Audi is also launching an 11.4billion euro programme to revise its product range over the next five years, with 70 percent of the investment going into new products.

These are thought to include a top-end luxury coupe, a sister model to the Bentley Continental GT, and a 4x4/coupe crossover, sportier than the Volkswagen Touareg but probably sharing many underpinnings. Rumours are also continuing over Audi's talks with Fiat; the company is said to be planning some co-operation with Maserati on aluminium engine construction, and the Volkswagen Group is thought to be considering taking a large stake in a proposed new Fiat division comprising Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Maserati.

VW already owns Lamborghini, Bugatti and Bentley, as well as Seat, which it is said to be trying to develop as "the Spanish Alfa Romeo", however, so it is unclear why it would need to make any more acquisitions.