Available throughout the Audi Dealer Network now, the Audi A4 1.8-litre Turbo quattro manual sedan retails at $61,900, with the Avant priced at just $64,700. The 132 kW variants are identifiable by a new red-and-silver sports-style "T" (turbo) badge displayed at the rear of the vehicle.

Boasting an impressive power increase of 20 per cent over the 110 kW variant it replaces, maximum torque is a powerful 235 Nm all the way from 2,000 to 4,600 rpm and acceleration from 0 to 100 kmh is achieved in just 7.6 seconds.

To celebrate the introduction of Audi’s new performance turbo, the company is also running a "turbo campaign" from mid-January to 31 March, 1999.

The campaign is tri-focal, offering customers the following benefits for A3 Turbo and A4 Turbo models:

• Factory fitted leather upholstery and metallic paint over $4,000 in value, for just $1,500.

• Competitive insurance rates. When insuring a turbocharged vehicle through Audi Financial Services, customers will benefit from a rate that excludes a ‘turbo premium’, ie turbo vehicles can be insured at a rate equal to that of normally aspirated variants.

• The chance to win an all-expenses paid Business Class trip to France to see the Audi R8 compete for the first time at the Le Mans 24-hour endurance race on 12^th and 13^th June, 1999.

Matthias Seidl, Audi’s managing director, said that the turbo campaign heralds a ‘performance drive’ from Audi for 1999.

"We are kick-starting the year with the turbo campaign, followed mid-year by the launch of our first pedigree sports coupe, the Audi TT. The powerful A6 V8 will be launched in the 3^rd quarter of the year, and then the long-awaited S4 in the final months of 1999," Mr Seidl said.

"Throughout the year, we will be focusing on the many stylish sporting models offered by Audi in order to increase our awareness, and market share, among customers who are motivated by performance characteristics as well as the aesthetics of stunning vehicle design."

Audi has also launched a new advertising campaign on television, in print, via direct customer contact and on radio to draw our customers' attention to Audi’s turbo technology, according to Melissa Pye, Audi marketing manager.

"The new advertisements, both electronic and via direct mail, for the turbo campaign have a very distinctive high-technology feel which is combined with Audi’s own brand of inimitable tongue-in-cheek humour," Ms Pye said.

"The advertising campaign smacks of futuristic design, represented by high-impact, high frequency visuals, coupled with the ‘PlayStation-esque’ concepts of technology, energy and vitality.

"The overall vibrancy of the ads is indicative of the fresh new face of Audi turbo as dictated by the new 132 kW A4 1.8 Turbo quattro sedan and Avant models, as well as our eagerly-awaited TT Coupe," Ms Pye added.

Audi turbo technology is available in the following variants:

• A3 1.8 Turbo manual (110 kW)

• A4 1.8 Turbo manual (110 kW)

• A4 1.8 Turbo Tiptronic (110 kW)

• A4 1.8 Turbo quattro manual (132 kW)

• A4 Avant 1.8 Turbo quattro manual (132 kW)

Coincidentally, Audi’s range-topping performance limousine, the seriously speedy S8, is also on display during the three months of Audi’s turbo campaign. The S8 stars in Robert DeNiro’s new movie, "Ronin", which opens in cinemas in early February 1999.