Audi locks away five more Thatcham Security Awards
New and existing Audi models, including the already highly feted A1 premium sub-compact, have made off with a total of five category trophies in the British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards, held yesterday at the Motor Insurance Repair Research Centre in Thatcham, Berkshire.
Audi models won through in five of the specific model categories assessed by the experts using the New Vehicle Security Rating (NVSR) process that awards star ratings based on ‘theft of’ and ‘theft from’ protection. The new A1, What Car? Magazine’s Car of the Year for 2011, and also already a winner of class awards from Fleet News Magazine, Fleet World Magazine, Business Car Magazine, CarBuyer.co.uk, parkers.co.uk and honestjohn.co.uk, added a City Car / Supermini category trophy to its haul. The new twelve-cylinder, 500PS A8 L W12 quattro luxury saloon also triumphed in the Performance Car category, continuing the exceptional four-year run of success enjoyed by the previous generation A8, which was tested throughout that time in 450PS S8 form.
The A4 Saloon, A5 Cabriolet and Q5 compact SUV also all achieved higher NVSR scores than their respective competitors for the fourth, third and second year in succession respectively. Since the awards began in 2006, the Vorsprung durch Technik brand has secured no less than 20 category wins, bearing testament to its absolute commitment to security.
No-compromise Audi A1
Commenting on this sixth run of success for Audi, Director of Audi UK Jeremy Hicks said: “I’m obviously delighted that yet again so many of our model ranges have excelled in the eyes of the security experts, but this year I’m especially pleased with our A1 award. We are always at pains to emphasise that our approach to bringing a sub-compact hatchback to market was just as uncompromising on every level as it would be for any other Audi model, and this award stands as further irrefutable proof of that fact.”
Mike Briggs, Vehicle Security Manager at Thatcham, also added his take on proceedings: “With more outright category winners than any other manufacturer and pushing very close for the overall manufacturer award, Audi has once again proved that it is at the top of its game when it comes to vehicle security across the whole range of vehicles, from City Car right through to Luxury. It’s an excellent achievement and Audi thoroughly deserves all its plaudits.”
Award-winning security is achieved right across the Audi range through features including Thatcham Category 1 alarm and immobiliser technology with interior ultrasonic protection and anti-tow sensors, Thatcham Category 4 locking wheel bolts and extensive covert and overt marked parts.
