Audi in 2008 will be hoping to improve on what has been a stellar twelve months. Naturally more premium manufacturers such as Ford and Vauxhall have had the most success in terms of sale lists in dealerships, but out of prestige car ranges, Audi seem to be a top player in what is a lucrative sector of the market. But what has given Audi dealerships such a boost? Is it new styling and engines, or simply an increase of brand recognition? Added to this what can Audi dealerships deliver in the next year?



One of the reasons behind the good fortune of Audi dealerships has been the increase in business customers; for the first time last year, the little manufacturer from Germany managed to overtake its much bigger competitor, BMW. Seemingly companies are now more inclined to use Audis to fill their fleets where as in the past BMW has been the main choice. Once again Ford tops the charts but Audi are gaining and may even enter the top five in the business registrations table.

This has mainly been a result of the popularity of the Audi A4 with business customers. Recently it was voted Europe's number one executive car. This car was championed by a variety of motoring magazines across the whole of Europe. This popularity over similar models such as the BMW 5 and 6 Series as well as the Mercedes C Class will greatly pleasure Audi dealerships. They will feel as if they are finally getting the recognition they deserve.

So what new developments will be occurring on the forecourts of Audi dealerships this year?

First and foremost is the Audi A3 convertible. Created to rival Peugeot's 206 and the more pricy Mercedes hard top it will certainly put a smile on the face of many. While it cannot be considered cheap it can be considered value for money, with fabulous styling that give the car looks to die for and performance figures to match some have described it as a thing of beauty. Audi have abandoned past wisdom and instead of installing a hardtop in the car that would make it heavy with poor handling, they have instead opted for a soft top that while keeping the rain out, reduces the weight and does not affect the handling.

This year will also see further releases of the A4 class. Predominantly 2008 will see the release of the sedan and wagon models with new spoilers and styling. This will undoubtedly improve the popularity of this already popular car. There will also be new interior packages for the Audi A4 models this year. Most dealerships will be offering these new options.

The A5 coupe is to be released this year to compete with rival models such as the BMW 3 Series and 6 Series coupes. The car will have a new chassis setup that is hoped to improve handling by placing the engine behind the front wheels rather than Audis of old that had their engines in front of the forward wheel axle. The A6 will also get an upgrade in terms of styling but in effect remains the same car as last year.

Overall Audi dealerships have much to look forward to this year. They will be hoping to build upon what was a good year in 2007, especially in terms of sales. Added to these models there is one that has already caused a great deal of excitement in the motoring world. The R8 brings futuristic styling and performance to the forecourt, although finding these in dealerships will most probably be a Herculean task. Pre-ordering has already rendered any 'off the forecourt' buying useless. Other than this of course, dealerships will be hoping to build on the ingresses into the business and family car market.