Audi Ranked Best Luxury Brand for Total Cost of Ownership by Kelley Blue Book's Kbb.com

HERNDON, Va., Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Audi has been named the number one luxury brand for best total cost of ownership in a new report released this week by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, a leading provider of new car and used car information.  According to the latest data, Audi yields the lowest average Total Cost of Ownership for the initial five-year ownership period, topping all other luxury brands.

Total Cost of Ownership for new vehicles is developed using Kelley Blue Book® Residual Values to calculate depreciation costs.  Kelley Blue Book calculates total ownership costs for new vehicles by applying a sophisticated valuation methodology along with critical financial data from third-party providers. The Total Cost of Ownership on kbb.com breaks down the typical ownership costs for a particular vehicle, including depreciation, expected fuel costs, insurance, maintenance and repair costs, state fees and more.  

Audi's Total Cost of Ownership success is driven heavily by the Audi A3 2.0T and Audi A4 2.0T models, due their minimal depreciation and industry-leading fuel economy. The award-winning Audi 2.0 TFSI engine provides 211 hp and 258 lb-ft. of torque and combines Audi valvelift system, variable valve timing and TFSI® direct injection for increased power and efficiency. The Audi 2.0 TFSI® has been the engine of choice for more than 1.3 million Audi drivers worldwide and is one of the most awarded engines of the last decade.

According to Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, Audi's Total Cost of Ownership for the initial five-year ownership period is less than $70,000, besting all other luxury brands.

Kelley Blue Book's Total Cost of Ownership launched with the redesigned kbb.com in May 2011 and is available free to consumers at www.kbb.com.  

To get more information on Audi or to download photos of Audi models, please visit www.audiusanews.com.

ABOUT AUDI

Audi of America, Inc. and its U.S. dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. AUDI AG is among the most successful luxury automotive brands globally. During 2010 Audi was the top performing luxury brand in Europe, and broke all-time company sales records in the U.S. Over the next few years, AUDI AG will invest nearly $16 billion on new products and technologies. Visit www.audiusa.com or www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.

ABOUT KELLEY BLUE BOOK

Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the industry.  Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website www.kbb.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In and Retail Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new cars this week.  The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies.  Kbb.com is a leading provider of new car prices, used car values, car reviews, new cars for sale, used cars for sale, and car dealer locations. Kelley Blue Book Co. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AutoTrader.com.

SOURCE Audi of America, Inc.