- Title: Word's first Audi Sport Center opens in UAE
- Date: 31st October 2016
- Summary: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (OCTOBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THE AUDI R8 LMS AT THE DUBAI AUTODROME BEFORE A TEST DRIVE KRISTENSEN STANDING NEXT TO MEN PUSHING THE R8 LMS ONTO RACE TRACK
- Embargoed: 15th November 2016 10:21
- Keywords: Audi German luxury carmaker sports car high performance race car UAE Abu Dhabi Kristensen
- Location: ABU DHABI / DUBAI, UAE
- City: ABU DHABI / DUBAI, UAE
- Country: United Arab Emirates
- Topics: Living/Lifestyle,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA00356C2CLX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING
Audi launched their first global Audi Sport Center in the United Arab Emirates capital this week, designating a state of the art showroom to the brands high-end, high performance sports cars.
The showroom, located in Abu Dhabi, will showcase the company's most exclusive models to cater to increasing regional demand for some of the world's fastest and most expensive sports cars in the world.
"We are launching 600 Audi sport shop and shop dealers world-wide by the end of '17, and this is the first real big Audi Sport Center," said Audi's Head of Performance Stephen Winkelmann, adding that the company chose the Middle East for the launch due to its high demand for sports cars.
"The Middle Eastern region is very much about performance cars, so this is the right place to open it," said Winkelmann.
The Audi RS and R models have witnessed a 44 percent growth this year to date, according to the company, with the R8 Coupe showing a 133 percent growth in the Middle East.
"You know that in the last five years we doubled the sales of the Audi sport brand from R8 and RS models, but we're not looking into volume, we're looking into exclusivity. Exclusivity is what we stand for and this is by far more important," said Winkelmann.
The UAE is well known for its glitz and glamour, and with the amount of wealth concentrated in the country, special edition and unique sports cars are a common sight in this desert nation.
According to Audi, more than 17,000 Audi sport units were sold worldwide in 2015. Audi Sport sales have grown by 32 percent in the Middle East alone so far this year.
To mark the occasion, legendary race car driver and multiple Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen took the Audi R8 LMS out for a spin at the Dubai Autodrome. The company flew the sports car over from Germany for the launch. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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