Audi has plenty to celebrate this year, having eclipsed their previous annual sales record of 101,629 (set in 2010) with a month to go in 2011. Sales through the Thanksgiving weekend stood at 102,055 vehicles, giving Audi an amazing year to go along with having record-setting months in each of the first 10 months of the year.

To go along with new car sales, Audi also set a new record with their Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles, besting their 2008 record of 32,108. CPO sales up to Thanksgiving weekend totaled in at 33,102 which was also a 32-percent increase over the previous year’s tally.

This is the second time Audi has exceeded 100,000 in sales since it established its brand in America over 41 years ago. They expect to have a record November month as well, and figures to close the year off with a 12th record setting month.

Much of Audi’s success can probably be credited to the more aggressive styling on the new A4 and A5 models as well penetrating BMW and Mercedes-Benz‘s luxury sedan market with their A6 and A8.

Just as BMW has begun drumming up attention with the release of their new 3-series, Audi quickly answered back with their A4 update for the 2013 model year.

Since the A4 is Audi’s best selling model, it is important to be evolutionary, rather than too revolutionary, in design. While Audi has made updates to every surface including the headlight and taillight treatment, front fascia, bumpers, and hood, the A4 remains readily familiar.

As for the interior, trim pieces are further refined and Audi has also improved user-friendliness on their MMI infotainment system.

Perhaps the greatest change for the new A4 is the addition of the A4 Allroad wagon. Available for the European market will be a selection of six turbodiesels and four petrol engines. For the North American market, we expect the 211-hp 2.0 liter turbocharged four as well as the Audi S4 spec 333 horsepower 3.0 liter supercharged six.

Quattro continues to be available across the line. Transmission options include the six speed manual, a dual clutch auto, as well as a CVT available for A4′s in front wheel drive trim.

Audi will release the new A4 and S4 in North America during the summer of 2012 as a 2013 model.

GALLERY: 2013 Audi A4 line-up

Rumors are brewing that Audi will be bringing an Allroad wagon variant of the A4 to America in 2013, as a 2014 model. It is being reported that company executives have reported to Car and Driver that the Allroad nameplate will soon be back in America, where it was last seen on the A6 wagon back in 2005.

It’s safe to assume that the A4 Allroad will be similar to its European version, sporting flared fenders in a contrasting gray shade. Our guess would be that the 2.0L Turbo four-cylinder will be powering the American version of the A4 Allroad, but Audi could surprise us with additional engine options. The A4 is expected to have a mid-cycle refresh in late 2013 (as a 2014 model) and Car and Driver is reporting the Allroad should be available right after the refresh.

[Source: Left Lane News]

This week, a news report was released by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, proclaiming Audi as the number one luxury brand for best total cost of ownership.

The data confirmed that Audi yields the lowest average Total Cost of Ownership for the initial five-year ownership period, beating all other luxury brands. The Total Cost of Ownership breaks down the typical ownership costs for a particular vehicle, including depreciation, expected fuel, repair, maintenance and insurance costs. Audi’s success has been driven largely by the A3 2.oT and A4 2.0T models, due to their minimal depreciation and industry-leading fuel economy.

he 2.0-liter TFSI engine produces 211-hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The engine combines Audi’s valvelift system, variable valve timing and TFSI direct injection for increased power and efficiency. The German automaker has already sold more than 1.3 million of these engines, and is one of the most acclaimed powerplants of the last decade.

China has become Audi’s largest single market in the world. From January to April, the Germany luxury brand sold 78,487 vehicles in its home country. Compare this to the 87,788 Audis sold in China in the first four months of this year.

Last year, Audi’s home market just edged out the growing appetite for cars in China, selling 229,157 vehicles in Germany, compared to 227,938 in China.

And while some analysts are calling for a retreat, Audi China is forecasting growth of 20 percent, and has increased the production capacity at its plan in Changchun to help meet growing demand to 300,000 units per year.

[Source: The Truth About Cars]

Popularly known for tuning Audis, Sportechnic was present at Tokyo Auto Salon this year with an equal number of Audi and Porsche products. Alongside a Q5 and more highly modified A4 model, sat a Cayenne and a brand new Panamera. The Panamera was mostly stock except for a set of Sportech wheels. We’ll be interested to see where Sortechnic and other tuners (Japanese, German and even American) do with this incredible new platform.

GALLERY: Sportechnic Porsche and Audis