August 29, 2008

Audi Exec Expects New A4 to Be Immune from Leasing Crisis

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DETROIT – The crisis in automotive leasing is unlikely to affect the new Audi A4 compact luxury sedan, which has had a 70 percent lease mix in the current generation, product manager Carter Balkcom said, according to Automotive News.  

Balkcom said the A4’s strong residuals should protect it from the pullback in lease financing being generated by other automakers’ large SUVs and pickups. He expects the three-year residual for the new A4 to be about 56 percent — an increase over the current model’s 51 percent.  

Speaking at a preview of the A4, which goes on sale in mid-September, Balkcom said fuel economy-conscious buyers have gravitated to the turbo-powered four-cylinder engines in the current A4. Balkcom also said Audi is not near a decision on whether the A4 will be produced at the plant parent Volkswagen AG is building in Chattanooga, Tenn. He said a decision is unlikely before next spring.

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