15 national teams of young environmentalists from all over the world will congregate in Gothenburg, Sweden next week for the seventh Volvo Adventure World Final with US$20,000 of prize money on the line for environmental excellence.

From hundreds of projects in more than 50 countries around the world submitted on-line by the 31st January 2008 deadline the Volvo Adventure judges have selected a shortlist of 15 finalists, each of whom will be chasing the US$10,000 first prize to invest in their project.

2005 Volvo Adventure champions Ladysmith Enviro Club from South Africa return to the scene of their earlier triumph with a new project, ‘Cars! Fuel! Carbon!’ whilst ever-present India, USA, China, Turkey and Brazil are joined by newcomers from Hungary, Macedonia and the tiny Indian Ocean island of Comoros.

Olle Axelson, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Volvo Car Corporation, who presented the winner’s cheque to Indonesia in 2007 adds, “Volvo already supports the Volvo Environment Prize and it was both logical and prescient that the Volvo Adventure was added to our environmental portfolio to encourage the adults of tomorrow to engage, enhance, imagine and innovate.”

With US$10,000 to the winner, US$6,000 to the runner-up and US$4,000 to the third placed team, competition will be intense but so too will collaboration as Wayne Talbot, the Volvo Adventure Educational Director explains.

“Every year, the bar is raised higher still and these young people come to Gothenburg to present their projects in what is a remarkable fusion of rivalry and synergy,” he says.

Now into its seventh year and endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Volvo Adventure has engaged with and encouraged around 250,000 youngsters in over 50 nations as diverse as China and Canada, Australia and America, Ecuador and Egypt.

“The key ingredient in the ongoing success of the Volvo Adventure is the commitment to and passion for the environment by the thousands of youngsters who take part each year,” says Siv Persson of WWF, the 2008 Volvo Adventure Jury Chairman, adding, “The clarity of their thinking, their challenging of the issues and the creativity of their sustainable solutions are what mark these young environmentalists out as being very special indeed.”

The 15 teams arrive in Gothenburg from all points of the compass on Friday 9th May with their project presentations taking place in front of an invited audience on Monday 12th May and the identity of the winners revealed at a special awards ceremony on Tuesday 13th May 2008.

In addition to the business end of the Volvo Adventure, a social and cultural programme includes a visit to Gothenburg’s award-winning Universeum, the Volvo Car Plant and the traditional ‘Volvo Forest Adventure,’ at Hällsnäs on the outskirts of the city.

“The environmental exchange is vital to the Volvo Adventure and the spirit of teamwork between nations in the ‘Volvo Adventure Workshop,’ is a revelation,” says Kikki Hugestrand, Volvo Adventure Project Manager, who adds, “These teenagers arrive as adolescents and leave as young adults having made friends and environmental partners during their stay with us.”

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www.volvoadventure.org

www.unep.org

www.volvocars.com

www.volvo.com

Notes to Editors:

* The Volvo brand and the Volvo Adventure are shared between Volvo Cars and Volvo Group.
* The Volvo brand has three core values, Quality, Safety and Environmental Care.
* The Volvo Environment Prize, now in its 19th year is awarded annually by an independent foundation to the person / persons judged to have made the most significant contribution in the fields of environmental and sustainability studies and related initiatives. It carries with it an award of SEK1.5million (approx US$250,000 / €160.000).
* Editors are invited to send reporters and photographers to any part of the Volvo Adventure and content is especially relevant to environment, youth and education correspondents.
* Full background material, interviewees and royalty-free imagery is available for preview features

• For further information please contact: Maria Bohlin, Volvo Car Corporation

Alphabetic list of the 15 2008 Volvo Adventure World Finalists

* Australia - No Plastic Bags for Armstrong Street
* Brazil - São José-Garra School, Tupinambás

Ecological Action / Carbon Credits

* Canada - Vincent Massey Collegiate Sustainable Development

Committee - Energetic Energy Education

* China - Shanghai Roots & Shoots

Eco-Office Evaluation Program

* Comoros - Junior Ecoguards

Project Nyamba - Protecting Endangered Sea Turtles

* Ecuador - Young for Life

Cycle Marching

* Egypt - New Generation

Electricity Mystery

* Hungary - Mirage

Protection of our Lick Vegetataion in Zsáka

* India - Nature Bodies Bharat Mata E/M Secondary School

No Stagnation / No Mosquitoes

* Lebanon - American Community School, Beirut

Sustainability in the Cafeteria

* Macedonia - Green Action

The Last water Buffalo in Macedonia

* Russia - Green Sail

The Second Life of Park ‘Dubky’

* South Africa - Ladysmith Enviro Club

Cars! Fuel! Carbon!

* Turkey - Avcilar Anadolu Teknik Lisesi, Teknik Lise ve Endüstri Meslek Lisesi

Let’s Delete Disasters by Gaining Papers & Batteries

* USA - Boy Scouts of America, Troop 5

Get the Lead Out of Fishing

For further details on each project, go to; www.volvoadventure.org/projectsfinalists

Rejuvenated by a substantial model update the fifth generation of the Mercedes SL now starts yet another chapter in the unparalleled success story of the popular Mercedes roadster. The corresponding exclusive sport program comes from BRABUS (Brabus-Allee, D-46240 Bottrop, phone + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777-0, fax + 49 / (0) 2041 / 777 111, Internet www.brabus.com). Powerful increased-displacement engines with up to 730 hp (720 hp SAE net) / 537 kW of power, a striking designer suit, high-quality light-alloy wheels with diameters of up to 20 inches, professional suspension tuning and custom interior design: The BRABUS program leaves nothing to be desired.

The top-of-the-heap BRABUS power source for the SL 600 is the BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo engine, developed originally for the BRABUS ROCKET, the world’s fastest sedan. 730 hp (720 hp SAE net) / 537 kW of power and a whopping peak torque of 1,320 Nm (973 lb-ft), electronically limited in the car to 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft), are the result of numerous modifications. During the displacement increase from 5.5 to 6.3 liters the engine’s interior is completely reworked. In addition the engine is fitted with a more efficient turbocharging system and a stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with metal catalysts. Power is transferred via a reinforced five-speed automatic transmission and a special BRABUS limited-slip differential that is available for all SL models.

A sprint time of 4.0 seconds from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph), 10.5 seconds to 200 km/h (124 mph) and – depending on final drive ratio and tire speed rating – an electronically limited top speed of 350 km/h (219 mph) make the BRABUS SV12 S Biturbo roadster one of the world’s fastest sports cars.

BRABUS tuning is also available for the SL 65: The BRABUS T 12 S performance kit increases power output by 40 hp (DIN and SAE net) / 29.4 kW. The BRABUS T 65 S power kit bumps power output to 715 hp (705 hp SAE net) / 526 kW and peak torque to 1,100 Nm (811 lb-ft).

The SL 63 AMG also receives some added power with BRABUS B63 S tuning. Sport air filter, high-performance metal catalysts and newly programmed engine electronics add 40 hp (DIN and SAE net) 29.5 kW to the power output of the fast-revving V8 engine, and increase top speed to 320 km/h (200 mph).
The four-valve-V8 engine of the SL 500 (US: SL550) with BRABUS 6.1 S displacement increase produces 462 hp (456 hp SAE net) / 340 kW of power at 6,200 rpm and a peak torque of 615 Nm (453 lb-ft) at 3,100 rpm. The BRABUS 4.0 displacement engine with 332 hp (327 hp SAE net) / 244 kW of power and 420 Nm (310 lb-ft) of torque is available for the V6 four-valve engines of the SL 280 and SL 350.

The stainless-steel BRABUS sport exhaust system with four chrome-plated tailpipes is a must for all BRABUS high-performance engines. But it is also the answer for all SL owners wishing for a sportier exhaust note and for a more striking rear appearance of their two-seater.

To add sporty emphasis to the elegant lines of the new Mercedes SL series, the BRABUS designers went into the wind tunnel to develop a strikingly styled aerodynamic-enhancement kit.

The front of the SL receives some added pizzazz with the BRABUS front apron that replaces the production bumper. It features LED daytime running lights as well as auxiliary high beams and fog lamps, and reduces lift on the front axle at high speeds.

The elegantly shaped BRABUS rocker panels each have three entrance lights integrated into their underside. The lights are activated with the keyless fob or by pulling on an inside door handle. The LED lights illuminate the ground on either side of the vehicle and help avoid unfortunate missteps into puddles or holes in the dark.

The BRABUS design package for the latest SL-class is rounded out by a rear component that integrates environmental lighting, a centrally mounted rear reflector and two cutouts for the sport exhaust system.

Just as important for a customized look are one-piece and multi-piece BRABUS Monoblock light-alloy wheels, which can be mounted on the new roadster in four different designs and with diameters of 17, 18, 19 and 20 inches. The largest possible tire/wheel combination on the new SL features BRABUS Monoblock VI, E or S wheels in size 9Jx20 in front with size 255/30 ZR 20 tires. The rear axle rolls on size 10.5Jx20 wheels with size 305/25 ZR 20 tires. BRABUS recommends high-performance tires from Pirelli and YOKOHAMA.

To further improve the already potent handling capabilities of the new Mercedes SL, BRABUS has developed special suspension solutions. For the SL 280 and 350 models with conventional suspension BRABUS offers its sport springs. For all SL models with ABC active suspension BRABUS has developed an electronic module that lowers the ride height by some 25 millimeters. Sport sway bars reduce body roll.

BRABUS high-performance brake systems for the SL-Class are available in four different versions. The largest one features vented and cross-drilled front discs measuring 375 x 36 mm (14.8 x 1.4 inches), and 12-piston fixed calipers. The rear discs measure 355 x 28 mm (14.0 x 1.1 inches) and come with six-piston fixed calipers.

BRABUS also customizes the interior of the two-seater by upping the level of luxury. The list of products includes scuff plates with illuminated BRABUS-logo, an ergonomically shaped sport steering wheel with shift paddles, and an exclusive BRABUS custom interior crafted from an exquisite combination of especially soft yet durable BRABUS Mastik leather and Alcantara.

The best-selling Volvo V70 becomes the fifth Volvo model to be offered with the sporty factory-fitted R-Design option pack. This further cements Volvo Cars’ aim to offer unique products to particularly discerning customers.

The Volvo V70 estate car is for many people the very essence of Volvo: practical, safe and exuding Scandinavian elegance. The R-Design pack spotlights a new dimension: impassioned, extrovert and challenging.

“Increasing numbers of customers want cars that express individual taste and style. Volvo Cars has therefore created the R-Design option pack to add a refined sporty look to the other attractive characteristics of our products,” says Gerry Keaney, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Sales and Customer Service at Volvo Cars.

Comprehensive package

The R-Design pack for the Volvo V70 boasts a wide range of eye-catching features. For example door mirror housings and grille detailing in silk metal finish, chrome exhaust tailpipe and specially designed 18-inch aluminium wheels. On the inside it is primarily the purposeful, sporty leather-clad seats in black and cool Nordic Ceramic Light that catch the eye - together with the various aluminium details. From the instrument panel’s aluminium inlays to the centre console and door sides, there is a milled circular décor pattern that spreads like ripples in water.

“The décor pattern in the aluminium details gives the interior a very special, modern character. The pattern symbolises how the dynamic R-Design characterises the entire car, linking together the seats’ ribbed surfaces and the exterior’s multitude of detailing in a silk metal finish,” says Maria Thunberg, manager of Colour & Trim, Volvo V70 R-Design.

Optimised sports chassis

Volvo R-Design not only offers visible detailing, it packs properties that simply have to be experienced out on the road. The sporty chassis offers plenty of driving pleasure and immense control in every situation. The sports chassis has been optimised with the help of features such as stiffer anti-roll bars and bushings and lower ground clearance for more direct road contact and more responsive and rewarding steering feedback.

“The big challenge with this project the R-Design chassis was to combine crisp driving pleasure with Volvo’s renowned secure properties in poor road conditions such as heavy rain or snow. I’m convinced we’ve found exactly the right balance,” says Ekkehard Schwartz, Vice President Chassis and Vehicle Dynamics.

The whole package - Volvo V70 R-DESIGN

* Grille in silk metal finish with R-Design emblem.
* Foglamp décor at the front in silk metal finish.
* Door-mirror housings in silk metal finish.
* Five-spoke 18-inch aluminium wheels - Cratus.
* Black anodised window mouldings made of aluminium.
* Tailgate spoiler in the same colour as the body.
* Chromed visible exhaust tailpipe, 90 mm diameter,
* Rear colour-matched spoiler with black insert.
* Sports chassis: lowered 20 mm front and 15 mm rear.
* 11 exterior colours to choose between.
* Sports seats reinforced with extra foam padding in the seat and backrest cushions for added stability and comfort.
* Combined instrument with blue dial faces unique to R-Design cars.
* Sports steering wheel trimmed in perforated leather and R-Design emblem.
* Sports pedals made of aluminium.
* Upholstery of smooth leather in Off-Black and Ceramic Light colour combination, embossed with the R-Design emblem in the backrest.
* Specially designed centre console and unique décor pattern.
* Gear selector trimmed in perforated leather.
* Off-Black sports mats.

To further emphasise its sportiness, the car has no rails on the roof. These are however available as factory options for those buyers who wish to specify them.

R-DESIGN for the C30, S40, V50 and XC90

R-Design for the Volvo C30, S40 and V50 allows customers to choose between 10 different exterior colours and a range of specially designed exterior and interior details. For instance colour-matched bumpers and lower side mouldings, leather-trimmed steering wheel with R-Design emblem, a unique combined instrument and seats upholstered in black Flex-Tec with the seat and backrest cushions in contrasting cream-coloured leather.

The R-Design pack for the Volvo XC90 was introduced in early 2008 and replaced the optional XC90 Sport pack. Among the new R-Design details are 20-inch wheels (optional), twin exhaust tailpipes, a unique skid-plate, door-mirror housings in silk metal finish and R-Design emblems in the grille, on the steering wheel and embossed into the seats.

Emotional and extrovert

“R-Design is entirely in line with our accelerating focus on making our cars more extrovert and emotional. The packages allow buyers the option of giving the already distinct personalities of these models added spice,” says Volvo Cars Design Director Steve Mattin.

* Fourth award in a row for Audi 2.0 TFSI four-cylinder engine
* More than a million ordered by customers to date
* 2.0 TFSI now available with 200kW (272 hp) in Audi TTS

A specialist jury made up of 65 respected automotive journalists from 32 countries has voted the 2.0 TFSI winner of the 1.8-litre to 2-litre category at the International Engine of the Year Awards for the fourth year in a row.

International Engine of the Year jury members felt that the Audi-developed 2.0 TFSI engine is „the benchmark for efficiency and performance in its category” and “a great example of an engine that’s so flexible it can deliver the right solutions for a variety of different vehicles”.

Audi was the first manufacturer in the world to combine petrol direct injection with turbocharging in volume production. The 2.0 TFSI embarked on its success story in 2004, when it was first fitted to the Audi A3 Sportback. Since then, more than a million 2.0 TFSI engines have been ordered by customers in a variety of models.

The latest and most powerful version of this award-winning engine is fitted to the new Audi TTS Coupe and Roadster. Developing an awesome 200 kW (272 hp), this engine can catapult a TTS Coupe fitted with the optional S tronic dual-clutch transmission from 0 to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in just 5.2 seconds. Yet it can also deliver an average fuel consumption of 7.9 l/100 km (29.77 mpg US).

The 2.0 TFSI engine is also available in the Audi TT Coupe and Roadster, S3, A4 Cabriolet, and A6 sedan and Avant models in three output versions: 125 kW (170 hp), 147 kW (200 hp) and 195 kW (265 hp).

Here are the happy owners of Volvo number 15,000,000. Aimee and Paul Kay bought a piece of Volvo history when their C70 was delivered in San Diego - and to top it all off the couple get to travel to Göteborg in Sweden and visit Volvo’s Torslanda factory.

The 15th million Volvo was transported more than 8000 kilometres from the Volvo factory in Uddevalla to San Diego on the US west coast. In early May, Aimee and Paul Kay picked up their prized new purchase, a Celestial Blue C70, from dealer Wes Hinkle.

“We first saw the C70 at the Auto Show and fell in love with it. We went back and forth and finally we said the time was right,” relates Paul Kay.

And the time really was right. Because it turns out that their particular convertible is the 15th million Volvo to be built. The fact is that the very first car Volvo ever built was also a convertible - an ÖV4 made in 1927.

“Volvo Cars is proud of what the brand stands for,” says Gregor Hembrough, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager for Volvo Cars of North America, who was present when the car was delivered to Paul and Aimee.

As an extra bonus, the couple get air tickets to Göteborg, hotel accommodation and a visit to the factory - just like those customers who get their cars delivered specially as part of the American Overseas Delivery programme. The difference for Aimee and Paul, of course, is that they have already taken delivery of their new car back home.

Audi: Successful start to 2008

* Vehicle sales in the first four months: up 1.7 percent
* Operating profit in the first quarter up 28.2 percent to € 514 million
* Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler: “We will continue to pursue our course of profitable growth.”

Following a very successful 2007, Audi is on course to achieve top figures once again in 2008. “We will continue to pursue our course of profitable growth,” said Rupert Stadler, Chairman of the Board of Management of AUDI AG, today at the company’s 119th Annual General Meeting in Ingolstadt. “We produce cars in such a customer-orientated and individualized way that they are like “made-to-measure” suits. In this sense we will deliver a million “made-to-measure” cars to customers in 2008. The new A4 Sedan and the new A4 Avant will play a major part in achieving this. And countless innovations will help us expand our “Vorsprung durch Technik” when it comes to efficiency.”

High demand for Audi models

Audi is continuing its path for growth despite the change in the Audi A4 model: In the month of April, worldwide vehicle sales grew by 2.9 percent to 86,765 (84,323) units. The company therefore sold 338,033 (332,462) cars worldwide (up 1.7 percent) in the first four months of the year.

The strategic growth markets of Asia-Pacific and Eastern Europe showed particularly strong growth for Audi in April: With 12,819 cars sold, sales in the Asia-Pacific region went up by 18.2 percent compared with the same month last year. In China (including Hong Kong) alone, the company increased sales by 16.3 percent, to 10,028 cars. This means an increase of 22.7 percent in this important growth market for the first four months of this year. In Eastern Europe, Audi sold 3,804 cars (up 13.4 percent), an increase of 14.8 percent in the first four months.

Operating profit increased significantly

With € 514 million (€ 401 million), the company’s operating profit grew by 8.2 percent compared with the previous year, despite unfavorable developments in currency exchange rates and weak overall markets in North America and Germany. “This positive development is primarily due to the improvement of the model and equipment mix, and it affirms our programs for continuous product optimization,” announced Axel Strotbek, Member of the Board of Management for Finance and Organization of AUDI AG, to shareholders. “We have therefore established a sound basis on which to realize our ambitious objectives for 2008.”

For comparison: sales grew worldwide by 1.3 percent in the first quarter to 251,268 (248,139)* cars. Never before in the company’s history has AUDI AG sold so many cars in the first quarter of a year. The Audi Group’s sales revenue in the first three months, at € 8,294 million (€ 8,679 million), is just slightly below the high level of the previous year, despite the impact of currency exchange rates.

Numerous new models being launched in 2008

In order to achieve the company’s ambitious goals, Audi continues to consistently pursue its product initiative in 2008. “We plan to expand our model range substantially to 40 vehicles by 2015. We are investing some two billion euros in our products each year,” Stadler said.

The brand with the four rings unveiled its newest addition at the Beijing Motor Show just held in April: the Audi Q5. This model strengthens the company’s presence in the SUV segment. The Audi TTS and TT TDI – the world’s first series-production sports car to feature a diesel engine – are currently being presented to trade press representatives. The Audi A3 Cabriolet and the new A4 Avant will be available for test-driving at German dealerships within the next few days.

“We will continue to focus very sharply on diesel technology,” Stadler emphasized. “Our TDI will become the cleanest diesel engine in the world this year, thanks to its ultra low emission system. This reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 90 percent. With this, we once again demonstrate that efficiency and sportiness are not mutually exclusive.”

The company is aware that the automotive industry will continue to face a growing range of external challenges this year, Stadler said. These include rising prices for raw materials and the development of important trading currencies. And protection of the climate is also a factor. The German automotive industry has done its homework – with Audi at the forefront. Compared with 1990 levels, for example, Audi requires 36 percent less fuel to produce one kW of output, or 1.36 hp. Stadler assured that these developments will be promoted vigorously. Audi will achieve reductions during 2008 of up to 18 percent in various model lines with further innovative optimization of engines. The company is working towards reducing the CO2 emissions of its range by some 20 percent by 2012.

New hires

In order to reinforce the brand’s innovative capabilities and to secure Germany’s future as a location for technology, Audi specifically targets high school and university students early on with a wide range of traineeship programs – and offers secure jobs. Audi will hire 800 university graduates this year. Of the new employees, 70 percent will be deployed within Technical Development.

Significant increase in employee profit-sharing payment

Audi provides 45,000 secure jobs in Germany alone. The success of the company is due above all to the outstanding performance of a highly motivated and qualified team of employees, Stadler said during today’s Annual General Meeting. For the third time, Audi employees participated in the success of the company in the form of a profit-dependent element of their remuneration. During this month, the company distributes € 150 million (€ 81.5 million) to employees. Together with the profit-sharing payment that has been paid out in July for several years now, employees will receive an average of € 5,300 this year in performance-related compensation.

Audi continues to be dedicated to its German locations. “Because here, with the expertise of our employees, we are able to meet our high quality standards. And at the same time we can achieve increases in productivity of up to 10 percent per year,” Stadler said.

With the takeover of full management responsibilities for the plant in Brussels last year, Audi secured the production capacity necessary for the Audi A1 at competitive conditions and covered capacity needs for production of the Audi A3.

Strong basis: 2007 was a record year for sales, revenue and profit

Audi has achieved record sales for the twelfth year in a row: In 2007, 964,151 cars were sold (905,188, up 5.7 percent). The Audi Group’s sales revenue grew disproportionately by 7.9 percent to € 33.6 billion (€ 31.1 billion). Profit before tax rose by 49.8 percent to a historic high for the company: € 2,915 million (€ 1,946 million). With an operating profit of € 2,705 million (€ 2,015 million), the brand with the four rings recorded growth of 34.2 percent. The rate of return before tax rose by 6.2 percent to 8.7 percent, and the return on investment grew by 4.4 percent to 18.6 percent.

Second place for the newest 122 PS TSI in its first competition

Wolfsburg, 07 May 2008 - The winning streak continues: for the third time, Volkswagen’s dual charged TSI engines have won the “International Engine of the Year Award” in the category “1 litre to 1.4 litres”. It is no coincidence that the 103 kW (140 PS) and 125 kW (170 PS) TSIs, which are charged by both a turbocharger and a supercharger, are among the most efficient petrol engines in the world. The motto for these engines is “maximum dynamics with minimum fuel consumption”. And that’s also how the jury, comprising 65 journalists from 32 countries, saw it. According to one jury member, “This engine does everything right and fits into the most diverse types of vehicles.” Moreover, the new 122 PS TSI took second place in the same category in its first attempt. The “International kEngine of the Year Awards 2008″ will be presented today in Stuttgart.

Dr Rüdiger Szengel, Head of Petrol Engine Development, accepted the award for Volkswagen commenting, “Our TSI engines have set the standard since their introduction in the performance class of 90 kW to 125 kW. They achieve new levels of economy for petrol engines while providing performance that offers real fun. We take it as a compliment to the entire development team that our TSI has won again in the displacement class to 1.4 litres.”

Moreover, an additional award underscores the Volkswagen Group’s great competence in building engines. Audi took first place in the category 1.8 litres to 2.0 litres with the 2.0 TSI. This engine made its debut at Volkswagen in the Golf GTI and is presently finding use in several performance versions.

TSI engines are already powering diverse models in ten Volkswagen families. The petrol direct injection engines between 90 kW (122 PS) and 169 kW (230 PS) cover the entire range from Golf to the recently introduced Passat CC. What’s more, the new Scirocco will be off to a running start in 2008 with TSI engines. In the 122 PS version, it requires only 6.1 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres, making it one of the world’s most economical sports cars.

Such was the feeling within the company, that it was agreed that 2007 would be the year of support for Thom. As a result the appeal committee managed to raise a whopping £75,000 thanks to the efforts of a large number of people and organisations plus the kindness of many visitors and the local community. This has given financial support for a specially modified car, hydrotherapy sessions and specialist equipment to allow Thom to move into a flat local to the factory, and start back at Morgan doing computer work.

The events organised by Thom’s supporters included golf days, a summer ball and auction, clay pigeon shoots, gigs and even a head shave by one of his factory co-workers. The finale was the raffling of a brand new Morgan Roadster at the Christmas party. Produced with time freely donated by the factory employees, and made from components kindly donated by Morgan’s supplier base including Ford, Powertorque, Radshape, Caparo AP, MB components and Caerbont as well as many smaller component suppliers too numerous to mention, one lucky owner took delivery just a few weeks ago of a beautiful racing green 3.0 litre Roadster.

Charles Morgan, the grandson of the founder said “we were all devastated when we first heard the news, and the fund raising was one tangible way of helping one of the “family” that makes up the Morgan Motor company workforce back to independence. We are all delighted to see him back at work”

* Total sales in April up by more than 2.9 percent
* New Audi A4 Avant introduced throughout Europe
* More than 36,000 Audi A5 models sold in its first year
* Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler: “A foretaste of significant growth in second half of the year”

With the start of the second quarter, sales at AUDI AG are once again showing stronger growth. The brand sold more than 86,700 cars worldwide in the past month. While sales figures over the first four months rose by a total of 1.7 percent to around 338,000 cars, the rate of growth in April alone stood at 2.9 percent. The biggest drivers of the increase in sales were the Eastern European and Asia-Pacific markets.

The brand with the four rings achieved this result despite the current model changeover in its highest-volume model line: The Audi A4 Avant has just been introduced in some European markets, and the A4 Sedan is currently arriving in the first Asian countries. Audi Chairman Rupert Stadler: “The result in April is a foretaste of the significant growth in sales that we expect in the second half of the year. With full availability of the A4 in most major markets, we’ll pick up momentum in the third quarter and we’ll achieve the millionth car sold by year’s end as announced.”

Audi recorded particularly high growth rates in April in the strategically important Asia-Pacific and Eastern European markets. With around 12,800 cars sold, sales in the Asia-Pacific region went up by 18 percent compared with sales in April 2007. In China alone (including Hong Kong), the company’s biggest foreign market in April, AUDI AG increased sales by 16,3 percent to some 10,028 cars. During the first four months, Audi sold 52,300 cars in the region, an increase of about 20 percent. In China, the brand handed over 40,453 cars to customers, representing a jump of 22,7 percent.

In Eastern Europe, Audi sold about 13 percent more cars than in the same month last year: here, 3,800 customers bought a new Audi. Sales in Russia alone were up by 17,4 percent, with 1,630 cars sold. Over the first four month, with 14,800 cars, Audi sold almost 15 percent more in the region than during the corresponding period of last year; in Russia the brand boosted sales in this time period by 25 percent to 5,510 cars.

Along with the Audi A4, which is in its seventh generation and is the brand’s most successful model, the new A5 model series is also making an important contribution to worldwide growth for Audi. One year after sales of the highly praised coupe were launched, sales – at 36,000 – have far exceeded the company’s expectations. This makes the A5 a fitting symbol of the success of AUDI AG’s comprehensive product initiative, which the brand is employing to penetrate into new segments. “An intelligent segment strategy – occupying attractive niches with the right models – is crucial to the sustained success of our company,” Stadler said.

Along with the Audi A5, other newly introduced models also demonstrate that Audi has answered customer demands. Two years after its launch, the Audi Q7 SUV has become Audi’s most successful model on the US market after the A4. The first supercar from the brand with the four rings is a bestseller: Introduced last year, the stock of Audi R8 cars is sold out for months to come. The premium brand equally expects a rise in sales from the first convertible version of the Audi A3 – the A3 Cabriolet for which orders have been taken since March – and the Audi Q5, which has just been introduced in Beijing.

Volvo Cars came out top in Britain’s Power of Aluminium Awards for the company’s new load-anchoring system installed in the new XC70 and V70. “The system with its embedded eyelets is unique. It means a lot to Volvo Cars that we have won this award,” says Karin Lejonbäck, group manager at the Interior & Climate department.

Set into the floor of the luggage compartment of the new XC70 and V70 are load rails made of aluminium. Running in the rails are four sliding hooks or eyelets that are used to secure cargo.

What is unique about this solution is that the eyelets lie flush with the floor’s surface when they are not in use, they can be moved steplessly and they are self-locking in the raised position when in use.

The Power of Aluminium Awards ranks the concept very highly - it was given first prize in the Transport category. The award was presented recently at a ceremony in Warwick in England.

“This is the first time Volvo Cars has received this award. We have also made it to the next round of this year’s Henry Ford Technology Award, an internal innovation contest, with this function,” relates Karin Lejonbäck.

The solution is developed in cooperation with aluminium profile supplier Sapa.