Audi A1

Audi has won three category prizes at the What Car? Awards, which were held last week at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London’s Park Lane.

The What Car? Awards are judged by a panel of journalists from What Car? magazine, headed by Editor-in-Chief Chas Hallett, who said “Audi is on a roll at the moment, and it picks up a hat-trick of awards this year: last year’s overall winner, the A1, is our favourite supermini, and the TT is still successful. It’s been around for a while now, but it’s still our favourite Coupé and Convertible.”

• The Audi A1  was named Supermini of the Year for the second time. The What Car? judges described it as “still easily the best supermini on the market. It thoroughly deserves our Supermini of the Year Award for the second year running.”
• The Audi TT picked up the Coupe category for the sixth consecutive time. The judges felt that “there simply isn’t another coupe that can match its blend of abilities”, and they added that its 2.0 TFSI engine “gives amazing performance as well as flexibility”.
• The TT Roadster won the Convertible of the Year category. The panel agreed that “It’s a car that gets better with age, blending pace and handling with everyday usability and showroom appeal.”

Audi TT Roadster

Martin Sander, Director of Audi UK, also commented: “I’m delighted to find that accepting three awards from What Car? is one of my first duties as Director. The A1 has had an incredible launch year and is now confirming its status as the star in its segment. The TT’s unprecedented sixth award and its Roadster sister’s first award from What Car? are testament to their timeless appeal.”  If you are interested in leasing a new Audi we have the lastest Audi contract hire prices on the site now.

Click here for the full lease terms

The Audi A1 1.6 TDi SE 3-door diesel hatchback is on offer on the site on personal car leasing with full maintenance from only £247.20 including VAT. This great looking super-hatch returns a remarkable 74.3 combined mpg, emits just 99g/km of CO2 and looks great too.

The terms of the Audi personal car leasing special offer are a two year contract, 6 rentals in advance, fully maintained (vehicle excise duty, maintenance, servicing, tyres, batteries and exhausts included) and 10,000 miles per annum. Other terms are available from our car finance partner.

Donkervoort GTO

After two and a half years of development in close collaboration with Audi Quattro GmbH, Donkervoort has released details of their eagerly awaited new Donkervoort GTO open sports car.

The Donkervoort GTO has a beautiful shape, with a capacity of 340 to 400 HP from its 2.5-litre TFSI Audi engine and is larger than its predecessors, the closed GT and D8 270RS. The new Donkervoort GTO Audi engine is also lighter by 30kg and this lighter weight is reflected by its extra performance, being one of the fastest cars on the European market.

Donkervoort GTO

It has a special race module switch, which can instantly increase the capacity of the car from 340 to 400 HP at once and also has traction control on board if required. The car clearly takes many of its design themes from the aviation and rocket industry and production should start in 2012, with first models being delivered next summer. The first “regular” versions should be on European roads by 2013 however you will need deep pockets, as the car is priced between 100K and 150K Euros excluding taxes.

Audi A1 Black Edition

Audi has added two new special edition models to the Audi A1 car range with the launch of the new Black Edition and Contrast Edition. They have also supplemented the 1.6 TDI 105PS TDI with the 143PS 2.0-litre TDI (with six-speed manual transmission) to add extra power to the model range. The Audi A1 2.0 TDI will be available to order in Sport, S line, Black Edition and Contrast Edition.

Audi A1 Contrast Edition

The Contrast Edition specification builds on the Sport specification and adds a contrasting colour for the roof line and larger 17-inch “five-arm” design bi-colour alloy wheels.

The Black Edition is based on the top of the range S line specification and adds black styling treatment to the single frame grille surround and number plate holder, dark tinted rear privacy glass, 18-inch five-arm rotor design alloy wheels, full electronic climate control, Audi Sound System speaker upgrade and Xenon Plus headlights with LED daytime running lights. 

The Black Edition is only available in the 1.4 TFSI 185ps petrol engine and the 143ps 2.0-litre TDI diesel. The new 143ps 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine is a powerful, yet economical unit taking the car 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds, yet still offering CO2 emissions of 108g/km and a combined mpg of 68.9.

Auto Express, one of the UK’s leading car magazines, has found that as many as 50% of car manufacturers are steering clear of offering DAB (digital) radios as either an option or as standard fitment in their new car models. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has named 2015 as the deadline for turning off the analogue radio network and switching to digital. By doing this the vast majority of in-car tuners would cease to work overnight.

The survey was undertaken with 24 mainstream car manufacturers with Citroen, Fiat, Nissan and Hyundai among some of the makers who have shunned the new technology, according to Auto Express. The problem seems to be poor coverage with only 85% of the UK population able to get digital audio broadcasting at present and only 18% of the radio listening population use DAB (according to audience monitoring firm, RAJAR).

A Citroen spokesman said,”No Citroens have digital radio radio fitted (or as an option) and no date has been set as to when this will change”.  An Audi spokeswoman said,”We’ve had negative feedback from customers about poor digital radio coverage. If the broadcasters get the transmitter infrastructure right, then it would be a totally different ball game”.

Digital Radio UK, the body representing broadcasters, manufacturers and retailers, thinks the Government may have to revise the switchover plan from 2015 to possibly 2017. There are fears that a complete switchover would result in the loss of audience meaning it is likely that both analogue and digital will probably run in tandem for a prolonged period.

Windsor Vehicle Leasing, a recognised FN50 leasing company, has joined the site and they have just loaded some great business car leasing offers on sub 100g/km CO2 cars. All contracts are based on the three years, 3+35 rental profile, 10,000 miles per annum and non-maintained contract hire. Other terms are available on request.

Just click on the monthly rental below for further details.

New models just loaded

Volkswagen Ensurance

Volkswagen Insurance Services (VIS) has just launched a new product called “Ensurance” which works with any car insurance policy and then provides a full accident management and support service using the Volkswagen Group repairer network. The new product was launched on the 15th July 2011 and has an annual cost of £49.99.

The new product does not work on referral fees or increased courtesy cars cars costs paid in the background and all work is carried out by VW Group trained technicians, using genuine VW parts and a courtesy car will be provided for a wider range of circumstances than usual credit hire arrangements.

The Ensurance product can bought for all new and used Audi, SEAT, SKODA and Volkswagen branded vehicles and full details by these brands can be found as follows;

• Volkswagen- www.volkswagen-ensurance.co.uk
• Audi – www.audi-ensurance.co.uk
• SKODA- www.skoda-ensurance.co.uk
• SEAT – www.seat-ensurance.co.uk

Audi A5 Coupe

Most of the Partners have refreshed their pricing and having a quick trawl through the site we came across these Audi business car leasing offers. All the deals shown are based on 4 years, 10,000 miles per annum, non-maintained on a three month initial rental followed by 47 payments. Other terms are available on request from our car leasing Partners. Just click on the Partner name below to get straight to the offer.

1. Audi A1 1.6 TDI Sport from £199.25+VAT per month – TCH Leasing
2. Audi A3 1.6 TDI 3-door 99g/km from £224+VAT per month – Arval
3. Audi A3 1.6 TDI SE 5-door Sportback from £238+VAT per month – Arval
4. Audi A4 2.0 TDI 136bhp 4-door diesel saloon Start Stop from £305+VAT per month – Arval
5. Audi A5 2.0 TDI SE 2-door with Start Stop from £369+VAT per month – Arval

The German Show

This year, The German Show is being held at the world-famous Beaulieu attraction, in the grounds of the National Motor Museum, on Sunday the 24th July. All German marque owners are welcome to attend the event and all Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen models are welcomed, whether old or new.

There will be Best in Show award with the winner receiving a prize of £100 and a Beaulieu trophy, plus there will also be numerous trade stands, cars for sale, children’s activities, plus Go-Karting (at an extra charge). You can also camp overnight and there will be evening entertainment and a barbecue too.

Tickets for the owners of German vehicles taking part in the show are £10 for an adult, £17  for adult with camping and £8 for children. You can either book on the day or you can buy tickets online at www.beaulieushop.co.uk or just call 01590 612888. All other entries will be at Beaulieu’s main reception at normal admission prices and all are welcomed too.

Cobra is continuing its partnership with Volkswagen by providing Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles with a range of standard fit and optional accessories for the new Amarok pick-up. Every Amarok will come with the Thatcham approved Cobra 4405 alarm as standard.

In addition, Cobra has designed rear parking sensors that are standard on the Amarok Highline and as a cost option on other trim levels, to help drivers park in those tight spaces and avoid bumping or scratching their new pick-up.

Managing Director of Cobra UK, said,”We have worked with Volkswagen in the UK for 17 years and are very pleased to have been asked to help add some finishing touches to an already impressive vehicle”. 

Cobra is one of the leaders in security and safety solutions for the automotive industry and supplies services to Audi, Bentley, Ferrari, Infiniti, Lamborghini, Maserati, Mitsubishi, Nissan,Porsche, Renault and Tesia. Vehicle leasing prices on these manufacturers can be found on the site now.