Η Audi μας ανακοίνωσε και επίσημα ότι το πρώτο μοντέλο παραγωγής που φορά τον ψηφιακό κεντρικό καθρέπτη, είναι το R8 e-tron, που τον είδαμε και στο onboard video από τον γύρο ρεκόρ στο Nürburgring. Το σύστημα αποτελείται από μια μικρή κάμερα η οποία μεταφέρει την εικόνα του πίσω μέρος, μέσα στο εσωτερικό του αυτοκίνητου πάνω σε μια AMOLED οθόνη 7.7″.
Παράλληλα η Audi ανακοίνωσε και τις πωλήσεις της για τον Ιούλιο όπου πούλησε 119.600 αυτοκίνητα, +12,9% σε σχέση με τον Ιούλιο του 2011. Σημαντική αύξηση των πωλήσεων είδε στην Αμερική (+28%) και στη Γερμανία (+10,7%), ενώ από την αρχή του έτους, έχει πουλήσει 852.900 αυτοκίνητα, +12.4% σε σχέση με την αντίστοιχη περίοδο του 2011. Περισσότερες λεπτομέρειες μπορείς να βρεις στο δελτίο τύπου που ακολουθεί.
[Πηγή: Audi]
[learn_more caption=”Δελτίο Τύπου”]
From motorsport to series production: the digital rear-view mirror
- Intelligent camera/monitor system ensures an ideal view
- New technology goes into series production with the Audi R8 e-tron
- Successful debut in the Audi R18 Le Mans race car
Audi is set to make driving even safer with a new technology: the digital rear-view mirror delivers brilliant images and is due to enter small-scale production in the Audi R8 e-tron at the end of this year. This model – like the current Le Mans winners – has no rear window and hence no conventional rear-view mirror. Its high-tech successor is the digital rear-view mirror – a camera/monitor system.
A control unit produces a consistent high-contrast, brilliant image. During the hours of darkness the intelligent control system prevents dazzle from the headlights of other vehicles. The driver can dim or deactivate the display at any time. Audi is also working on incorporating additional information on the monitor in future.
The small, ultra-lightweight camera is located in an aerodynamically optimized housing which is heated in cold temperatures. It uses a lens with a diameter of just a few millimeters and covers a much larger field of vision than a conventional rear-view mirror. A color monitor with a 7.7-inch screen diagonal mounted in place of a conventional rear-view mirror is used to display the digital image data from the camera. This AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) display, which comes from development partner Samsung Display Co., LTD, is making its debut in a passenger car. The organic materials used in the display are self-illuminating at a low voltage – i.e. they do not require backlighting. The AMOLED technology has already proved widely successful in cell phones and similar devices in the consumer segment.
The new displays are more energy-efficient, thinner, and lighter than conventional LCD monitors. Switching times are just a few milliseconds irrespective of the ambient temperature.
The digital rear-view mirror celebrated its dazzling premiere at the Le Mans 24 Hours in the R18 e-tron quattro and R18 ultra race cars which gave Audi a one-two-three win in the legendary race. The new system proved reliable even under the grueling race conditions.
AUDI AG: continuing growth in Europe too
- Deliveries worldwide reach around 119,600 in July – up 12.9 percent
- Audi boss Stadler: “We expect extra lift from new A3”
- United States powerhouse of growth with 28 percent gain
AUDI AG carried over the double-digit growth of the first half of 2012 into July, when the Company delivered some 119,600 automobiles worldwide, an increase of 12.9 percent. This strongest-ever July performance was boosted by a healthy 28 percent increase in unit sales in the United States. In Germany, too, demand for models from the Ingolstadt carmaker were yet again clearly up by 10.7 percent. Overall, Audi handed over some 852,900 cars to customers in the first seven months of the year, 12.4 percent more than in the same period of 2011.
“Following this successful start to the second half, we are expecting the new A3 to give us an extra lift over the coming months,” said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG. “Because we aim to continue pioneering the premium compact class with the new generation, too.” The new Audi A3 will appear on the first markets from the end of August.
Despite the continuing difficult economic environment in some markets, July saw AUDI AG secure further growth in Europe. With around 60,800 cars sold, the Company improved on the prior-year month by 5.5 percent. The Ingolstadt carmaker achieved especially strong growth in Eastern Europe – unit sales there climbed by 31.4 percent to a deliveries total of around 4,800 last month. The main driver of growth in that region was Russia, where 2,757 Audi models were sold (up 35.6 percent). The brand with the four rings also maintained its dynamic performance in its home market of Germany. Sales there rose 10.7 percent to 23,712 automobiles. Cumulatively, the unit total for Germany over the first seven months is up 7.8 percent (157,885 units). This growth was fueled in particular by the A1 Sportback, the A6 Avant and the Q3. From January through July, Audi delivered some 14,500 units of its new compact SUV to customers in Germany.
New models also boosted sales in the United States, where July’s unit total of 11,707 was up 28 percent on the prior-year month. The new generations of the A4 and A5 families, which went on sale at U.S. dealers in June, were particularly in demand. Sales of the A4 models were up 51.7 percent, while the A5 models gained 31.9 percent. July also saw the first units of the RS 5 high-performance model delivered to customers in the United States.
In China, the first seven months of the year saw Audi improve on the deliveries total for the prior-year period by 34.6 percent, with sales reaching a total of 226,748 automobiles. The locally built models displaying the four rings were especially in demand. Sales of the Changchun-made Audi Q5 soared by 80 percent, with 50,170 customers choosing this SUV model between January and July. Elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region, Audi also continues to make impressive progress in India. July saw the Company double its sales in that market (up 100 percent), where growth was driven by the appearance of the Q3 in June.
| Sales for AUDI AG | In July | Total | ||||
| 2012 | 2011 | Change from 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | Change from 2011 | |
| Worldwide | 119,600 | 105,993 | +12.9% | 852,900 | 758,885 | +12.4% |
| Europe | 60,800 | 57,688 | +5.5% | 454,200 | 440,471 | +3.1% |
| – Germany | 23,712 | 21,423 | +10.7% | 157,885 | 146,514 | +7.8% |
| – UK | 8,872 | 8,155 | +8.8% | 75,060 | 71,515 | +5.0% |
| – France | 5,207 | 5,294 | -1.6% | 38,286 | 38,242 | +0.1% |
| – Italy | 4,170 | 4,668 | -10.7% | 31,691 | 38,517 | -17.7% |
| – Spain | 3,106 | 3,589 | -13.5% | 24,871 | 27,733 | -10.3% |
| – Russia | 2,757 | 2,033 | +35.6% | 19,320 | 13,790 | +40.1% |
| USA | 11,707 | 9,146 | +28.0% | 76,865 | 65,055 | +18.2% |
| Mexico | 829 | 532 | +55.8% | 4,691 | 4,175 | +12.4% |
| Asia-Pacific | 38,900 | 32,562 | +19.5% | 267,900 | 203,686 | +31.5% |
| – China (incl. Hong Kong) |
32,877 | 27,767 | +18.4% | 226,748 | 168,466 | +34.6% |
| – India | 686 | 343 | +100.0% | 4,686 | 3,145 | +49.0% |
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