire way of thinking. The trick to Vorsprung is staying one step ahead of the competition and to keep developing even when something is the best in its class.

Today, in true Audi style, several enhancements have been made to the Audi Q7 line-up. Fuel consumption has been reduced by up to 19% and CO2 emissions have been reduced by up to 55 g/km. Most of the changes involve switching to smaller, supercharged engines to provide the same power, but much greener and some improvements are made possible by the introduction of a new 8 speed automatic gear-box.

The most popular 3.0TDI engine has also been changed this week. This new engine is 20kg lighter and is fitted with technology including start-stop to further improve on the cars green credentials. This car now boasts a combined fuel consumption of 38.2mpg and has CO2 emissions of only 195g/km, placing it in the same tax band as much smaller cars including the 1.8-litre Toyota Avensis.

So, how does this compare with our competitors? The chart below shows a comparison between the Audi Q7 and our rivals the Mercedes ML and the BMW X5.

If you would like to find out more information on the new Q7 enhancements, contact our sales team on 01202 775050 or e-mail chris.ryu@oceanautomotive.co.uk

What is Vorsprung Durch Technik?

2010-04-27T09:10:00.003+01:00

Roughly translated it means advancement through technology, but here is a better translation...

To experience true Vorsprung, call Poole Audi on 01202 775050

Audi A1 Service Plan – 5 Years Servicing For Only £250!

2010-04-27T08:59:00.008+01:00

We are all excited about the new Audi, the Audi A1. It was voted the most exciting car of 2010 before it was even unveiled and this is for good reason. Audi are renowned for a high build quality and great interiors. This makes owning an Audi, very desirable, resulting in high-retained values and therefore making it hard for volume car buyers to experience the fastest growing premium brand. Until now!

The Audi A1 will revolutionise the way we look at small cars. Its biggest rival (technically its smallest), the BMW Mini has proved that small cars can be fun and exciting, but it comes at a price. The boot of the Mini is just too small for even the most experienced light-packer and the rear seats are really just for show – or for any bags that were unable to fit in the boot. This is an area where the new Audi differs. The boot of the Audi has a more practical 267 litres of space – granted not enough for the family’s Great Dane, but plenty enough for normal use and double that of the Mini convertible. Add to this, split folding rear seats as standard and a full size hatch back opening and the total boot space is actually 920 Litres, enough to take the dog to the vets and actually the same amount of room as the new Vauxhall Meriva MPV with both back seats folded down – now that is practicality! What’s more, a grown adult can get comfortable behind the wheel and then there is still enough room to get in the back seat without comedy contortion.

The interior is Audi through-and-through, with innovative new features that remind us what Vorsprung durch Technik really means (click here if you are not sure) and an endless list of customisable parts.

My advice to anyone looking to buy the next big thing from Audi, look at finance!

This car is hot property and as with anything in demand, used prices are sure to stay high, with people desperate to get hold of one, putting you in a great position at the end of your agreement. Maintenance is something that you will not have to worry about either, as Audi have today announced that they will offer 5 years servicing for only £250!

This amazing plan is based on the new Audi longlife service regime, but those who prefer the more traditional ‘fixed servicing’ regime can pay an extra £200 to include the extra services.

The benefits to you include:

Convenience and affordability: servicing costs are taken care of by one affordable payment so there are no service bills to plan for. A courtesy car or collection and delivery service is also provided during every service*

Comprehensive coverage – all scheduled servicing is taken care of, including brake fluid for five years or 60,000 miles (whichever occurs sooner)

Full Audi service history for a car cared for by Audi experts, which not only means quality workmanship and a two-year warranty on parts and labour, but can help protect re-sale value

The A1 Service Plan can be transferred to the new owner if a Service Plan customer sells his/her A1 before the five years/50,000 mile limit has been reached

The Audi A1 is available for ordering and the order-books are filling up fast. To reserve your place, call 01202 775050 or e-mail chris.ryu@oceanautomotive.co.uk

The new A8 LWB and W12

2010-04-21T16:10:00.004+01:00

The new A8 LWB and the new A8 LWB W12 bring a new level of luxury to the D segment. They are 130mm longer than the standard A8 and all of that extra length enhances the opulent rear-seat passenger space. First deliveries are due in December 2010.

New A8 LWB

The new A8L’s wheelbase and rear doors are longer to allow for easier access to the rear of the car.

Equipment
Standard equipment in addition to that on the standard A8
· 130mm of extra legroom in the rear
· Heated outer rear seats
· Electric rear window blind and electric side blinds
· 4-zone deluxe climate control
· Electric slide-and-tilt sunroof

The A8L costs just £3,880 more than the standard car – a £510 increase over the outgoing model that is easily offset by the efficiency of the new A8’s engines, the rear heated seats, the addition of the sunroof, the improved 4-zone climate control and the electric rear side blinds.

The new A8L has a range of truly luxurious optional extras, such as a panoramic sunroof (see image), a fridge, an executive rear seat (see image) and an extended rear centre console (see image). The full list of options will be published in the updated brochure during July 2010, for more information make sure to contafct us.

A8 LWB W12

The new A8 W12 quattro is the true flagship for the Audi range, combining luxury and performance like no other car in the class.

Equipment
The A8L W12 has a wealth of extra standard equipment over that on the SE Executive LWB models, including:
· 19-inch 15-spoke design alloy wheels
· Comfort front seats
· Individual electrically adjustable outer rear seats
· Extended leather pack plus
· Power door closure
· Twin pane UV and heat insulating glass
· All-LED headlights
· Mobile phone prep high with privacy handset and online services
· CD/DVD Changer
· BOSE® surround system

Audi’s engineers have extensively re-worked the existing 6.0 W12 engine to give an increased capacity of 6.3 litres, offer more power (from 450PS to 500PS), add FSI technology and improve efficiency.

Styling features
Subtle visual details distinguish the A8 L W12 quattro from the other new A8s. The single-frame radiator grille with integral grid structure has a high-gloss black paint finish and special chromed horizontal bars. The air inlets also have newly-designed chrome inserts, and the exterior mirrors have new chrome applications. W12 badges feature on the front single-frame grille and the rear of the car. The exhaust system has two trapezoidal-pattern tailpipe trims neatly integrated into the rear bumper.

The W12 will open for ordering towards the end of July. For more information, or to register your interest, please call 01202 775050 or e-mail chris.ryu@oceanautomotive.co.uk

R8 Spyder TV commercial airs today

2010-04-21T15:55:00.002+01:00

Our new television commercial ‘Beauty and the Beasts’ will air for the first time today. The advert showcases the new R8 Spyder, our stunning V10-powered high performance sportscar.

‘Beauty and the Beasts’ is visually spectacular – it features 28 extraordinarily beastlike and clumsy cars, which contrast with the elegance and beauty of the R8 Spyder. The film, shot in London’s ExCel centre, uses the UK’s most skilled high-precision drivers and was created almost entirely from camera with very little CGI.

The film ends with the line “Mirror, Signal, Outmanoeuvre.”, which is a reference to the Spyder’s Audi Space Frame and magnetic dampers that give it the agility and poise to outmanoeuvre the ‘beast’ cars.

Poole Audi Direct Reception

2010-04-21T14:33:00.000+01:00

Introducing Direct Reception, a revolutionary new service from your local Audi dealership. Using the latest in audio and video technology, customers are able to get involved and interested in the process of having their car serviced.

While your car is with us, you are given the option of taking a seat at a PC in our waiting area and the system will supply you with live footage of your car, taken from the technicians ‘Audicam’ mounted to his custom made jacket. A service advisor will be on hand to answer any questions you may have, while you watch the technician at work and communicate via a two-way radio system. This also gives you an opportunity to find out first hand, what skill and attention to detail is given to each and every service. Our Audi trained technicians will explain what (and why) they are checking components and can actually show you the work that needs to be done.

What better way for us to showcase the skill and standards of our work, then to allow you to experience them first hand.

This new service goes live in just a few days. To book your service and become one of the first to experience this new innovative service, please call 01202 775050.

The TT gets a facelift – Audi TT 2011 Model Year

2010-04-21T13:24:00.004+01:00

Audi designers have risen to the challenge of enhancing the much-loved Audi TT for the 2011 model year, creating a new generation that combines styling refinements with enhanced efficiency technology. These advancements include a newly adopted 2.0-litre TFSI engine, which improves fuel economy by up to 14 per cent.

The upgraded 2.0 TFSI 211PS petrol engine is the technological highlight in the latest range, employing new Audi technology to improve power, torque and overall efficiency compared with the 200PS version it replaces. It enables the TT to achieve 0-62mph in 6.1 seconds – 0.5 seconds quicker than its predecessor - and raises its top speed from 149mph to 152mph. Even more impressively, it boosts economy potential from 36.7mpg in the combined cycle to 42.8mpg, and reduces CO2 emissions from 183g/km to 154g/km.

New energy recuperation
The gains made possible by this new Audi Valvelift system are complimented by a recuperation system which recovers energy during braking and coasting. A ground breaker in the sports car sector, the TT 2.0 TDI continues to set the efficiency standard, achieving up to 53.3mpg in the combined cycle test and only emits 139 grams of CO2/km. With 170PS and 350 Nm of torque, the high-tech common rail injection engine powers the TT from 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds and on to 140mph. The 2.0 TDI is mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox and comes with quattro all-wheel drive as standard, allowing the driver to fully utilise the high-torque output of the engine.

The renowned S tronic dual clutch transmission is also available as an option for the new 2.0 TFSI. This transmission switches between its six gears with virtually no interruption to the supply of power to the wheels, either fully automatically or manually. Manual shifts can be made using the optional paddles on the steering wheel, or by the re-designed gearknob.

New Sport button
Another new development that will please sporting drivers can also be incorporated at extra cost in conjunction with Audi magnetic ride. The Sport button, which has been a standard feature of the TT RS since launch and now becomes available as an option for all other models, allows the driver to alter the throttle pedal response (in manual versions), the weight of the steering and the engine note.

Subtle enhancements inside and out
Combining aluminium and steel content in a 58% to 42% ratio that favours optimal weight distribution, the ‘standard’ version of the lightweight TT body now displays a more striking front bumper design with deeper air intakes based on the look that was previously reserved for S line versions. New alloy wheel designs are available to compliment the new look and a rear diffuser adopted from S line versions adds even more sporting emphasis. 2011 Model Year TT models will also be more distinct thanks to five new metallic and pearl effect paint options.

Audi TT S-line
S line models adopt an even sportier look than ever before through a new bumper and grille design which closely resembles the look of the TTS in its familiar current form and which is further enhanced by standard xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lights. Notable features also include deeper TTS-style side sills and a new platinum grey diffuser at the rear. The TTS now takes a more serious sporting stance with a new front bumper design featuring horizontal aluminium look double bars which also extend down to the fog light surrounds and a new look rear bumper.

Interior changes
Widely regarded as the benchmark for quality of finish, the interior features new aluminium trims for the steering wheel, the centre console and the door inserts. This, coupled with a new high gloss finish for switches, trims and air vents, mean that the interior now looks even more distinctive than previous models.

Specification levels
The specification range now been simplified. A ‘Standard’ trim level is now reserved solely for the TT Roadster 1.8 TFSI and at extra cost this can be upgraded to Sport or S line specification. All other versions of the Coupe and Roadster (excluding the TTS and TT RS) begin at Sport level and can be upgraded to S line.

Onboard computer with new efficiency program
Another key efficiency boosting measure can also be found in the cockpit, where a new efficiency program within the onboard computer displays all consumption-related data on the central display and gives the driver tips for efficient driving. A gear-change indicator also indicates the optimal gear for fuel-efficient driving, while another function provides information on which vehicle systems, such as the climate control system, are consuming energy and how that affects fuel consumption.

The Audi TTS and the Audi TT RS
The Audi TTS, both in Coupe and Roadster forms, combines outstanding performance with an equally high degree of comfort. It’s extensively modified 2.0 TFSI engine pumps out 272PS and 350 Nm of torque, accelerating the TTS Coupe with S-tronic gearbox from 0-62mph in 5.2 seconds and yet still achieves up to 36.7mpg. The dynamic spearhead of the TT model series is the TT RS, which is also available as a Coupe or a Roadster. It’s turbocharged 2.5-litre 5-cylinder engine creates an incredible 340PS and rockets the car from 0 to 62mph in only 4.6 seconds. A manual six-speed short-shift transmission currently channels power to the quattro permanent all-wheel drive, but later in 2010 a newly developed version of the S tronic twin-clutch transmission will also be offered as an option. The compact layout of the new seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission makes it suitable for mounting sideways in the Audi TT and works in combination with the quattro all-wheel drive system.
Equipped with S-tronic, the TT RS Coupe will soon be able to launch from 0-62mph in 4.4 seconds – even quicker than the manual transmission version.

Ordering
The new 2011 model year Audi TT will open for ordering later this month, with first customer deliveries taking place in July 2010.

Don’t want to wait?
We are expecting the waiting lists to rise once again and with limited stock available of 2010 models, you would be best to act quickly before they are all gone. Sadly the S-Line Special Editions, complete with a whole host of extras, including Titanium finish alloy wheels and Bluetooth, are being removed from ordering. We are lucky enough to have been able to source a few of the last remaining Special Editions and these offer a saving of over £1,000.

For more information, call 01202 775050 or email chris.ryu@oceanautomotive.co.uk

Can an Audi be better than a Ferrari?

2010-03-31T11:08:00.004+01:00

In 2007, when Audi launched the R8 sports car with the V8 engine, our sights were firmly settled on the Porsche 911, a car which for many years had ruled this part of the market.

Over the years, many manufacturers had taken on the 911, but none had matched it for engineering precision, day to day usability and sheer driving pleasure. The Audi R8 changed all that, and has won critical acclaim ever since.

When we launched the Audi R8 V10 we saw the model take another step up, this time competing with the awesome Porsche 911 Turbo, and winning sales otherwise destined for the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini.

In a couple of months we launch the Audi R8 V10 Spyder, a convertible version which boasts a 5.2 litre FSI direct injection engine with 520 PS. We are taking orders for this car now, and expect to receive our showroom car around the end of April.

Is it any good?

You’d expect us to be enthusiastic about this new car, so let’s leave it to the independent experts to judge.

EVO magazine employs some of the most experienced and demanding journalists in the industry, and are generally seen as the authority in this part of the market. They tested the R8 V10 Spyder against the Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet, the Jaguar XKR Convertible and the eagerly anticipated Ferrari California.

For more information please call 01202 775050 and ask for our Audi R8 specialist, Elliot Onaran or email him on elliot.onaran@oceanautomotive.co.uk

Poole Audi Open Season 13th-21st March

2010-03-10T13:48:00.006Z

The clocks won't be going forward then, but at least you can put the interminable winter behind you. Audi's Open Season event is your chance to take advantage of some exclusive offers on our TT Roadster, A3 and A5 Cabriolet between 13 and 21 March.

Think of it as the first day of summer.

For more information visit www.audi.co.uk/openseason or call 01202 775050

A3 Cabriolet new engine!

2010-03-02T15:21:00.006Z

An exciting new 1.2 TFSI engine will soon be available in the Audi A3 Cabriolet range. It is set to replace the already impressive 1.6 MPI engine and the price for the new 1.2 TFSI will be £490 below that of the current 1.6 MPI.

This is the 1.2 TFSI engine’s first appearance in the Audi range. It has start-stop technology as standard, and delivers significantly better fuel economy and will emit only 132g/km CO2 ensuring savings on Vehicle Excise Duty - savings of £140 for first year!

The 1.2 TFSI engine will also make its way into the A3 and A3 Sportback with even more impressive figures.

The new engine is available to order from the end of March, with the first customers taking delivery in June. However, if you cannot wait until then, the superb 1.6 MPI is still available with the value added Technik package and from the 13th – 21st March we will be running our Open Season promotion, allowing you to get hold of an A3 cabriolet from only £239 per month.

For more information on the 1.2 TFSI or our Open Season promotion call 01202 775050.

New Audi A8 Hybrid

2010-03-02T13:36:00.003Z

Audi is displaying an A8 hybrid at the Geneva Motor Show. Its two power units – a 2.0 TFSI engine and an electric motor – give the car the same outstanding performance as one fitted with a large-capacity conventional six-cylinder engine.

The A8 hybrid’s power units have a combined output of 256PS and a massive 480 Nm torque. The average fuel consumption is only 42mpg and thanks to the smaller engine, its CO2 emissions of 144 g/km will be class leading.

The powerful electric motor is integrated between the 211PS four-cylinder petrol engine and the 8-speed tiptronic transmission, reducing friction and power loss.

The A8 Hybrid can be powered by the engine or motor individually or simultaneously. The car is capable of staying in the pure electric drive mode at speeds of up to 40mph.

The A8 hybrid is expected to be available to order from late 2011. For more information call 01202 775050.

Electric Audi A1 unveiled

2010-03-02T13:25:00.002Z

Audi has unveiled the A1 e-tron, an innovative electrically-powered design study based on the A1. The new study has taken centre stage at Europe’s first major motor show of the year in Geneva. The A1 e-tron is an innovative Mega City Vehicle (MCV). Like the previously unveiled e-tron sports cars, it is electrically propelled and has a range of more than 30 miles in heavy traffic. With a peak power output of 102 PS, the A1 e-tron is also fun to drive.

When the battery’s energy supply is exhausted, it is recharged by an exceptionally compact ‘range extender’ consisting of a single-rotor Wankel (rotary) engine and an electrical generator with a charge rating of up to 15,000 Watts.

This device gives the A1 e-tron an additional range of 125 miles. This means the vehicle's average fuel consumption is 148mpg and has CO2 emissions equivalent to only 45 g/km.

For more information call 01202 775050

Rallye Sunseeker 2010 Highlights

2010-03-02T09:20:00.005Z

Here are just some of the pictures we took of the 30 years of quattro celebrations at the 2010 Sunseeker Rally.

To see all of the pictures visit our Facebook photo albums:

Somerley House Special Stage and Audi quattro Demonstration:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2202&id=100000751395643&l=3986b13dd5

Ceremonial Start:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2191&id=100000751395643&l=483efeb524

While you are there, why not join our friends?

The First Audi 10 Plates

2010-03-01T17:22:00.002Z

It’s the first of March and that means a new range of number plates.

Today will see the first cars with ‘10’ number plates hitting the road for the first time. Here at Poole Audi we have 21 lucky customers that are among the first to take delivery of their brand new cars with the latest registrations. This great collection of cars include everything from an Audi A3, to a beautifully specified S4 Avant.

If you would like to join these people and be among the first 10 plates on the road, call us on 01202 775050.

Audi RS5 Coupe Unveiled - First Official Pictures

2010-02-24T17:22:00.004Z

Audi has revealed its spiritual successor to the Ur quattro – the muscular, athletic Audi RS 5. It is a car that bristles with technological excellence and will deliver class-leading performance. The RS 5 will be officially unveiled alongside the new A1 on 2nd March at the Geneva Motor Show and first customer deliveries will be in October 2010.

It has been designed with the latest Audi technology to deliver excellent driving dynamics. It is powered by a high-revving 450PS, 4.2-litre V8 FSI engine, driving through a seven-speed, dual-clutch S-tronic transmission. It accelerates from 0-62mph in just 4.6 seconds. Built by quattro gmbH, away from the main production line in a special facility in Neckarsulm, the RS 5 promises to be a worthy addition to the RS bloodline.

The striking wheel arches, a signature of the RS model series, convey sports pedigree and allow for a wider track than the S5. The extending rear spoiler is integrated into the luggage compartment lid. To increase downforce, the spoiler extends automatically at speeds of 75mph and above (it is retracted again when the car drops below 30mph; additional manual operation via button on the centre console). Here at Poole Audi, we have already ordered our first demonstrators and are taking deposits now.

For more information on the new RS5, including pricing and specification, please call our team on 01202 775050 or e-mail sales@poole.audi.co.uk

Audi A1 Unveiled - First Official Pictures

2010-02-10T13:58:00.009Z

Today marks the end of secrecy around the upcoming Audi A1. Set to rival the mini and with technology taken from the new A8, it will give the sector a premium shake-up.

The car is set to be officially launched at the Geneva motor show in March with the first customers taking delivery towards the end of the year. The misano red display car with it's silver roof 'contrast line' harks back to the metro concept car we first saw in 2007 and is just a hint of the many customisable elements of the new car.

Customisation is the key

With such a fun car, the aim is to make the car as individual as the owner. This is why Audi will give buyers more options than ever before to make every car truly unique. These include:

Exterior paint - a large selection of exterior colours, solid, metallic and pearl effect paints on offer.

Roof contrast line - the curve that runs along the roof line of the car can be changed to further add to the individuality of the car

Black optics pack - both the interior and exterior of the car can be 'de-chromed' by adding the black styling package

Alloy Wheels - with a range of alloy wheels from 15-17" and designs such as titanium effect, there is sure to be a wheel for every taste

Upholstery - not satisfied with the usual Audi leather selection, there will also be options from the Exclusive line range allowing different colour stitching and centre sections.

Air vents - even the air-vents inside the cabin can be customised with new colours such as wasabi green.

Economy class

In line with Audi's ongoing drive for lower CO2 emissions the range of engines for the A1 is even greener than the optional wasabi interior trim!

1.2 TFSI 86PS emitting only 119g/km
1.6 TDI 105PS emitting only 102g/km
1.4 TFSI 122PS emitting only 126g/km

Pricing is going to be confirmed with the cars official launch in March. However, it is likely that you will be able to get your hands on a new car (with a few toys) for around £14,000. Ordering opens in May and we are taking deposits now. To reserve your place, as one of the first to be driving the new 'must have' car, call 01202 775050 or email sales@poole.audi.co.uk

Audi scoops three Business Car Awards

2010-01-27T14:44:00.004Z

Audi celebrated three excellent wins in the Business Car Awards yesterday, topping the luxury, small 4 x 4 and sporting car categories.

The A8 triumphed for the third consecutive year in the luxury category, despite being the oldest car in its class.

The Audi Q5 beat stiff competition from Volvo’s XC60, the BMW X3, the Land Rover Freelander and the 2008 champion, the Honda CR-V.

The R8 follows the TT and last year’s victor, the A5, with its win in the sporting car category. Although not a natural fleet pick, there were more than 160 R8s registered as fleet purchases in 2009. Its rock-solid residual values and head-turning ability a Porsche 911 can only dream of are highlighted by businesscar.co.uk.

Fleet and Aftersales Marketing Manager Nathan Dennis commented: “this is a really great start to the year. Not only have we won three awards, but the A8 picked up its third win in a row – more than any other model has won. These awards mean more than most to us because it’s the people who buy and run our fleet cars who vote for them. It confirms that we’re doing a fantastic job and our products are world-class.”

The Business Car Awards are designed to highlight the best in business, and are chosen by the people whose firms depend on using top-quality products, technology and services on a daily basis. The winners are selected by the readers of Business Car magazine, website and email newsletters.

If you would like to know more about choosing an Audi as your next car contact Poole Audi on 01202 775050

Back to the Future 4 – The Audi Prequel

2010-01-25T09:26:00.004Z

We all take technology for granted; we can wake up to a random selection of songs played from a device that is capable of storing thousands of high quality albums. We can fit this device (what would have been a room full of LPs) in our pocket and use this handheld device to communicate with people all around the world. It needs no buttons, just caressing the screen with your finger or holding it a different way can be enough to activate its impressive functions. If that is not enough, you can download applications that turn it into a spirit level, a mobile office, or even a light-saber! This device is known as the Apple I-Phone and I salute you I-Phone for coming into our world and making it cool to be a gadget-loving geek.

So, if a phone can be made (with the help of new technology) to be so versatile, why not the humble motor car? 2010 may be the year for this to happen, especially if you are an Audi driver. They have a history of inventing, in 2006 they had already clocked up nearly 10,000 patents and they don’t stop. So, what could 2010 have in-store for Audi owners?

Google Earth Navigation – A8
Not pleased with simple 3D renditions of the road ahead, Audi has teamed up with Google to bring you satellite imagery. Now you can clearly tell which way the road bends and what features you can expect to be up ahead. Users can also search for locations and businesses using the Google search engine from in their car, then navigate to that point with just a simple to on the cars MMI-Touch interface.

Intelligent car features – A8 and E-Tron
The intelligent lighting system that Audi has put in place communicates with various sensors in the car and even the car’s satellite navigation system. They use several different light configurations for different road types and best of all, they are LED lights and so energy consumption is kept to a minimum.

In a similar way to how the headlights on the new A8 can use information from the satellite navigation, so can the latest gearbox in Audi’s range. Traditionally automatic gearboxes have had a reputation for shifting at bad times (i.e. in a corner) and while Audi have mostly removed the chance of this with their recent advancements, the inclusion of the navigation system means that they can eliminate it for good.

Self-parking car
It has been tried several times before with various other manufacturers and it has a reputation for not working as well as planned, until now. The parallel parking system has been an option on the Audi A3 for a while now and has yet to be surpassed for its ease of use. The car monitors the size of parking spaces and will take care of all of the angles, while you just control the speed.

A car that drives itself
Well, not quite but we are nearly there. For sometime now Audi have been offering Adaptive cruise control - a clever system that monitors the road ahead and will slow down, or accelerate the car to match the speed of other road users. When combined with other options, the car can warn you of cars in your blind-spots, detect (and help prevent) hazards on the road ahead and even use night vision to see things that you cannot. The uses heat recognition and clever cameras to calculate whether the hazard is a pedestrian or an animal. It will then highlight this on the screen and calculate the risk level by looking at the hazards movements i.e. which way they are walking, how fast, etc. The driver is alerted to the danger and if necessary the car will intervene by braking.

I figure that we now have all of the components needed to almost be able to do away with the driver. Let’s think about it;
o We have a satellite navigation system feeding information to various elements of the car
o The car is detecting obstacles with not only sensors, but cameras including night vision cameras that have a range far beyond high-beam headlights
o The car is able to steer itself into a difficult parking space
o Technology is already in production whereby cars can communicate with each other and traffic lights

Of course if my theory is correct, then I am now useless. However all hope is not lost, as the car still needs fuelling - for now anyway.

P.S. If you are reading this in the year 2011, then it is likely that your Audi is reading this to you while it drives you to work!

The next Audi TT, the Audi R4…

2010-01-22T10:33:00.004Z

It has been called several names by the motoring press, but Audi are still holding onto ‘E-Tron’. Now this is not to be confused with the E-Tron they unveiled at the end of 2009. This second E-Tron is much smaller and production is a little more realistic.

Headlights
Thinking back to when Audi first announced the R8 with it’s LED daytime running lights. This really captured the imagination and has given the inspiration for many designs across other manufacturers. Here we have the next stage of evolution, technology has moved along so quickly. All of the cars lighting is now provided by ultra-efficient LED technology. The headlights are the most innovative of these as they can actually change their appearance, angle and brightness dependant upon the speed of the vehicle and ambient conditions.

Air intakes
The lights are not the only thing that can adapt themselves to the environment. Despite having no engine (electricity is all that is required) the car still needs a supply of cold air to cool various components. Therefore Audi have developed moving air intakes that will open to allow more air to enter cooling ducts, or close to enhance the car’s aerodynamics.

Interior Space
A real leap forward in design is the amount of space inside the cabin. The car has no need for a transmission tunnel and so the centre-console can be made much slimmer. Buttons have been removed wherever possible and in there place, we have touch-sensitive pads. These clever pads (also in the new A8) can read hand-gestures and even allow you to write with your fingers. An un-necessary gadget you may think, but this actually means that you no longer have to take your eyes off the road to navigate the car’s menus.

I-Phone and Blackberry application
The Smart-phones of today can have a symbiotic relationship with the E-Tron. The car can use the phones internet connection, play music/videos from the phones memory, access addresses, phone numbers, etc. The phone can control car functions (even from in your home), monitor the car’s status (including alarms, battery levels, etc) and the user can even plan routes for the satellite navigation from the comfort of their own home.

Torque Rendering
Now this is where the electric drive system of the second E-Tron comes in. The rear wheels are independently driven by two energy-efficient motors meaning that oversteer and understeer can be eliminated with just a short burst of power to the effected wheel. It also helps that the car has a near perfect 40:60 weight distribution and the batteries are situated in a mid-engine-type position.

Living with it
Simple really, it has a range of 155 miles on one charge and even a fully depleted battery will fully charge overnight when connected to a normal mains plug socket. Upgrade to a 400 volt supply and this full charge will only take 2 hours! Amazing, a two hour charge and I can do 155 miles in a super-car – emission free! The E-Tron is capable of doing the 0-62 MPH sprint in only 5.9 seconds and then keep on accelerating at the same blistering pace, meaning that it will do the 37-75 MPH climb in only 5.1 seconds.

Stopping power
With all that speed, you are going to need some serious stopping power. That is why Audi have created these clever electric floating brakes. These reduce friction and work in harmony with the electric drive motors. When the cars brakes are applied, the motors can capture the energy and use it to charge the batteries. The basic principle of this is already in place on the new range of Audis (called recuperation) however using the cars big electric motors is like having two generators in the car.

What is next for the Audi E-Tron?
Well, we don’t really know for sure, but this is what we hope is going to happen. We would love for this car to become a reality, sooner rather than later and not just electric power either. I would love to see a mid-engined, rear-wheel drive version of this car. The existing placement of moving vents could be used to cool the engine and provide a much needed supply of cold air for the engine to breathe. The Audi sports-differential would give a similar level of torque control and if they managed to get the very shallow 2.5 litre turbo charged engine from the TTRS to fit in the E-Tron’s aluminium space-frame, it would create a very quick car indeed.

Press Coverage
Don’t just take our word for it. Below are just a small selection of comments from the motoring press:

Autocar.com
Audi has taken the wraps off its Detroit show car, a smaller and lighter version of its e-tron electric sports car that the firm's development boss Michael Dick described as a "vision of how a small sports car positioned below R8 could look." The unveiling of this second e-tron model just a few months after the first was shown indicates that Audi is still looking at different formats for a future electric sports car. While the first e-tron previewed a car the size of an R8 that would cost over £100,000, this second model is clearly aimed at providing a more affordable electric sports car.

Auto Express.co.uk
Stunning new concept finally confirms Audi's plans for an affordable sportscar... And it's electric! The waiting is finally over! Audi has shocked Detroit Motor Show goers with a new electric concept car that previews a new zero emission baby brother for the R8 supercar.

Whatcar.com
It has the same name as the model shown at the Frankfurt motor show in September – e-tron – but this one is mid-engined and develops more than 200bhp and almost 2000lb ft of torque. 'We want the name e-tron to take its place alongside our other iconic brand names like quattro and TDI,' said chief executive Rupert Stadler.

More Information
To find out more about the E-Tron and other new Audi models, call Poole Audi on 01202 775050

Audi A5 Cabriolet now below £30,000

2010-01-13T09:27:00.005Z

We are delighted to see the announcement of a new model in the Audi A5 Cabriolet range, priced at £27,530 on the road.

This new model boasts the 1.8 litre turbo-charged engine with FSI technology developed in the race winning Le Mans cars. This smooth and tractable engine enables a top speed of 130 mph and acceleration to 62mph in just 9.5 seconds. It’s very efficient too, developing just 172 g/km CO2 and showing a combined fuel consumption of 38.2 mpg.

What’s more, this model has a truly luxurious specification, which includes climate control, 17 inch alloy wheels and a stereo with CD or MP3 compatibility. It also has a fully electric hood, which can be operated at speeds up to 31mph. This means you can take advantage of every ray of sunshine available.

You could also specify the SE pack, which adds milano leather seats, wind deflector and acoustic parking sensors, plus automatic lights and windscreen wipers and upgrades to the alloy wheels, climate control and stereo. Even then, the A5 Cabriolet 1.8 T FSI with SE pack is priced at just £29,420 on the road.

Our experience of this car is that it really does offer the best of both worlds. Roof up, it remains quiet and warm. Roof down, it looks stunning and enables you to enjoy another dimension of driving.

Audi will be accepting orders for this model in a week or so, with cars being built in April and available for delivery in May – just in time for summer! Talk to us now on 01202 775050

image for illustration purposes only

How to make sure your car is repaired properly after an accident

2010-01-11T12:59:00.003Z

Recent weather has prompted a significant increase in the number of cars involved in accidents. If your car has been involved in an accident, we urge you to choose your repair centre carefully.

We encourage all our customers to use Poole Accident Repair. This is the area’s only accident repair centre which has manufacturer approvals from the Volkswagen Group. It means Poole Accident Repair is the recommended centre for not only Audi cars, but also Volkswagen, Seat and Skoda.

Poole Accident Repair is fully equipped with the correct machinery and technology for your car. They use official manufacturer parts in the repair of your car. The business has to pass strict audits from the manufacturer.

Using the right accident repair centre means that your car is returned to its pre-accident condition. The safety systems will work just as well again if you are unfortunate enough to be involved in another accident. Your warranty is unaffected. The value of your car is unaffected when you present it to us for part exchange.

Remember, as the owner of the car it is up to you to decide where it is repaired. Many insurance companies will try to railroad you into their own network of repairers, which will not have manufacturer approval and will be favoured largely on the basis of low cost. You do not have to follow this direction. Instead, take your car to Poole Accident Repair and let the team there liaise with the insurance company for you.

Bear in mind, we could be working with your car’s suspension, or airbags, or steering. Do you really want the people doing that work to be recommended by your insurer, or by the company which built your car in the first place?

More details can be found on their website http://www.pooleaccidentrepair.co.uk/ or call Poole Accident Repair on 01202 733866 – they are on hand 24/7 365 days a year.

Time to put quattro in your life?

2010-01-08T08:49:00.003Z

Recent exposure to driving in snow and ice has only endorsed our belief in the relevance of quattro to modern driving.

Over the last couple of days, show any rear wheel drive or front wheel drive car an un-gritted hill of any kind, and all you will see is a flurry of wheelspin and zero forward progress. We have seen premium cars thwarted by the most innocuous of inclines, their drivers forced to abandon their cars and set out on foot instead. It’s only when it happens to you that you realise just how heart-breaking that feels.

Meanwhile, the Audi quattro discretely and safely drives on by. Four wheel drive traction enables the car to get a purchase on the surface. The car feels planted and secure. The quattro owner is able to carry on with their day.

Of course, quattro doesn’t just help when there is snow around. It makes a big difference in the rain, or even when it has stopped raining but the roads are still wet or greasy. That must be about half the year in this country.

For anyone who relies on their car round the year, specifying a quattro model is worthy of consideration. On most models the premium for quattro is about £1400, and of course the quattro will always be worth more when you come to sell it.

Many of our customers upgrade to quattro, and then never go back. There is good reason for that, and in that equation this week’s snow really is just the icing on the cake.

Poole Audi Review of 2009

2010-01-06T11:40:00.009Z

2009 – what a year!

Despite the pressure of the credit crunch, 2009 turned out to be a good year for Poole Audi.

We started well with the launch of the Audi Q5, a mid-size 4 wheel drive SUV. This car went down a storm at our showroom launch, and has been in short supply ever since. This will have proved a canny buy for anyone in 2009 because used car values remain high. It also provided an opportunity in the snows of February for Audi UK to run the press advertisement “an ad for the Audi Q5 – written by someone who drove one to work today”

The year finished with the surprise reveal of the new Audi A8.

This car is set to be launched in April 2010, and combines beautiful sleek, modern styling with impressive technology and driving characteristics. What’s more, our 3.0 TDI car has a CO2 figure of just 159g/km. Our nearest competitor is at 178g/km, so this is great indication of how a high-tech car with an aluminium body frame can also be incredibly efficient. We’re planning our launch event now, and can’t wait for this new flagship to the Audi range.

Bargain of the Year

We still can’t quite get our heads around the Audi S4. This is an exquisite and beautifully built sports saloon or avant. It has quattro four wheel drive and a powerful 3.0 litre V6 supercharged engine. It accelerates to 62mph in just 5.1 seconds, and still shows a combined fuel consumption of 29.1mpg. The car magazines are raving about the way it drives, and we love its subtle power and style. And the price? Just £35,375 – how can this car be such good value?

Dream car of the Year

No question – it has to be the Spyder version of our Audi R8 V10! We launch this car in April, and have already specified our showroom display car. It will be worth the wait, this car will look amazing!

Economy drive of the Year

The new 120 PS version of our Audi A4 – bear in mind this is a full size executive saloon which will comfortably accommodate five adults and with 0-62mph acceleration in 10.5 seconds is hardly an economy focused slouch either. When our sales specialist Jon Follows took it to a training course, he achieved 67 mpg on his trip. That’s a real world reading and indicates what amazing efficiency these cars provide.

Surprise of the Year

How the scrappage scheme wasn’t just about £5,000 Hyundai cars. We sold many more cars than we expected under this scheme, including some £30,000 plus coupe and convertible models.

Disappointment of the Year

Losing the 24 hour Le Mans endurance race to Peugeot was a bitter blow. In fairness, they should have beaten us last year, but superior organisation from the Audi team won the day. The French of course turned it into a national holiday style celebration. Audi declared themselves determined to come back stronger in 2010!

No-Brainer of the Year

Service plans – such an easy way to budget for servicing, with a monthly direct debit, your own pot of funds, and transferable either to your next car or to the next owner of your current car. In no time, we’ll all be paying for services this way.

Emotional moment of the Year

Selling Bessie, our 19 year old Audi 100 Avant. We used this car to compete in the “Bangers4BEN” charity challenge, a 1500 mile endurance event. Despite her age, and the 176000 miles on the clock, this lovely old car wormed its way into our affections.

Thank you of the Year

We’d like to thank all our customers and friends in the world of Audi. We appreciate your custom and your interest in the Audi brand, and we look forward to an amazing 2010 together.

Spread the cheer, this New Year

2010-01-05T12:34:00.004Z

Here at Poole Audi, we are looking forward to another exciting year in 2010. To celebrate, we will be holding a special New Year Savings Event this weekend. It is the perfect chance for us to showcase the latest offers and for you to get the deal you have been waiting for.

These events always prove popular and as the deals are first-come-first-serve, it only seemed right to give our followers advance warning. Furthermore, we are giving you, our blog readers a £250 voucher. Combine this voucher with the attractive deals that are already on offer and you have another reason to have a happy new year.

To download your voucher click here or copy this URL into your web browser: www.pooleaudi.com/pdf/Downloadvoucher.pdf

If you would like more information on our attractive offers, please call our sales department on 01202 775050

The All New Audi A8 Unveiled

2009-12-02T09:05:00.004Z

Late on Monday night, Audi fans from all around the world tuned in to see the car on Audi TV. Was it worth the wait? Definitely! Many of us believe the existing A8 is the most appealing luxury car in this segment of the market. However, in the true spirit of Vorsprung durch Technik, Audi could not resist taking it to the next level.

This new epitome of luxury is now bigger, in fact it is now the biggest in its class. 7.5cm longer, 5.5cm wider and 2.6cm taller and yet this new muscular build does not come at the expense of fuel economy. Technology has moved along so far that the new Audi A8 is actually lighter and coupled with our new efficiency features, fuel economy has increased by up to 16%. CO2 emissions have also been reduced, some even by 21%! We now have a 3.0 TDI that produces only 159g/km and this is not at a loss of power as this has also been increased across the engine range. The 4.2 TDI now produces 350 PS (previously 326 PS), propelling the flag-ship to 60mph in 5.5 seconds and the 4.2 FSI has been increased to 372 PS from 350 PS.

In addition to the car’s green credentials, Audi Pre-sense has to be one of the highlights of the preview; this new system gives the car what we can only describe as pre-cognitive abilities. If the car senses an accident is about to happen, it will close the windows and the sunroof and turn on the hazard warning lights. For more minor incidents, if the Audi Pre-sense system predicts that there is a remote risk of a collision, it will prime the brake callipers, allowing the brakes to be applied that split second sooner. If the driver does not react to the impending collision, then Audi Pre-sense will alert the driver and even begin to slow the car down, buying the driver a few all important seconds. In the case of a rear collision the new Audi A8 will even move the front seats forward, reducing inertia and moving the passengers further away from the impact.

Other new features include the adaptive LED headlights. These revolutionary new all-LED headlights use less energy than conventional headlights. The adaptive lights use information from the new satellite navigation system, they will adjust to provide better visibility of upcoming corners and even offer different lighting dependant on the type of the road. The advancements don’t stop there either; the new A8 comes complete with an 8-speed automatic gearbox and electronic gear-lever. The Audi MMI system has been condensed and now includes a touch-sensitive pad, whereby the user can write numbers and letters with their finger to input phone numbers, and addresses.

To recap, the car is bigger, lighter, safer, more luxurious, more economical, has more technology and it is even more powerful – worth the wait? Definitely!

We have already requested two cars to use for demonstration, including the new 4.2 TDI model. We anticipate receiving those in April 2010. If you would like further information on this superb car, contact our sales team on 01202 775050.

The Audi Guide to... Start/Stop Technology

2009-11-25T15:12:00.005Z

New energy-efficient features are being added to Audi model variants all the time. These include an improved Stop/start system and brake-energy recuperation. You can even combine this technology with our automatics. The aim of this guide is to explain the features and benefits of our new efficiency program.

How does Start/stop work?
Start/stop is a great fuel-saving piece of technology. When the vehicle is stationary and neutral is selected, the engine turns off to save fuel. When a gear is selected the engine automatically starts instantly and the car is ready to be driven with no delay. The whole process happens so quickly that there is no interruption to the driver and the car's entertainment features. This system is much more advanced than earlier versions used in other manufacturer's cars. The advanced system will not put the engine into standby mode if the batteries are depleted, or the front wheels are turned (i.e. when waiting to turn right, etc).

What is brake energy recuperation?
This is the process whereby your Audi uses energy that is created when braking (normally wasted energy) and stores it in the battery. When the car accelerates away, the battery directs the energy back into the vehicle, cutting out the alternator and thus saving fuel.

How can the driver efficiency program help me?
The biggest saving that can be made to our fuel consumption is from changing our driving habits. The new efficiency program, sits inside the drivers information system. It gives the driver useful hints on how to improve fuel consumption. The solution may be as simple as closing a window to reduce wind-resistance, or changing gear slightly earlier to save fuel.

If you would like more information on how this new technology can help you, please call us on 01202 775050.

Rally Complete! Poole Audi goes the distance

2009-11-25T13:22:00.006Z

So, our £175 Audi 100 Avant had to make a 1,500 mile journey to raise money for charity. Our team competed against 27 manufacturers, dealers and magazines to find a car that was up to the challenge. 1 car written off, 1 car broken down and a whole barrage of practical jokes; here are the highlights of our epic journey into the depths of Scotland:

Day 1:
At 6:00AM the car was on the road - a full tank of fuel, a year's supply of energy drinks and several bags of sweets was all our team needed. Our team (Chris Ryu and Russell Whittam) arrived safely at the first checkpoint at 8:00AM to meet their competitors. No dramas on the first leg, infact Chris even took the time to fit a CD player to the 18 year old car whilst on route. Once all of the teams have arrived at the Ben (Ben-Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund) Headquarters in Ascot, the rally was on - next stop Inverness. As the drivers all ran to their cars, the first rotten tricks started. A few gentle nudges were being given in the queue to get out of the car park and meanwhile, Team Poole Audi was nowhere to be seen... ...they had been blocked in by some of the teams who obviously took their inspiration from the 80s cartoon Wacky Races. Eventually our team escaped and started the 560 mile leg to the Great Western Hotel in Inverness. All of the teams made it to the hotel and the complaints of back-aches were filling the dinner hall, but certainly not from us! The ride from the 100 Avant was smooth and faultless, which is more than could be said for one of our rivals. While battling their way through the intense fog covering Scotland, the Smartrepairinsurance team had developed a coolant leak.
Day 2:
Team Poole Audi rise out of bed early to start work on the Smartrepairinsurance team's car. joined by Team GRS they managed to fix the coolant problem, while all of the other teams got a head-start on the next leg to John 'O' Groats. A few bottles of water and anti-freeze lighter, the Poole Audi team was feeling good about the good deed and held up the rear of the pack, making sure that the struggling Ford was ok. All seemed ok... until our first (and only) drama came about. Our coolant light gave the first warning sign that something wasn't quite right and so we pulled over to check everything was ok. One of our 18 year old water pipes had split and precious coolant was now oozing out of the hole. Luckily the split was right at the end of the pipe, an area that was probably weakened a few days prior when we fitted a thermostat (not sure why but the previous owner had removed it!). Armed with a knife and a jubilee clip, the team was back on the road within 15 minutes and arrived at John O'Groats in convoy with the last of the rally cars. After a short rest and a few practical jokes, the next leg was under-way. Again, there was no drama for us on this trip but for others there were real issues. First came the sabotage, as a practical joke played on Car Dealer Magazine resulted in a blown tyre. Secondly, the Ben team were involved in a car accident as they lost control on one of the steep declines back down from the highlands. Finally it was the turn of Cambridge LandRover, their valiant attempts to keep the H reg LandRover going was all in vein when they finally broke down half-way to our next stop, Berwick-upon-Tweed. We arrived at the checkpoint with nobody to be seen, it seems nobody had told us that our next stop (and dinner plans) had changed - a mistake or another joke, you decide!
Day 3:
The tired troops were all in the cars at 7:00AM to make a quick stop at Sport Network and then on to a race track in Surrey. By this time, we had been amazed by how good the Audi is and yes, you guessed it - we arrived at the track with no issues. We even had enough time to taunt the Ben team by sticking http://www.pooleaccidentrepair.co.uk/ stickers on their replacement car. Eventually the other teams arrived and we made our way onto the wet racetrack. The Audi 100 is hardly a sports car but it gripped well and apart from a little understeer, did us proud.

Auction:
The cars were cleaned and we had the stickers removed ready for a charity auction at the British Car Auctions centre in Blackbushe. Most of the teams were disappointed with the sale figures of their precious cars, especially us. However, we helped to raise over £12,000 for charity and I guess that makes them the real winners!

Poole Audi Rally Car!

2009-11-06T15:10:00.002Z

Excitement is building across the country, as the teams taking part in the charity rally called Bangers4Ben make their final preparations. Bangers4Ben starts on Monday 9th November and will take our team 3 days. Our team, consisting of Chris Ryu (marketing specialist) and Russell Whittam (valeter), think they may have found the perfect car. The Audi 100 Avant or Bessie, as she has is known in the press, is in great condition and even has a new MOT.

With only £250 to spend on the perfect car to make the 1,500 mile journey, our team won Old Bessie on an online auction. The previous owner has done a great job of looking after her and with only a little TLC, she is ready for the rally.

Our good friends at http://www.fantasticsigns.co.uk/ have very kindly stickered our Audi 100 up ready for the big rally! Now, we don't want to give too much away but here is a preview...

As for German engineering, well I am confident that old Bessie will do us proud! To see up-to-the minute news on our teams progress visit our dedicated page: www.audi-dealers-poole.co.uk/bangers4ben.html where you can even track the car via GPS!

Poole Audi take up the Bangers4BEN challenge

2009-10-23T15:22:00.001+01:00

Our team will only have £250 to spend on a road-legal car that is capable of making a 1,500 mile journey in just 3 days. Naturally we are only looking for an Audi and with the Audi reputation at stake we have to find something very special. Plus there is the small matter of rivalry between the 30 teams taking part. All of whom representing various car manufacturers, dealers, magazines and all hungry to win the challenge.

So armed with only £250 and charged with finding a suitable Audi with road tax and MOT, our team has been searching all known sources, both online and offline. Everything from the experience of getting out-bid at the last minute on an online auction, to thinking you have found the perfect car only to find it has a fatal flaw – or many in our case!

Some would say though that buying the car is the easy part. Our team will then have to take our £250 banger and over the course of 3 days, will have to complete over 1,500 miles across the UK. At the end of the mammoth journey we will be doing a few celebratory laps of Brands Hatch race track and then the cars will all be auctioned off with the full sale price going to charity. We hope to win some prizes, but without a doubt the real winners will be BEN – the Motor and Allied Trades Benevolent Fund. All money raised from this event will go to the charity and on the trip we will be paying them a visit.

Be sure to follow our progress on the event both here and via Twitter: http://twitter.com/poole_audi

If you know of a suitable Audi then please think of us…

Poole Audi - Award Winning Events & TT on the Quay 2010

2009-10-23T15:13:00.003+01:00

A massive thank you to everybody who nominated us for an award from Audi Driver Magazine. We attended Audi Driver International and are happy to announce that we came back with the silver award for Audi Centre of the Year for Events.

The was a good attendance from Audi centres and owners clubs alike. Audi UK put on a show earlier in the day at Castle Combe and Allan McNish put in a personal appearance to collect his award for personality of the year.

Congratulations to Swindon Audi who collected the Gold and did a great job of hosting the pre-dinner reception at their showroom. As we pulled up to the dealership we were greeted by a long line of LED daytime running lights, the perfect setting for some Audi fan banter and a very nice touch.

One of our most successful events is no doubt our yearly TT on the quay meets. This is where we team up with Poole Tourism to close Poole Quay to all traffic other than Audi TTs. This always proves very popular with the TT owners club and local TT owners alike. We put our new models on display and even provide a complementary BBQ for TT owners. We would love to see even more TT owners next year, especially with the release of the new Audi TTRS.

So what is next? Well with the 30th anniversary of quattro next year, you can expect big things next year…

…and put 30th July 2010 in your diary for the next TT on the Quay event.

An Electrifying Performance by Audi at Frankfurt!

2009-09-18T15:33:00.003+01:00

A few weeks ago I blogged about how electric motors cannot possibly compete with the classic purr of the internal combustion engine - even if just for nostalgia. However on the 15th September 2009 I took it all back!

At first I though there must be a typo when the reports saying that the car has 4,500Nm of torque! It turns out that it does genuinely have 10 times the torque of the R8! And this torque rockets the E-Tron to 60mph in 4.8 seconds and 100mph in 8.9! How can it handle all this torque? Well I am sure that Audi have that all under control and the fact that each wheel is driven by its own independent motor is sure to help.

The motoring press is going crazy over the cars performance figures, and the impressive range of 154 miles on one charge, but I am more interested in the cars design. At first sight, it would appear that Audi have unveiled an electric R8. However on closer inspection, the E-Tron - Audi’s new concept car, is actually a new slightly smaller super-car. Sitting somewhere between the TT and R8, we feel that it hints at something new to come…

Release date
Well it may never happen but even if it doesn’t, you can be sure that the shape and size of the concept is a hint of things to come!

What is AdBlue Technology?

2009-09-18T15:22:00.006+01:00

As an incentive for people to drive cars that pollute less, the government has been charging less for road tax for cars that have lower CO2 emissions. Great! So what about the other emissions?

Well Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) is actually seen by many, as more harmful to humans than Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and so why are we not trying to crack down on that?

There have been developments - Audi in particular have been working hard to reduce the NOx emissions. One breakthrough is the additive AdBlue. This innovative solution coupled with their patented DeNox exhaust, can reduce NOx emissions by up to 90%. This new technology makes the Audi 3.0 TDI engine, the cleanest diesel engine in the world. The DeNox exhaust traps the harmful gas, while the special AdBlue chemical is injected into the chamber. This effectively splits the nitrogen oxide into nitrogen and water. The AdBlue chemical itself resides in a small tank, with its tiny filler cap located neatly inside the fuel flap. It is filled up with your scheduled service and because of the small quantities injected, it is enough to last until the next service is due.

We are very lucky to have our first Q7 with this clean diesel engine in stock now. The 7-seater has only just had a face-lift and so now is not only the first chance for many to see its new lines, but also to see this new AdBlue technology works.

Caught with its top off! – The R8 Spyder

2009-09-18T11:56:00.004+01:00

The soft-top R8 Spyder was unveiled earlier this week at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It uses the same 525 PS engine as the new V10 but will give owners the thrill of top-less driving. The extra weight of the fabric roof (a mere 30KG) is off-set by new Carbon-fibre composite body panels. The roof is of a similar Z-fold design to the TT and A3 Cabriolet and retracts under its Carbon-composite cover in 19 seconds. It can even be operated at speeds of up to 31mph, not that you will spend much time at those speeds! The car is capable of 0-62 in 4.1 seconds and has a top speed of 194mph.

Prices will start at around £112,000 for the manual and £117,000 for the R-Tronic. The order books will open in November and first ones are likely to reach us in the first quarter of 2010 just in time for the first of the “10” plates.

The R8 V10 has always had a heart-pounding roar that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face, but hearing that with the top down – an experience not to be missed!

The Poole Audi Guide to 3G MMI with HDD Satellite Navigation

2009-09-18T11:28:00.003+01:00

This new and innovative technology can do so much more than just tell you where to turn. Therefore I have taken the time to answer any questions that often come up and explain more fully what the device can and cannot do.

Satellite Navigation
It goes without saying that Audi have updated the maps on their new system, but now they are displayed in 3D! In some areas there are even 3D buildings, points of interest are in full colour and you can even see the change in terrain. Some of this is all thanks to the new 40GB hard drive giving the unit the capacity to store much more data. However we must not forget the new screen fitted to these cars. This new high-definition display is also much brighter than the existing DVD based system.

DVD Player
This clever new Satellite Navigation is fitted with a DVD Drive that can play Music DVDs and even allows you to watch DVD movies. I must point out that for safety reasons the picture is only displayed while the vehicle is stationary.

Traffic Updates
If you would like then 3G MMI can also warn you about traffic issues visually and audibly. This can be via the standard Traffic programme that you are probably used to from normal radios, or on your car’s display. If the route that you are planning to take is affected by one of these traffic issues then 3G MMI will advise you and provide you with an alternative route.

Music Jukebox
As mentioned above the 3G MMI system is fitted with a 40GB hard drive, giving it enough capacity to store the high-definition map data. 10GB of the hard drive is actually reserved for the built in music jukebox. Music can be added to this jukebox from the CD/DVD drive, the 2 SD card slots or optional extras, such as the Audi Music Interface.

Ports
It comes with 2 X SD memory card slots and a CD/DVD drive. You can add to this with optional equipment including a 6 X CD auto-changer, Audi Music Interface and phone preparation. When you opt for phone preparation you also get an extra port capable of reading a mobile phone SIM card.

Audi Music Interface
This optional extra can be combined with 3G MMI to give the user even more of a choice of music. This allows the user to listen to music from an I-Pod, USB memory stick or MP3 player.

Voice Guidance
You can operate most functions of the MMI system using just your voice. This means that there is no need to take your eyes or hands off the wheel.

TV
If you decide to go for the optional TV reception, then the picture will be displayed on the same high-definition MMI display. Just like the DVD function, once moving the video will freeze but audio will continue

DAB
If you like listening to the radio then why not upgrade to DAB digital radio reception. This gives you another option on the waveband menu. Select this option and you will see a list of Digital radio stations that have coverage all around the country. The quality of these digital stations is a big improvement on the standard FM radio stations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Can I get 3G MMI in an Audi TT?
A. Not currently, however you can still have DVD based satellite navigation. The models that are currently available with 3G MMI include A5 Coupe, Cabriolet and Sportback, A6 saloon, Avant and allroad, A8, Q5 and Q7.

Q. What is the maximum size memory card I can use?
A. You can use SD/MMC cards of up to 32GB

Q. Why can I not get my memory card to be recognised?
A. You will need to make sure that the card is formatted with the FAT or FAT32 file system and must only contain one partition.

Q. What file formats does it recognise?
A. .mp3, .wma and .m4a files are all recognised although please try to use the latest versions

Do you have any other questions about 3G MMI? Why not give us a call on 01202 775050

Petrol Vs Diesel –The Battle Continues!

2009-09-01T12:39:00.006+01:00

Since the dawn of the motor car, manufacturers have been constantly developing ways in which to give their cars the competitive edge. Some have focused on the fuel consumption, for others it has been the performance and recently we have seen the move towards lower CO2 emissions.

One could argue that the biggest battle in the world of motor cars is not between car manufacturers, it is between petrol and diesel! For centuries diesels have been seen as slow, loud and dirty while their petrol counterparts have been seen as fast and quiet but thirsty! Times are changing. Audi have won the coveted Le-Mans 24 hour race several times in a diesel race car. This remarkable feat of engineering is able to outpace the petrol rivals and while they are in the pits filling up with high octane fuel, the Audi is still going round the track.

I suppose you could argue that this blog should take note of the advancements in electric and hydrogen cars but when you do away with the classic internal combustion engine, you lose the car’s heart and soul. So for me anyway the battle is only two-way, at least until somebody comes up with a viable alternative!

Well today Audi have announced improvements in both their petrol and diesel engines, with a new ultra efficient petrol engine and an improved “clean diesel”. Typically diesels have always had the advantage when it comes to fuel consumption but the recent advancements in petrol injection are closing the gap fast.

So at the fighting in the corner for petrol is the new 1.2 T FSI engine in the Audi A3 and A3 Sportback. This clever new engine has the same power output as the 1.9 TDI and delivers a remarkable 51.3mpg combined. And this new engine, made almost completely out of aluminium, produces only 127g/km of CO2.

Today Audi have also announced a 3.0 TDI “clean diesel” for the Audi A4. This is the same powerful and smooth diesel that is currently on offer in the Audi Q7, but now with some new technology called Adblue. This innovative chemical breaks down the Nitrogen Oxide emissions into Nitrogen and water. Couple this with the new DeNox exhaust and you have a family car that is much kinder to the environment and can still hit 0-60 in just 6.2 seconds.

Who is winning? Well due to the higher cost of diesel and the new DPF filters fitted to most diesels you still have to do an above average mileage for it to have a real benefit, but it is in the lead for economy. These new advances in petrol engines are really making a mark and with better performance than the diesels they are sure to stay the fuel of choice for “petrol heads”.
Both these new engines will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor show in September. If you would like more information on these or any other Audi break-through why not phone us on 01202 775050 or visit http://www.pooleaudi.com/

Scrappage – is time running out?

2009-08-19T11:43:00.002+01:00

As an exercise in supporting a fragile market, the UK scrappage scheme is proving to be a fascinating exercise.

Customers buying a brand new car can obtain a £2000 allowance for their old car if it is over 10 years old and meets certain conditions. £1000 of this is funded by the government, the remainder by a combination of the manufacturer and dealer. Predictably, customers have been attracted to this in large numbers. Since 18th May, 134,400 new cars have been registered on the scrappage scheme. There will be plenty more orders in the system, waiting for cars to come through and be registered.

The scrappage scheme is capped at 300,000 cars, and it now becoming clear that this limit will be reached long before the planned expiry date of February 2010. Despite calls for the scheme to be extended, the government are insisting that when the 300,000th car is registered, the scheme will shut down.

It is for this reason that any customer considering whether to take advantage of the scrappage scheme needs to come to a decision quite quickly.

As for Poole Audi, we have been pleasantly surprised by the number of orders placed using the scrappage scheme. We have delivered 9 cars so far, and have another 10 on order and likely to be delivered on the new “59” registration plate which kicks in next month.

Predictably, our orders are mostly for the Audi A3 and A3 Sportback models. Bear in mind that you can buy a brand new Audi A3 for £15,265 even without scrappage support. Using the Audi scrappage deal, that same car could be sold for £13,265 – for a brand new Audi! However, the scheme applies across the entire Audi range, and we have sold A3 Cabriolet, A4 Cabriolet and even A5 3.0 TDI quattro models using scrappage support.

Still, this will not last long. Our guess is that our industry is now about two thirds of the way through the allocated support. There is still time to take advantage of this scheme, but do not delay – talk to our sales team now on 01202 775050.

The new James Bond?

2009-08-12T11:04:00.000+01:00

Look out Daniel Craig – you could be facing competition from a young man called Matty Harrison.

The sharp dressed James Bond fan came to Poole Audi to try out the new Audi R8 V10 for size. Declaring himself stirred but not shaken by the mid-engine 197mph sports car, Matty posed for photographs in the style of 007 himself.

Satisfied with his trial fitting in the car, Matty’s father now has his instructions on the future secret agent’s weapon of choice. Villains beware!

New Audi Q5 engines added to the range

2009-08-10T11:45:00.000+01:00

Perfect! Audi have introduced two new engines to the Q5 model. Both engines offer better fuel economy, lower CO2 emmissions. To make things even better, they are even cheaper than the current engines! The new engines include the 2.0 TFSI 180 PS and the 2.0 TDI 143 PS that are used throughout the Audi range. The winner here seems to be the 2.0 TDI as it delivers an impressive 43.5mpg and 172 g/km of CO2. Compare that to the already impressive 199 g/km and 37.7mpg from the new VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI 140 PS... Looks like Audi have done it again!

For more information on the Audi Q5 visit http://www.pooleaudi.com/

Poole Audi sponsors Party in the Park

2009-08-08T10:27:00.000+01:00

Poole Audi sponsors Party in the Park

Poole Audi are delighted to sponsor Party in the Park 2009. This takes place at Ashley Cross Green in Lower Parkstone, Poole on Sunday 6th September – midday to 7pm.

This event is a cool mix of great live music and tempting food – always a wonderful atmosphere, and what a way to kick back and enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon!

We invite all our customers and friends to come and join us. We will be displaying some cars and you can rely on us to drive a little glamour onto the green. We’ll also have an interactive competition to give the grey cells a weekend work-out! Join us for a drink and a chat. We look forward to seeing you.

To download the event flyer click here: www.pooleaudi.com/pdf/partyinthepark.bmp

The New Audi A5 Sportback Brochure Released

2009-08-04T10:07:00.000+01:00

We now have the official brochures for the upcoming Audi A5 sportback. This car has already been called "the best car Audi make" so we are very excited. This innovative 5 door Hatchback Coupe is due for release in October and priced below the 2 door Coupe!

Click here to view the brochure: www.pooleaudi.com/pdf/a5sportback.pdf

For more information visit our website: www.audia5sportback.co.uk

Making it easy to look after your Audi

2009-08-03T16:30:00.000+01:00

On my way home last night, I found myself travelling behind a car with terminal flumes of blue smoke emerging from the exhaust. Fighting my way through the nauseous fug, it occurred to me that this is the third time in recent weeks I’ve observed the final dying moments of a hitherto perfectly healthy looking car.

At the risk of sounding like an old man who comments that “policeman all seem young these days” this feels like the return of a phenomenon I remember from my younger years, but hadn’t really seen in recent times.

Is this further evidence of a country in recession? Often, simple maintenance is all it takes to keep a car running indefinitely. Most are designed to last well beyond 100,000 miles, and a quality car would be designed with at least 200,000 miles in mind.

One theory is that some drivers are delaying services on their car, or postponing necessary repairs in an attempt to reduce costs. Recent research claims that 28% of drivers would delay car maintenance to save money.

Clearly, there are times when this is sensible. But retiring at the side of the road with a blown engine is hideously expensive and definitely a false economy.

The best course of action is to take proper advice from whoever looks after your car. Many main dealers, Poole Audi included, will do a full safety check on your car free of charge, and report back any recommendations. When you have a service, a multitude of checks will be completed, by technicians who are familiar with your car and know the warning signs to look out for.

When those recommendations are reported back to you, do give them serious consideration. If you aim to keep to a budget, ask which items need attention most urgently. At Poole Audi you can talk direct with the technician who worked on your car – we even have a ramp where we can show you the car up in the air and show you what we have found. Many switched-on dealers will do the same.

We work with great cars – let’s work together and keep them on the road!

Debating in the Pub

2009-07-31T10:44:00.000+01:00

Found myself in one of those pub debates at the weekend. An old friend is considering upgrading his car to one of the Range Rovers with the new TDV8 engines and reckons that combination must give it claim to being the best car in the world. I’ve always had a soft spot for these cars, but as you’d expect was soon trying to persuade him that an Audi Q7 equipped with our latest V8 diesel engine would give it a run for its money. Frankly, both cars would prove capable of transporting all the family in effortless luxury, and the conversation moved on to other subjects.

It was only when I got back to the office, that I pulled up the detail on both cars and saw how (if only my product knowledge had been better!) all the arguments were there to support me.

Compare an Audi Q7 4.2 TDI quattro S-line with the Range Rover TDV8 HSE and you’ll see that they match each other exactly on emissions (294 g/km) and economy (25.4 mpg combined). However, while the Range Rover develops 275 PS, the new 4.2 TDI engine in the Audi develops 326 PS. It’s a similar story with torque, the Range Rover’s impressive 640 Nm beaten by the Audi at 760 Nm.

Combine all this with sleeker aerodynamics from the Audi, and the fact that the Range Rover is 267kg heavier (that’s the equivalent of three big blokes…) and the difference in performance is astonishing.

0-60 takes a perfectly respectable 9.2 seconds in the Range Rover, but just 6.4 seconds in the Q7 – that would put many a sports car in your rear view mirror. Top speed is 124 mph in the Range Rover, and 146 mph in the Q7, which explains how the Q7 felt so quiet and composed at speed last year in Europe.

If that wasn’t enough to swing the argument my way, how about seating for seven instead of five and a saving of £7,400?

There are only two conclusions we can draw from this exercise. Firstly, our Audi Q7 must genuinely be one of the most all-round impressive cars on the market today. Secondly, I need to work on my pub debating skills…

First Official Pictures of the Audi A5 Sportback

2009-07-17T14:10:00.000+01:00

Being launched in October 2009, the Audi A5 Sportback mixes the ‘rhythm of lines’ design concept featured on the A5 Coupe with all the practicality of a five-door vehicle. The car’s wide, low stance emphasises the A5 Sportback’s sporty front end. Elongated lines lead to its attractive and practical tailgate and the frameless doors increase the visual appeal. The A5 Sportback is now available to order and is priced from £27,140 for a 2.0TDI 170PS model with the SE trim level. For more information call us on 01202 775050 or visit the future models section of our new site www.audia5sportback.co.uk/

Record-breaking display at Goodwood

2009-07-17T13:46:00.000+01:00

A record-breaking 170,000 spectators attended this year's Goodwood Festival of Speed, which was dominated by Audi as it celebrated its centenary.

'True Grit – Epic Feats of Endurance' was the theme for this year’s event, where Audi was the featured marque. Rare Auto Union Grand Prix cars, all-wheel-drive Audi quattro rally and touring cars, and the latest diesel Le Mans sportscars were all in action and on display to mark 100 years of Audi. There were also dedicated Audi areas, including the Audi terminal, the Audi experience and the 4 x 4 course.

Dispite all of this, the star of the show had to be the Audi A1. This was the first British public viewing of the exciting hybrid concept car. Due for release late 2010, the A1 is set to revolutionise the way we look at compact cars. For more information visit the future models section of our new website:

http://www.pooleaudi.com/index.php?option=com_cars&id=39&task=view&car=A1&range=future

Audi to celebrate at Goodwood

2009-04-03T13:02:00.000+01:00

Audi will be 100 years old this year, and we plan to celebrate in style at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. This event is always popular with car enthusiasts and “petrol heads”, and Audi will be the featured marquee this year.
Expect to see an amazing range of historic Audi cars, including race cars from the 1930’s, the classic rally quattro and current Le Mans racing cars.
Audi will also feature in this year’s sculptural centrepiece outside Goodwood house. Details have yet to be revealed, but Goodwood owner Lord March did concede at the event’s press day that there will be “a massive homage to Audi,” so you can safely expect something spectacular.

Goodwood also presents an opportunity to preview a brand new car, never seen before in public. Audi did exactly this last year, revealing the Audi Q5 almost six months ahead of its official launch. No information at this stage, but we’re hoping there will be a special debut.

The Goodwood Festival of Speed takes place from 3rd July to 5th July. Put this date in your diary now. More information will follow.