A New Audi R8 Era Dawns with Winning South Florida Charity Bidders Taking Possession of the First R8 V10 Models in the U.S.

HERNDON, Va., July 23 -- Today, Audi launched the V10 era of the acclaimed R8 sports car by delivering the first two 2010 Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro models in the U.S. to two winning bidders from the 2009 Boca Raton Concours d' Elegance charity auction.

The opportunity to possess the first two Audi R8 V10 sports cars available in the U.S. generated great interest at the annual Boca Concours auction held in February to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. Ultimately, the cars raised $850,000 for the charity. That combined amount represents a record for any two Audis auctioned in the U.S. before their official sales release.

During a special presentation, Jamie McDonnell, chairman of the Boca Raton Concours d' Elegance, awarded keys for the first R8 V10 model to Tom Gonzales of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He then presented keys for the second R8 V10 to George and Sue Levin of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Audi dealer Rick Case Automotive Group delivered the cars to the winning bidders at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County Admirals Marine Academy Vocational School.

"Plenty of people have been waiting to get behind the wheel of these remarkable sports cars, so it's great to give these generous donors - Mr. Gonzales and the Levins - the first opportunities to enjoy the Audi R8 V10 experience," said Jon Kolody, Area Sales Manager, Audi of America. "What makes this even more gratifying is seeing how excitement for the Audi brand is benefiting such a worthy South Florida cause."

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County is a non-profit agency dedicated to helping young people improve their lives by building self-esteem and developing values and skills during their critical period of growth. Each year, the 13 Broward-area clubs serve more than 13,000 at-risk youths, ages 7 to 18. The 2010 Boca Raton Concours d' Elegance will be held Feb. 19-21 at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. Proceeds from the 2010 auction will again benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County.

With the delivery of the two Boca Raton auction R8 5.2 FSI quattro sports cars, Audi will begin shipping the V10 models to certified Audi R8 dealerships across the nation.

The Audi R8 5.2 FSI quattro is the new top model for the Audi R8 high-performance sports car series. The R8 V10 was developed by the Audi high-performance division, quattro GmbH. Multiple technologies proven on the race track were engineered into the Audi R8. In fact, the Audi R8 line shares the same designers as the victorious 24 Hours of Le Mans Audi race cars. Its ten-cylinder 525 hp engine is the same power plant found in the R8 LMS GT3 racecar and is capable of delivering breathtaking performance. Audi technologies such as quattro permanent all-wheel drive, the lightweight aluminum ASF chassis, Audi magnetic ride adaptive suspension and the innovative full-LED headlights propel the all new Audi R8 V10 to new heights of progressive performance. Premium features of the 2010 R8 5.2 FSI quattro include a Bang & Olufsen Sound System , 10-way power heated sport seats, Audi Navigation plus with 3D graphics and real time traffic and Audi parking system plus with rearview camera.

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Audi of America Inc. and its 270 dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. The Audi line up is one of the freshest in the industry with 23 models, including 12 models launched during model years 2008 and 2009. Audi is among the most successful brands globally. In selling one million vehicles worldwide in 2008, AUDI AG recorded its 13th consecutive record year for sales and profits. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.