-- The A5 coupe, introduced last spring, won the award for luxury 'on road' vehicles

-- Judging was done by a panel of auto journalists and a panel of 17 San Diego athletes

-- The awards are presented by the Active Network, which operates active.com, Gen A Media and Marketing and AAA.

HERNDON, Va., Oct. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The Audi A5 earned the Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year Award in the luxury on-road category, outperforming 10 competitors. The awards, now in their fifth year, recognize cars and trucks that are best suited to meet the demands of an active and athletic lifestyle.

'The A5 is the embodiment of Audi's commitment to developing cars that are sporty, technologically advanced and a pleasure to drive,' said Johan de Nysschen, Audi of America's executive vice president. 'Audi stands for progressive prestige across its product lineup, so it's gratifying to learn one of our newest models meets the rigorous demands of active consumers.'

When the A5 debuted last spring it marked the first time in 16 years that Audi had offered a coupe to U.S. luxury car buyers. Audi loaded the A5 with sporty features, such as a powerful V-6 engine, direct steering and Audi dynamic suspension. The A5 takes just 5.8 seconds from 0-60 mph.

The awards are presented by the Active Network, which operates active.com, Gen A Media and Marketing and AAA. The selection of the Active Lifestyle Vehicles of the year emerged from two stages of judging. The first round involved an automotive jury, which narrowed the field of 60 entries competing in seven categories. After four finalists were chosen in each category, the award's sponsors asked elite athletes from the San Diego region to test drive each of the vehicles and offer their opinions, which count for half of the award tallies. Altogether, 17 athletes participated, including professional beach volleyball players, triathlon competitors and a former NFL kicker. The automotive experts then registered their finalist votes for the other half of the tallies.

'Involving the athletes offers a great opportunity get fresh perspectives on the various vehicles so it becomes an impromptu focus group of an elite and active target market' said Nina Russin, jury coordinator for the Active Lifestyle Vehicle of the Year Awards. 'What was interesting with the A5 was how the athletes really reacted to the car's athletic performance.'

About Audi of America

Audi of America Inc. and its 270 dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. The Audi line up is one of the freshest in the industry with 23 models, including 12 models launched during model years 2008 and 2009. Audi is among the most successful brands globally. Last year AUDI AG recorded its 12th consecutive record year for sales and profit growth. Visit http://www.audiusa.com or http://www.audiusanews.com for more information regarding Audi vehicle and business issues.

About The Active Network

The Active Network delivers integrated technology solutions, marketing services and online media properties that enable and encourage participation in activities and events. For more information, please visit www.ActiveNetwork.com .

SOURCE Audi of America Inc.