Audi today reported January U.S. sales of 6,510 luxury performance cars and SUVs, which accounted for a 37.9% overall increase from January 2009. The results followed strong year-end sales that gave Audi the largest 2009 market share gain in the imported luxury vehicle sector.

Sales of the Audi A3 jumped 106.2% largely due to the availability of the A3 TDI clean diesel model, which won the 2010 Green Car of the Year award at the Los Angeles Auto Show in December.

In fact, the fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions benefits of TDI technology continued to provide a winning story for Audi in January 2010. For the month, the A3 TDI made up 50% of all A3 sales, while demand for the larger Q7 TDI model constituted 48% of all Q7 sales. That level of demand far exceeds original expectations for TDI sales when Audi introduced the two models last year.

Sales of the Audi A4 sedan, the best-selling model in the Audi lineup, rose 60.3% in January 2010 compared to a year earlier. Sales of all A4 variants rose a solid 34.3% from a year earlier when the A4 Cabriolet was still available.

“Having ended 2009 on such a high note, it was important to ensure that our success was substantive and enduring,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “January sales figures reinforce the notion that our momentum is the byproduct of relentless innovation years in the making.”

Audi of America Inc. and its 270 dealers offer a full line of German-engineered luxury vehicles. The Audi lineup 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 luxury automotive brands globally. In selling one million vehicles worldwide in 2008, AUDI AG recorded its 13th consecutive record year for sales growth. Audi vehicle and business issues. AUDI AG will present the complete results for the 2009 business year at its Annual Press Conference on March 9, 2010 in Ingolstadt.