Audi Sells Cosworth Engines Company to Mahle of Germany

Audi, the luxury car division of Volkswagen, announced that it has sold its high-performance engine unit Cosworth Technology Ltd to Mahle Gmbh of Germany. Audi offered no financial details for the Cosworth deal. Cosworth developed the engine in the Audi RS6 car. Pending regulatory approval, the deal will take effect next year.

Audi bought Cosworth in 1998 from the British group Vickers Plc. Based in England, Cosworth Technology engineers, manufactures and assembles engines and has 970 employees at three British plants and one plant in the U.S. Audi previously reported the British branch generated 2003 sales of $218 million and $31 million in the U.S.

Mahle is an automotive supplier that makes pistons, engine components and filter systems. It reported 2003 sales of $4.28 billion.

Audi and IG Metall Union Showing Signs of Possible Conflict

Referring to IG Metall Union's recent negotiations with the management team of Audi, the IG Metall Union has recently suggested that possible industrial action may be brought against Audi, a subsidiary of Volkswagen. This would be the first occurrence in 40 years.

According to IG Metall Union spokesmen, Audi has recently asked workers for cutbacks that would roughly equal the terms agreed recently by VW workers. Union spokesmen added that Audi couldn't justify such measures based on Audi's own commercial prospects. If a conflict is formalized then an agreement on current Audi wage negotiations may not be reached until mid-2005, Union spokesmen added.

Audi A4 Marketed Using Hi Tech Promotional Tool

Audi is marketing the new Audi A4 model through a new hi-tech promotion tool. Audi sources said that free plug-in memory sticks that contain five minutes of video and interactive content are being freely distributed. The memory stick can be plugged into any computer USB port.

The content includes design and engine features of the the Audi A4. Mark Hawkins, COO of twofourtv, the agency that developed the promotion, stated: "Branded with Audi, the USB stick extends brand values over a new platform, re-enforcing Audi's reputation as the most innovative car brand."

Audi TT Childrens' Choice for Santa Sleigh in 21st Century

A special Christmas questionnaire, distributed in London England to 500 children between the ages of 8 and 14 by the London Tower Bridge Exhibition, reveals the Audi TT sports car as the most preferred new 'sleigh' for Santa. The questionnaire asked children what the vehicle for Santa should be if he could update his image for the 21st century.

When told of the Audi TT's possible sleigh replacement, Kevin Rose, Director of Audi UK, said he was keen to add Mr Claus to the list of 78,000 customers who have joined the Audi UK customer base in 2004. "Santa would make a great brand ambassador for Audi - he runs the world’s most efficient parcel distribution service and is revered globally as a symbol of generosity and kindness. It’s intriguing to know that Britain’s youth rates our Audi TT so highly as to recommend it for the ultimate Christmas hero."

The Audi TT is more popular in Britain than anywhere else. Besides red, the TT is available in Coupe and Roadster forms with engines ranging from a 1.8-litre turbo charged four-cylinder with 150PS to a 3.2-litre V6 with 250PS.

Audi Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary of Aluminum & Lightweight Design Center

AUDI PRESS RELEASE
For 10 years Audi has been producing designs for vehicles such as the Audi A8 and the Audi A2 at the Aluminum and Lightweight Design Center in Neckarsulm. Audi established the Aluminium Center in in 1994.

The original idea behind the establishment of the center was so that Audi could bring together the expertise of the Development, Production Planning and Quality Assurance departments.

The complete name of the center reflects the fact that research and development activities have long since shifted their focus beyond aluminium. High-strength steels, tailored blanks, reinforced plastics and magnesium are used on an increasingly more regular basis at Audi.

"My vision is of economical lightweight design for volume production. We need to exploit the potential of materials for lightweight vehicles as effectively as possible and use the right materials in the right place. Aluminium of course remains the principal material in lightweight design for Audi, but we are increasingly looking into the potential of other materials," said Heinrich Timm, Head of the Aluminium and Lightweight Design Center.

Besides the development of the vehicles such as the Audi A2 and the A8, the Aluminium and Lightweight Design Center developed for Lamborghini the Gallardo sports car. Interestingly, Audi's development of the aluminium car body has had significant impact on the steel industry. In response to the development of the first volume-production aluminium body for the Audi A8, steel manufacturers increased their efforts to develop high-strength and super-high-strength steels for body manufacturing. The level of Audi's automation in body manufacturing is now around 80%. This corresponds to the degree of automation achieved in the production of a conventional steel car body.

In ten years Audi has built about 320,000 cars with aluminium bodies. Currently Audi employs 110 people at the Aluminium and Lightweight Design Center.

Audi A2-H2 Fuel Cell Hybrid Prototype Emits Nothing but Water

A new hydrogen-powered prototype, based on the pioneering Audi A2 hatchback is the latest advance from Audi. Based on the exceptionally fuel efficient, 94mpg Audi A2 1.2 TDI, the A2-H2 fuel cell hybrid emits pure water and nothing else.

Having competed recently in the Challenge Bibendum contest in Shanghai - the world’s biggest competition for sustainable drive and energy concepts - the Audi A2-H2 combines an environmentally sound fuel cell propulsion unit with a high performance storage battery. The PEM fuel cell utilizes an electrochemical process that converts oxygen and hydrogen to water vapour, an electric current and heat. The electric current is either stored in the air-cooled NiMH traction battery or supplied to the synchronous electric motor, where it is then converted to traction energy.

During normal drving conditions the fuel cell supplies current to only the electric motor. When agressive acceleration is required the electric motor supplies current from the fuel cell and the traction battery at the same time for maximum power output. Even making up to 150PS and 425Nm of torque available for brief periods.

Simulation testing suggests the Audi A2-H2 is capable of accelerating from 0 to 62mph in less than 10 seconds, can attain a top speed of 109mph and can also cover up to 137 miles before its three hydrogen storage tanks need to be refilled with up to 1.8kg of hydrogen. Equivalent to around 1.5 gallons of gasoline, this provides the Audi A2-H2 a consumption figure equivalent to approximately 94mpg.

The current gasoline and TDI-powered Audi A2 models are still the only volume production cars to feature a body shell built solely from aluminium, reducing their weight by over 40 per cent compared to an equivalent steel-bodied counterpart. Combined with a very low drag coefficient of just 0.28, this greatly benefits comfort, handling agility, fuel economy and performance.

The latest Audi A2 range now features just two new Special Edition models powered by 1.4-litre gas and TDI engines with 75PS and features extra standard equipment.

Director of Audi Japan to Head U.S. & Canadian Audi Operations

Johan de Nysschen, formerly in charge of Audi Japan, will be heading up Audi US and Canadian operations. De Nysschen previously was in charge of Audi Japan, where he had overseen the doubling of Audi sales during his five years there.

De Nysschen's position is titled executive vice-president in charge of the United States and Canadian business. The new appointment took effect on December 1. He will be reporting to Frank Witter, CEO of Volkswagen of America and Volkswagen Canada. His responsibilities include membership of the executive board of Volkswagen of America.