According to a statement by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), China’s monthly sales of passenger-vehicles suffered its steepest decline in more than seven years due to a Lunar New Year holiday season hiatus that deprived dealers of a week’s worth of sales. Figures indicated that sales fell to 1.16 million units in January, a 24 percent decrease from the year before. According to five analysts from Bloomberg News, sales were projected to drop 18 percent.

Great Wall Securities Co. analyst Ran Fei said, “Even though the actual holidays were five working days, some dealerships took the opportunity to close their stores for a longer time. The numbers are disappointing.” Compounding the auto sales slump in the Chinese market, the Chinese government also estimated that holiday sales at the nation’s main retailers and restaurants rose at their slowest pace since the 2009 financial crisis.

Are these signs an indication that the world’s largest and fastest growing automotive market is showing economic resistance? Despite these statistics, Ran Fei insists that “Car demand is stable. There’s no indication of any changes on that front.” China’s Passenger Car Association also believes that the Chinese economy is fundamentally sound and interprets the auto sales number as a mere holiday season distortion. The Passenger Car Association expects a 30 percent rise in sales for February.

Huatai Securities Co. analyst Chen Liang adds, “Demand is still there and consumers in the smaller, less developed cities will still have a growing need for cars. These numbers don’t change my outlook for the year.”

In January, GM reported an 8 percent decline in China sales, its first Chinese sales decline in six months. Chevrolet sales suffered a 20 percent hit to 54,399 units. According to Ford, its China sales fell a staggering 42 percent last month. Bucking the trend, Luxury German brands BMW and Audi both posted higher sales, enjoying a 30 percent and 23 percent gain respectively.

IHS Automotive Shanghai analyst Namrita Chow provided this explanation, “Prior to the Chinese New Year, Chinese consumers who are looking to enhance their prestige and status symbol have chosen high-end luxury brands.”

[Source: Bloomberg]

Audi is out to steal Toyota‘s thunder in the World Endurance Championship this year.

The German automaker announced today that it will run two hybrid LMP1 cars for the first time in their team of four during the 24 hours of Le Mans.

Details were scarce in the release, but we know that the cars will be officially released at the end of the month. Their first race debut will follow on May 5 at the 6 hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

Despite running the hybrid cars, Audi isn’t relying on them. Instead the R18 TDI that raced last year will remain the staple.

“The first test results are very encouraging and we are intrigued to see just how this technology performs in combination with our ultra lightweight technology on the race track at Le Mans. As before, we still, however, see potential with the conventional drive – just as our colleagues do in production development,” head of Audi Motorsport Wolfgang Ullrich said.

It seems that the engineers at Audi are putting some stock in Toyota’s strategy because developing and running those cars is no small feat.

“To develop the hybrid technology for Le Mans is at least as ambitious and challenging as our diesel project was in its early stages,” Ullrich said.

Audi won 10 of the total Le Mans races since 2000, so the fact that they’re putting money into a hybrid LMP1 means there’s probably something significant to be gained.

The 2012 Audi R8 GT Spyder finally has a price tag affixed to its convertible hotness, with the German automaker pricing it at $210,000 excluding taxes and a $1,200 destination charge.

The R8 GT Spyder will be available starting next month and features a 5.2L V10 engine with 522-hp and 398 lb-ft of torque. The exterior design is aggressive and benefits from a front splitter, rear diffuser and carbon fiber rear spoiler. The Spyder model also utilizes carbon fiber reinforced polymer body panels, a magnesium engine frame, a sport-tuned suspension and high-performance brakes.

Only 50 Audi R8 GT Spyders will be sold in America this year, so if you’ve been on the fence about getting it, now’s the time to act since you know the pricing.

GALLERY: Audi R8 GT Spyder

Audi is introducing their new line of bi-turbo diesel engines that will make their way into several A6 cars and the A7 Sportback.

Those included in the list are the A6 sedan, A6 Avant, Allroad Quattro and A7 Sportbacks. Next spring U.K. customers can look forward to those cars sporting the option of Audi’s most powerful V6 diesel to date. The 3.0-liter bi-turbo oil burner will have 309 horsepower and 479 ft-lb of torque. That will be enough to propel the A6 Quattro from 0-60 mph in just 5.1 seconds, while the A6 Avant and A7 will get there in 5.3.

There isn’t any news on those cars making their way across the ocean just yet, but Audi did well in the U.K. last year, selling 14 percent more vehicles than they did the previous year. Audi says part of their plan to continue that upward trend is to invest more money in new products for what looks like a hungry market.

While this is little more than speculation, it doesn’t seem that outlandish that Audi might decide to bring those products to market in North America. An A6 diesel has long been rumored for the US, but the date keeps scooting out of sight.

Hopefully the new engine will sell well in the U.K. and encourage Audi to expand its distribution. That said, we won’t be surprised if it takes a long time or just doesn’t happen at all. Afterall, we’re still staring at the A1 with envy as the clock ticks by. There’s also already a diesel engine being sold in the US, albeit one with only 225 horsepower, sold in the Q7, and soon to be available in the Q5 CUV and A8 sedan.

While Audi has already confirmed that the 2012, five-cylinder, 340 horsepower DIN TT RS will be on display at the Geneva show this year (our version of which, shown above, is rated at 360 hp SAE and teamed only with a six-speed manual); the Ingolstadt automaker is also planning to release a more hardcore performance version, the TT RS Plus.

Rumors of this car surfaced last year and from what we gather, it’ll get a power hike of at least 20 hp, plus some special features designed to save weight. These include a fixed rear wing, special alloy wheels and removal of the rear seats, which are likely to shave mass by 132 lbs (60 kg).

As to what transmissions and other features the TT RS Plus will offer, mum’s currently the word, though expect it to be offered in coupe form only and Audi’s six-speed manual gearbox to make the cut, in keeping with the weight saving, simplistic theme. Stay tuned for further developments as we edge closer to the Geneva show.

[Source: gtspirit]

We’ve received word that among the debuts scheduled by Audi at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, the 2013 B8 Audi RS4 Avant will be among them (the B7 is shown above). Powered by a 4.2-liter FSI V8, the car will reportedly crank out some 450 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque and will be teamed exclusively with a seven-speed S-tronic transmission that incorporates launch control technology.

Alongside the RS4 Avant,  Geneva will witness world premieres of the A1 Quattro (powered by a 250 horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged FSI motor), the Audi A3 (with four engine options, a 1.4 TFSI, two 1.8 turbo motors, plus a 2.0-liter turbo diesel) and the third generation A6 All-Road, which, powered by a 3.0-liter TFSI V6, is said to deliver improvements in fuel economy of up to 20 percent . The highly anticipated TT RS will also make its global debut at the Swiss motoring expo, powered by the 2.5-liter, five-cylinder TFSI motor, reportedly delivering around 360 hp.

Although the TT RS is heading stateside, as is the RS5 (which shares its driveline with the 2013 RS4 and makes its Swiss premiere at the show); with the B8 RS4 being offered as an Avant only, it’ll be interesting to see just what Audi’s strategy is for this model, especially as it relates to North America.

So far we know it will be offered to customers around the world, though there’s no word yet on when or if it will come to the US. Given that many European brands seem less than enthusiastic about sending their wagon offerings stateside these days, we’ll be watching closely with this one.

[Source: Autoblog.nl]

10: Audi TT RS

Classic car insurance company Hagerty has just released its annual list of vehicles that it expects will become the collector cars of the future. The list of “affordable” collector cars is capped at $100,000 and comes on the heels of the annual Scottsdale collector car auction week.

“After more than twenty years of witnessing car-collecting trends, we have the unique ability to look at new cars through the eyes of a collector,” said McKeel Hagerty, CEO of Hagerty Insurance. “This year’s Hot List includes cars that are sure to develop a cult-like following because their characteristics resonate with driving enthusiasts.”

Starting off the list, and a favorite of ours is the Audi TT RS which retails for $56,850 and is a favorite amongst automotive enthusiasts as an affordable, fun ride without having to indulge into Porsche costs. The TT RS has plenty of global appeal which means it’ll have plenty of global demand down the road. And besides, Audi consistently finds itself at the Le Mans podium; you just can’t argue with success.

The Audi A1 will have a rolling cloth top in 2013, though further details are limited.

According to a report by German Auto Motor Und Sport, the company decided to go with a rolling roof instead of a convertible to save cost. The setup will be similar to what we’ve already seen in the Fiat 500c, though probably without the dropping rear window which promotes the convertible feel.

Of course, the A1 is still just another German treat that North America gets to ogle but not touch. Don’t expect the tiny bundle of fun to make its way to our shores until the second generation, which is a long way off.

Audi also speculated that the new A9 luxury sedan could be offered with a new V12 engine.

[Source: World Car Fans via Auto Motor Und Sport]

Efficiency is important these days. The government is cracking down on gas guzzlers and imposing strict regulations that force automakers into saving more fuel than ever before.

That’s why it might come as a surprise that Audi of America is opting not to offer their most efficient diesel engine in the upcoming 2013 Q5. That’s right, the German luxury brand sees fit to package the same diesel 3.0-liter V6 that they currently offer American consumers in the Q7.

Why, you might ask? The answer is simple, though less than logical. Audi is afraid of selling a 2.0 turbo diesel Q5 because it gets better milage than the hybrid-electric powertrain they are offering in the same vehicle.

In other words, the diesel engine is too efficient for the discerning U.S. palette. Now, there may be some merit to the theory, considering diesel fuel is more expensive than gasoline. People can be quick to judge at the pump and diesels still carry a somewhat sordid name among American consumers, even today.

On the other hand Hybrids evoke green imagery and environmentally friendly thoughts, which is even funnier when you realize that Europeans have been driving diesels to save fuel for decades.

Regardless of the reasoning, Audi is doing a good job of pandering to consumer egos, saying they chose to offer a more performance oriented diesel and an efficient hybrid.

Speaking of performance-oriented diesels, the company will also be offering Americans the same engine in the A8 later this year. The same logic that spoiled the chances for a 2.0-liter diesel Q5 is also keeping the hybrid A8 out of reach.

“Our current A8 with the 4.2L gasoline V-8 gets the same fuel economy as hybrids from BMW, Lexus and Mercedes” due to its emphasis on weight-saving aluminum construction, Audi of America President Johan de Nysschen said to Ward’s Auto. “Imagine now what happens when you put a diesel in the car. You have all the driveability and driving enjoyment with even better fuel economy.”

In fact, 41% of Q7 and 55% of A3 sales in the U.S. were diesel models, though the fact that Audi still ships from Germany probably restricted supply, so it makes sense that they would be rolling more models out with the oil-burning option.

GALLERY: Audi Q5 Hybrid

[Source: Wards Auto]

Sometime after championship Sunday, once the New England Patriots and the New York Giants won their respective title games, marketing departments across the nation probably had a meeting to decide whether or not to reveal their Super Bowl ads ahead of time.

Most believe that interest for the big game isn’t as high as years past, but imagine what ad agencies would have done if Tebow managed to make it to Super Bowl Sunday.

Whatever the reason is – and we’re just poking fun at a Brady vs. Manning rematch that doesn’t involve Peyton – Audi has also revealed their Super Bowl ad ahead of the big game. And while we thought this vampire craze would just quietly die off into the night, it apparently hasn’t and Audi inexplicably did a vampire-themed ad with their new Audi S7.

The ad itself is pretty uncreative, and what’s even more odd is those that would be in the market for the S7 probably isn’t really into the whole teenage vampire craze. But hey, Audi’s selling point on the ad is about their LED headlights. Wait, what?

Check out the ad after the break.

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