CHANDLER, Ariz. — The Audi A7 and the Audi Q7 won their respective categories in the 2012 Active Lifestyle of the Year Awards, which stands as the only competition of its kind in the U.S. to combine the opinions of automotive journalists and elite athletes.
Both Audi models were among the 32 finalists for recognition in the eighth-annual ALV program. The Audi A7 won as the best Luxury On-Road vehicle, while the Audi Q7 won in the best Family vehicle category.
The competition, held this year in Chandler, Ariz., involved seven categories overall with each grouping of finalists assessed by a jury panel made up of at least 10 elite and local athletes and journalists. The juries assessed the cars in each category on overall design, engine power, fuel efficiency and cargo capability. The goal of the jurors is to reward cars best suited for the needs of a sports lifestyle, such as stowing bicycles, kayaks or golf clubs.
“While ALV is technically a car-of-the-year competition, it’s also an impromptu focus group,” explained program co-founder, Nina Russin. “Our objective is to widen the pipeline between the people who plan, design and engineer new cars and the consumers who ultimately buy and drive them. At previous programs athletes including professional football players, elite runners, swimmers and triathletes have interacted with vehicle designers and product specialists.”
ABOUT THE AUDI A7
Audi has broken new ground with the A7, combining the emotional appeal of a coupe with the prestige of a sedan and the functionality of a wagon. The innovative, five-door design of the newest Audi entry sits atop a sporty, lightweight chassis and is partnered with a highly efficient supercharged V6, latest generation quattro® all-wheel drive and the latest advanced driver assistance and multimedia systems to define a new benchmark for the premium segment. The all-new A7 features the acclaimed Audi 3.0 TFSI® V6, complete with belt-driven supercharger and direct fuel injection. The supercharged 90-degree V6 produces 310 horsepower and 325 lb-ft. of torque to blend seamless power delivery with enhanced fuel economy of 18 mpg city / 28 mpg hwy / 22 mpg combined.
ABOUT THE AUDI Q7 TDI
The seven-passenger 2012 Audi Q7 highlights the brand attention to details through a host of features that exceed driver and passenger expectations for functionality and comfort. The premier luxury SUV in the Audi lineup provides impressive carlike handling and functional utility for every day driving. The 3.0-liter common-rail injection V6 clean diesel engine in the Audi Q7 TDI generates 225 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque with an eight-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission. It achieves an EPA estimated fuel economy of 17 mpg city / 25 mpg hwy / 20 mpg combined.
ABOUT AUDI
Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. During 2010 Audi was the top performing luxury brand in Europe, and broke all-time company sales records in the U.S. Over the next few years, AUDI AG will invest nearly $16 billion on new products and technologies. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.
