At the 126th Annual General Meeting of AUDI AG in Neckarsulm on Friday, the Board of Management explained the results of the 2014 financial year and informed the shareholders about the company’s current development. Audi CEO Rupert Stadler stated his goal for 2015: “We intend to continue growing this year - faster than the world market and in all regions. After the best first quarter in the company’s history, Audi increased its unit sales also in April.

Demand increased compared with the prior‑year month in all regions of the world. Business developed positively for the Audi brand above all on the American continent. Worldwide unit sales from January through April rose by 5.2 percent to more than 591,000 automobiles (Jan.-Apr. Demand for Audi‑brand models is expected to remain high worldwide. Audi further impetus in the next stage of its model initiative.

In the second half of this year, the company will present the new Audi A4 - the next generation of its best‑selling model. Audi is attractive not only with its new models. Customers’ response to innovative technologies from Ingolstadt is also very positive. For example, the company has successfully demonstrated that it fully masters the complex technology of piloted driving. In October 2014, an Audi RS 7 piloted driving concept drove laps of the Grand Prix racetrack in Hockenheim - without a driver and at speeds up to 240 km/h.

And in early January, the brand with the Four Rings set a world record. Journalists traveled approximately 900 kilometers in regular traffic in an Audi driving in piloted mode. Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, stated to approximately 600 shareholders and guests: “We have clearly underscored our technological leadership in the premium segment.

Europe in the second half of the year, customers can experience a preliminary stage of piloted driving with adaptive cruise control and the traffic‑jam assistant. Adaptive cruise control maintains the desired distance between the Q7 and the vehicle in front by accelerating and braking automatically. In the top stage of development, the system also takes over the steering in situations of heavy traffic and at speeds up to 65 km/h.

Orders received for the new Audi Q7 already exceed the company’s expectations, even before the new model is in the dealerships. In the coming years, the brand with the Four Rings intends to expand its range of SUVs. For that purpose, Audi has approved the biggest investment program in its history: €24 billion is to be invested between 2015 and 2019 - €2 billion more than in the previous planning period. 70 percent of that capital expenditure will flow into the development of new models and technologies.

The German sites in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm will account for more than half of the planned investment. Audi delivered a convincing performance in 2014 despite the heterogeneous market environment and increased its sales in all regions. Last year, the company delivered a total of 1,741,129 (2013: 1,575,480) automobiles of the Audi brand to its customers.

This represents an increase of 10.5 percent (2013: 8.3 percent). The Audi Group increased its revenue by 7.8 percent to €53,787 million (2013: €49,880 million). Operating profit rose by 2.4 percent to €5,150 million (2013: €5,030 million). The operating return on sales amounted to 9.6 percent (2013: 10.1 percent). Along with the targeted volume growth, the Audi Group’s revenue will rise moderately, depending on the economic conditions. The company anticipates an operating return on sales once again within strategic target corridor of eight to ten percent.

Comfort, refinement and safety equipment are, of course, superlative. It’s a Volvo after all. Problem is, much like the XC90, the XC60 too suffers from boring drive and lifeless steering. This simply isn’t a vehicle for driving enthusiasts. It’s designed with a mission to get you from spot A to spot B in the most comfortable way imaginable, and it passes that test with flying colors.

The X5 has never been considered the best of BMW’s. SUVs and crossovers simply aren’t in Bavarian automaker’s DNA. Despite that, the BMW X5 is one smooth-driving, quality vehicle as long as you don’t take it off the pavement. Apart from the usual qualities like upscale interior and lots of available amenities, the X5 xDrive40e hybrid also offers up to 14 miles of gasoline-free drive and ratings of 24 mpg combined or 56 MPGe according to the EPA. 6,500 more than what the entry-level gasoline X5 costs.