Audi dealer Premium Motors literally built on the Bavarian marque's success in Hong Kong by opening a 20,000 sqft showroom in Kowloon on Tuesday. It also unveiled a stunning electric supercar, the e-tron, which will be exhibited in the premises until February 10.
The three-storey showroom in China Minmetals Tower on Chatham Road South is 'the most dazzling landmark in Tsim Sha Tsui', with 'original German architecture' and 'a bold aluminium honeycomb exterior', the dealer says. The airy, minimalist space houses 14 cars, a VIP rest area, a customisation section, an Audi Gallery for lectures, arts and cultural events, and even an Audi Cafe to provide 'an integrated lifestyle brand experience to Audi lovers', Premium Motors says.
The showroom 'is a testament to Audi's dedication to Hong Kong', where the marque sold 2,093 units last year, an increase of 29 per cent, says Premium Motors managing director Chong Got, who is also chairman of the Hong Kong Motor Traders' Association.
'We invested HK$23 million to develop the largest showroom in Hong Kong,' he says. 'I hope we can provide the most comfortable and spacious environment, as well as a different shopping experience to our prestigious customers. Our sales target for 2011 is more than 3,000 units.'
The Audi e-tron is worth a look over the Lunar New Year holidays. One of only two made, and delicious-looking in caramel, the e-tron was launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show and delighted mainlanders at Auto China in Beijing.
The size of a supercar, the e-tron weighs only 1,600kg thanks to a combination of aluminium and carbon fibre-reinforced composite material and Audi Space Frame technology. It is powered by a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery and a 'quattro' of four electric motors - two on the front axle and two on the rear. As in a mid-engined sports car, roughly 70 per cent of the e-tron's power goes to the rear and 30 per cent to the front, Audi says.