Audi Boss Confirms Q3 Vail Concept for Detroit Show

The first and second place in the U.S. premium segment may belong to the Germans for 2011, but while BMW and Mercedes-Benz are at the top, Audi couldn’t manage anything better than seventh place, with less than half deliveries of its rivals.

Clearly, this is far from ideal for the Ingolstadt-based carmaker since the U.S. remains the number one market for premium brands. Furthermore, Audi, which is the segment leader both in Western Europe and China, wants to overtake BMW as the number one premium brand worldwide by 2015.

That’s why Audi plans to introduce more models in the U.S. market. It will start from next week’s Detroit Motor Show where it will reveal a new concept version of its Q3 crossover named “Vail”, and will follow up with a sedan version of the third-generation A3.

“The next pillar of the market that we have to conquer is the United States”, Audi CEO Rupert Stadler told Bloomberg News. “We see opportunities in the SUV and sedan segments”, he added.

Stadler also re-confirmed plans to resurrect the A2 premium compact, the first generation of which was discontinued after failing to meet its targets.

Moreover, despite beginning U.S. production in 2015, long after its rivals BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Stadler said that Audi would follow their example and look into assembling SUVs and sedans at its U.S. plant.

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Infiniti’s Mercedes A-Class-based Compact Model to be Built by Magna Steyr

Carlos Ghosn, CEO of Japan’s second biggest automaker, wants Nissan's luxury brand, Infiniti, to have a 10 percent share in the premium segment, which amounts to 500,000 units.

The “Power 88” plan that Ghosn revealed last June calls for the rapid expansion of Infiniti, which is an established player in the U.S. market but almost non-existent in Europe: in 2010 it sold 4,500 units, a tenth of BMW’s January 45,000 sales…

Back in August, we revealed that Infiniti was preparing a small, entry-level premium model to compete with the likes of Audi’s A3 and BMW’s 1-Series, and that it would use another premium carmaker’s help: Mercedes Benz and its newly developed MFA platform employed by the 2012 A-Class.

Now, Autonews reports that the Infiniti's C-segment model, which was previewed by the Etherea concept at the Geneva Motor Show this past March, will be manufactured in Austria by Magna Steyr.

The Austrian company has a huge experience in manufacturing vehicles for other carmakers. It's most well-known models are the first-generation BMW X3, the European Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Peugeot RCZ and the Mini Countryman, and of course, Mercedes’ no-frills 4x4, the G-Wagen, which it has built since 1979.

Sources report that the deal, which is expected to be signed next month, stipulates that Magna Steyr will receive many preassembled “complete parts” from Mercedes-Benz .The new model’s annual production will be around 50,000-60,000 units, significantly boosting Infiniti’s global sales.

The entry-level Infiniti will be launched in 2013 and will be based on Mercedes’ MFA new front-wheel drive platform. Tying up with Daimler on April 2010 was Nissan’s first move towards its target, cutting development and production costs for both groups.

Using a sub-contractor and a rather experienced one at that to build a mainstream model means that you can save even more, since you don’t have to retool your existing plants or set up a new one, either of which are much more expensive solutions.

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BMW Group To Launch MINI Brand In India In Early 2012

MINI BMW Group is ready to add another important market for its carpets as the Bavarian automaker said Monday it will launch the business models of small premium in India from 2012.

"I am pleased to announce that the Mini will be introduced in India in 2012," said the president of BMW India Andreas Schaaf. "We developed a new Mini ten years ago from scratch. India is the only country where the Mini was not introduced. So I think it will be as successful here as in other countries. "

BMW boss said the company plans to create independent distributors for the start of the MINI brand in two showrooms in New Delhi and Mumbai. In the coming years, the British car manufacturer will have a total of 12 distributors throughout the country.

Schaaf said that the company has not yet decided which model to use it, but added that costs more than 25 lakh (U.S. $ 51,000), or roughly 20 times the lowest cost of Tata Nano.

"Currently, the BMW team to assess what is the version to be launched in India from around the Mini family," said Schaaf. "We have not finalized the price of the car yet, but it is a premium brand and a luxury car. Of course, the price of admission is more than Rs 25 lakh."

Story References: Moneycontrol

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This is how Ferrari Introduced its New FF GT in South Korea

Manufacturers of premium cars such as Ferrari, who sell the most expensive cars money can buy in this world have the opportunity to make cars in another way politicians only dream of.

You can start selling a new brand, FF, Gran Turismo, South Korea, the Italian brand has held a unique event for the launch Tree Club & Spa is a luxurious five-star resort in Seoul.

More than 100 journalists were greeted by a friendly Korean traditional music and a parade called Cheeta ', the exhibition of traditional Korean drums and trumpets, before the new FF has made its debut in the stage directions between the army of men dressed dressed as usual.

Media Event in the evening followed by a second in more than 100 customers in the brand.

Other Ferrari was responsible for attending the presentation Enrico Galliera, Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing of Ferrari, said: "I take this opportunity to thank you all for your love and support last year for Ferrari and we are confident that you all enjoy the new FF sensational. "

Mr. Young-Sik Kim, Acting Executive Director of the FMK Corporation, said that "high performance FF model is the most convenient and luxurious in the history of Ferrari. The claim that this "Extreme GT is on. "

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