The product 'firework' as Audi UK calls it, the expansion of their range from 25 to 36 model types, (900 separate derivatives) in five years, with an objective of 42 in the next few years, has produced all time record registrations for Audi in the UK during 2011.
They broke the existing annual record in November when their year-to-date total reached 107,487 registrations and according to Jon Zammett, Audi's head of PR, the brand will achieve around 115,000 UK sales this year, 15,000 up on last year.
Having been the top selling premium brand in the UK for the first ten months of this year Audi have just lost the lead to BMW by just 1,620 registrations. Those sales numbers for premium brands are remarkable given the 4.46 per cent fall in UK new car sales this year and a 14 per cent reduction in retail buyers because of the economic situation.
In the UK's new car market Ford maintain their lead over Vauxhall and Volkswagen is third with the premium brands of BMW and Audi fourth and fifth.
Audi's product offensive for 2012 starts from now with the introduction of the face-lifted A5 Coupe, Sportback and Cabriolet series and those changes will be followed through to all A4 models arriving early in 2012.
Another early arrival next year will be the all-new A1 Sportback models followed by the all important and all new A3 models, Audi's current best selling range with 31,000 annual UK registrations. Audi's 2012 model line-up
At the frugal end is the just introduced lowest CO2 version of their A1 three door hatchback range. The 1.6 TDI with its 103PS common rail direct injection four cylinder turbodiesel engine has been reworked and now has a CO2 figure of 99g/km.
So it is free of VED road tax, has the lowest Benefit-in-Kind company car tax rate for a diesel at 13 per cent and it escapes the London Congestion Charge. Officially this model will now return 74.3mpg in the Combined Cycle, 53.8mpg on my short test drive.
Performance wise top speed is 118mph and zero to 62mph takes a spirited 10.5 seconds. Key to this vehicles driveability is the 250Nm (184lb ft) of torque from just 1,500rpm. It means fifth gear can be held onto longer, even at relatively low commuting speeds, and there is enough response to accelerate briskly when needed.
I tried the S-Line variant which is priced at £17,865 on the road. The current A1 range of petrol and diesel powered three door hatchbacks has prices ranging from £13,420 to £21,810. Audi's target for the A1 this year was 18,000 sales, in reality they have sold 19,000 and it would have been more if more units were available.
In the first quarter of 2012 the A1 three door versions will be joined by the five door Sportback models priced from £13,980 to £21,270.
The A1 is Audi UK's third best selling model range. The leading sales range is the A3 with 31,000 annual UK sales followed by the A4 range with 21,000 sales.
The A3 range will be replaced in the second quarter of 2012, the A4 models will have a mid-life facelift early next year followed by the addition of the A1 Sportback five door range.
Audi 2012 A8 range
At the flaunting end of the current Audi range far removed from the frugal A1 is the revised luxurious A8 long wheelbase saloon available in nine versions and priced from £60,625 to £95,110.
Most extreme and expensive of all is the bored-out 6.3-litre W12 engine (12-cylinders) with direct fuel injection. With a 49bhp more power, now 500PS (493bhp) an d a huge 800Nm (460lb ft) of torque drive to all four wheels using the quattro system is through a seamless eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Top speed is limited to 155mph and zero to 62mph takes ridiculously low 4.7 seconds, hugely impressive given the A8's space frame all aluminium 5.3-metres long body which still weighs 2,055kg.
Officially this car will return 22.8mpg but on test driving over a rural route 15.9mpg was closer to the realistic mark. CO2 emissions are 290g/km but if you can afford to buy or lease it, you can afford to run it so stump up the £1,000 First Year rate road tax £460 a year after that, pay 35 per cent Benefit-in-Kind tax and be chauffeured around in absolute silky smooth luxury and enjoy the 130mm increase in rear seat legroom.
Whilst the frugal A1 sells in their thousands in the UK the A8 W12 L sell in their tens out of a total 1,400 annual A8 sales in the UK. Most popular versions are powered by the 3.0 and 4.2-litre TDI diesel units where you get all the visual greatness, luxurious equipment but just with a little more engine noise.