Readers’ choice for best new design features:
Audi victorious in five out of ten categories
- A1 citycarver, A3, A5, RS 6 and Q3 Sportback honored with “Autonis” Award
- Audi models impress in readers’ choice voting with some 16,000 participants
- Head of Design Marc Lichte: “At Audi, design is the number 1 reason for buying.”
Audi won half the trophies awarded today at the “Autonis” Awards ceremony. In the readers’ choice by auto motor and sport, the premium brand took home the coveted award in five of ten categories with models from many segments. The magazine honors the best new design features with the awards each year.
“Each of these models is part of the Audi family, yet has its own character,” said Head of Design Marc Lichte, who accepted the five trophies on behalf of the entire design team. “At Audi, design is the number 1 reason for buying. That is just one reason why it is so extremely important to us as a premium brand that the design of our models not only appeals to us, but also meets the tastes of our customers. You have once again given us an important confirmation of this with the ‘Autonis’.”
Robust and innovative: outstanding small and compact cars
The Audi A1 citycarver claimed victory in the “Small Car” category with 33 percent of the vote. It debuted last year and is characterized by a thoroughly robust, off-road look. This includes not just the large, octagonal Singleframe, but also the redesigned side sills with contrasting attachments, the higher ride height and underbody protection in stainless steel paint.
The winner in the “Compact Car” category was the new Audi A3. 19.6 percent of the vote went to the premium compact model, which has been available to order since March. It is the first Audi model to offer Matrix LED headlights in combination with digital daytime running lights. The latter are a 3x5 pixel field of LED segments that gives each A3 derivative its own unique light signature.
In the “Compact SUV” category, 24.4 percent of the participating readers cast their vote for the Audi Q3 Sportback. A distinguishing feature of the SUV coupé is the low roofline, which makes the model appear significantly longer than its sister model, the Q3. In addition, the Q3 Sportback is almost three centimeters (1.2 in) flatter and thus has a more muscular appearance.
Strikingly updated and strongly characteristic: the winners in the mid-size and full-size classes
The Audi A5 offers an even more determined appearance since last year’s model update. The Singleframe with the honeycomb insert is flatter and somewhat wider than on the previous model. Air vents above the grille are reminiscent of the classic Audi Sport quattro from 1984. 36.3 percent of the vote in the “Mid-Size” category underlines the success of this product improvement.
The Audi RS 6 Avant claimed victory in the “Full-Size” category with 22.6 percent of the vote. A significantly flatter Singleframe, a body widened on both sides by roughly 40 millimeters (0.1 in) with widely flared wheel arches and an RS-specific bumper with rear diffuser and oval tailpipes underscore the unmistakeable character of the high-performance Avant compared with the A6 Avant basic model.
“Autonis”: more than 100 new models put to the vote
With a total of five victories, Audi was the top winner at this year’s “Autonis.” The premium brand thus clearly impressed the readers of auto, motor and sport with its models. Overall, there were more than 100 new models from various manufacturers to choose from. Some 16,000 participants cast their readers’ choice votes.
