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Audi South Africa - two category wins and an overall podium finish at COTY 2026

May 28, 2026 Audi South Africa, Markus Schuster, Audi A5 Sedan, Audi RS Q8, COTY 2026


Audi South Africa - two category wins and an overall podium finish at COTY 2026

 

Audi South Africa recorded one of its strongest showings at the 2026 South African Car of the Year awards, taking home two category victories and securing an overall podium finish. The all-new Audi A5 Sedan captured the title of Premium vehicle of the year, while the formidable Audi RS Q8 performance stormed ahead to claim the Performance vehicle of the year crown. The RS Q8 performance also placed third overall in these illustrious awards.

 

This double victory serves as decisive validation of Audi’s targeted local product offensive, providing undeniable proof that the brand’s latest generation of vehicles is setting the benchmark for the South African market with product excellence. The dual triumph highlights Audi’s unique ability to execute a multi-faceted brand strategy without compromise. Rather than relying on a single flagship expression, the awards contextualise the sheer depth, strength, and diversity of the modern Audi portfolio.

 

The Audi A5 Sedan represents the future of progressive luxury, demonstrating how cleaner design, premium luxury, and highly integrated cabin technologies directly answer the shifting expectations of premium buyers.

The RS Q8 performance stands as a spectacular expression of raw emotion and high-end Audi Sport engineering, fulfilling the demands of an entirely different, high-octane automotive audience.

 

To win both the Premium and Performance categories in the same year is an incredible milestone that provides powerful external validation for our ongoing product offensive. It clearly showcases the immense depth and versatility of our latest product generation. “As we prepare to celebrate 45 years of quattro, these awards illustrate how our core engineering DNA adapts to deliver exactly what the market desires – whether that is the progressive, tech-forward elegance of the A5 or the raw, emotional power of the RS Q8 performance. This momentum reinforces our brand direction and proves that Audi is delivering at the absolute peak of automotive engineering in South Africa." — Markus Schuster, Head of Audi South Africa
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