Celebration of major milestone for Audi A8 at Geneva

World pioneers of prestige aluminium-bodied cars, German luxury carmaker
Audi has rolled out its 100,000th range-topping A8 from its hi-tech
Neckarsulm plant in Bavaria.

Eight years after the first Audi A8 was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show -
the annual Swiss show taking place this month - a "flagship" Audi A8 L 6.0
quattro was appropriately marking the historic occasion.

Renowned innovators in terms of design and engineering, Audi continues to
lead the field in the motor industry in its unique uses of aluminium. While
other manufacturers attempt to follow its technological lead in using
aluminium, Audi's original innovative approach continues to reign supreme
and leads the world in automotive applications of this very strong but
lightweight material.

Audi's unique Space Frame (ASF) is a high-strength aluminium frame structure
into which large aluminium panels are integrated, thus assuming a supporting
function. Furthermore aluminium extruded sections are connected by means of
unique
die-cast parts which are welded or riveted together.

The systematic reduction in body weight of approximately 40% achieved with
the ASF principle, compared to a conventional steel body, improves
performance and contributes towards optimum emissions levels. In the luxury
segment, the A8 has the advantage of carrying the desired high-level of
on-board equipment while also avoiding inappropriately high kerb weights for
a sporting limousine.

Without ASF, other aluminium body components would need to be thicker or
reinforced to retain its strength making any weight saving minimal.

Audi is the first maker to check the inexorable growth in vehicle weights in
this way. "Since it first appeared in 1994, our pioneering ASF technology
has opened up unprecedented perspectives for a responsible form of mobility
in the luxury class," commented Dr. Wolfgang Ruch, Head of the Aluminium
Centre at the Audi Neckarsulm plant.

As a newcomer in the top market segment, the Audi A8 succeeded in
establishing itself as a fully paid-up member within a few years thanks to
its technical innovation, sports appeal and dynamic characteristics.

Member of the Board for Production Dr. Jochem Heizmann paid tribute to the
technological excellence required developing and building the Audi Space
Frame (ASF) bodyshell. He commented: "The Audi A8 is the only
high-performance luxury-class car with quattro drive, and it is still the
only luxury-class car in the world to have successfully adopted lightweight
aluminium design principles."

Two years ago Audi extended its long-standing aluminium expertise, as
embodied by the Neckarsulm Aluminium Centre, to large-scale production. The
Audi A2 has been built in Neckarsulm since mid-2000 taking Audi's aluminium
car production to over 180,000.

The ASF-bodied Audi A8 and Audi A2 are notable for their ride quality,
operating safety and low fuel consumption. In developing the Audi A2, Audi
demonstrated how it was possible to produce aluminium bodies on a large
scale, with a degree of automation comparable to that of steel body
production (approx. 85%).

Audi is set to launch the new-generation Audi A8 at the end of the year and
the ASF concept has been further refined for this new model. "New
techniques and our experience from Audi A2 production will help us to make
the next quantum leap," remarked Heizmann.