Just to stir things up
03-11-2009, 07:44 AM
#1
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Just to stir things up
This was on the dealer insider newsletter on the 9th.
Audi is considering a North American comeback for its allroad quattro, an all-wheel-drive wagon with extra performance features that it dropped in 2005. Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi AG board member for sales and marketing, said the company revisited the potential for the wagon because SUVs are becoming less popular. Discussions with Audi of America are under way, Schwarzenbauer told Automotive News.
Audi sold an A6 version of the wagon, known as the allroad quattro, in North America from 2000 to 2005. But after a strong start of nearly 6,000 units, U.S. sales fell to just 2,429 in its final year in North America. That wasn't enough to justify imports of the second-generation vehicle, which sells today in Europe as the A6 allroad quattro.
Schwarzenbauer said the time may be right for the allroad in North America.
"When we launched the A6 allroad the first time, it was still the high time of big SUVs," he said. "And I think it was hard for a new concept to compete against the SUVs.
"This might have changed in the last 12 months, so we probably have to reconsider what we do on the allroad side, whether it is A4 or A6."
The A4 allroad quattro, which debuted last week, will go on sale in Europe in early summer at a base price of 37,100 euros, or $46,538 at current exchange rates.
Audi is considering a North American comeback for its allroad quattro, an all-wheel-drive wagon with extra performance features that it dropped in 2005. Peter Schwarzenbauer, Audi AG board member for sales and marketing, said the company revisited the potential for the wagon because SUVs are becoming less popular. Discussions with Audi of America are under way, Schwarzenbauer told Automotive News.
Audi sold an A6 version of the wagon, known as the allroad quattro, in North America from 2000 to 2005. But after a strong start of nearly 6,000 units, U.S. sales fell to just 2,429 in its final year in North America. That wasn't enough to justify imports of the second-generation vehicle, which sells today in Europe as the A6 allroad quattro.
Schwarzenbauer said the time may be right for the allroad in North America.
"When we launched the A6 allroad the first time, it was still the high time of big SUVs," he said. "And I think it was hard for a new concept to compete against the SUVs.
"This might have changed in the last 12 months, so we probably have to reconsider what we do on the allroad side, whether it is A4 or A6."
The A4 allroad quattro, which debuted last week, will go on sale in Europe in early summer at a base price of 37,100 euros, or $46,538 at current exchange rates.
03-11-2009, 08:05 AM
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personally, they can keep it, but it may work. What's better is...
that there actually seems to be someone with a pulse on the American sensibility? This may bode well just having an open dialogue.
I want (need) the S4 avant, but I'd settle for a TDI A4R..
DD
Card carrying Avantista
I want (need) the S4 avant, but I'd settle for a TDI A4R..
DD
Card carrying Avantista
03-11-2009, 09:01 AM
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Good news! Love the new A6 allroad.
We would have gotten that if available, but we decided to keep our 2002 allroad and we are getting an A4 this weekend. Maybe the new A6 allroad will be our next car... if they bring it over.
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03-11-2009, 01:22 PM
#8
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Bad move. It would put that version in a class with CR-V, Tiguan, etc.
I don't think Audi would want to move the Q5 down to the class of those 4-banger compact SUVs.
If they want to compete with the big boys (Lexus, BMW, MB and Infiniti), then offering V6 exclusively is the way to go.
If they want to compete with the big boys (Lexus, BMW, MB and Infiniti), then offering V6 exclusively is the way to go.
03-11-2009, 01:36 PM
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Pretty good logic there
They are looking if it makes sense, doesn't mean that it actually does. They look at numbers for every vehicle and every combination. What makes sense comes to the US, what doesn't make sense doesn't come to the US.
Those who complained about Q7 vs. second gen A6 Allroad, the Q7 peaked @ 20,000+ sales and has outsold the A6 when both are on sale.
The current conditions might be a tiny bit better than before, but probably not enough for an Allroad to make sense.
Those who complained about Q7 vs. second gen A6 Allroad, the Q7 peaked @ 20,000+ sales and has outsold the A6 when both are on sale.
The current conditions might be a tiny bit better than before, but probably not enough for an Allroad to make sense.
