Audi Wins 18th Golden Steering Wheel Award

ZETLAND, AUSTRALIA – November 6, 2009: Germany’s Bild am Sonntag newspaper has awarded a Golden Steering Wheel to the new Audi A5 Sportback.

The new Audi A5 Sportback was awarded ‘Best midsize car’ by the newspaper, and is the third model from Audi’s successful A5 range.

Its victory constitutes the 18th time this award has been presented to an Audi vehicle in the 34-year history of the competition, making Audi the most successful brand in the competition.

The Audi A5 Sportback rose above a strong field of direct competitors to build on the wins achieved in previous years by the Audi Q5 and Audi A4.

Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, accepted the award in Berlin – it is considered one of the automotive industry’s most important accolades.

“I’m thrilled by yet another triumph in our key model family and for the Audi brand. In my eyes, this also validates the hard work of our highly motivated team,” Stadler said at the award ceremony held earlier this week.

“This Golden Steering Wheel also shows that the A5 Sportback’s innovative concept – which unites the best of various vehicle worlds – not only means a great deal to me personally, but likewise impressed the panel of judges.

“For me, the A5 Sportback blends the emotion and elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan, and the practicality of a station wagon,” Mr Stadler said.

The Golden Steering Wheel panel of judges – consisting of VIPs, technical experts, and racing/rally pros as well as, for the first time, the editors-in chief of the international subsidiaries of Auto Bild – had the opportunity once again this year to put the competing vehicles through their paces on a closed testing ground.

Whereas the Audi A5 Sportback drew the attention of the editors-in-chief primarily via its elasticity and acceleration, it earned high marks among VIPs thanks to its exterior design, interior design, and user-friendly operation. The panel’s technicians were particularly impressed by the vehicle’s overall quality and emphasised the ease of repairs.

The motorsport testers praised the combination of an outstanding chassis as well as first-rate steering and braking. They also agreed that the A5 Sportback had the best engine and spoke very highly of the transmission and shifting.

By winning the fuel-efficiency and driving-pleasure categories, the youngest member of the A5 family also proved that these apparent opposites can be combined to excellent effect.

The A5 Sportback version which entered the competition was a 3.0 TDI quattro with a 7-speed dual-clutch S tronic transmission.

The Golden Steering Wheel has been awarded annually since 1975 to the best new vehicles. In recent years alone, the Audi A6 (2004), the Q7 (2005), the A4 Sedan (2007), and the Audi Q5 SUV (2008) have each won a Golden Steering Wheel.

The Audi A5 Sportback is expected to arrive in Australia in Quarter 1, 2010. Both TDI and FSI engines will be available. Final engine range and pricing is yet to be finalised for Australian customers.