Twice the Audi in 2015

Twice the Audi in 2015
New product, CLS competitor envisioned

By PIA KRIX | AUTOMOTIVE NEWS

AutoWeek | Updated: 03/19/07, 11:47 am et

Audi will introduce a four-door, coupe-styled car and two sporty SUVs as part of a plan to nearly double its model count by 2015, the luxury brand's product development chief said.

"We have 22 vehicles in the lineup already and the other 18 in our heads," said Michael Dick.

"Besides the Audi Q5, we will bring out yet another smaller SUV, which has not been named yet."

The expanded lineup is key to Audi's stated goal of overtaking Mercedes-Benz and BMW to become the world's biggest luxury automaker by 2015.

For the first time, Dick also confirmed that Audi is planning a four-door coupe, a concept pioneered by Mercedes in the CLS. "We can visualize it quite well," Dick said. A possible name is the A7.

In Geneva, Audi introduced its A5 coupe. It is expected to sell up to 30,000 units a year globally. The A5 is scheduled to go on sale in the United States in November.

Because of the product offensive, Dick said, Audi needs more engineers. Out of the 350 university graduates that Audi hired in 2007, he said, "a large portion are expected to work in development."