Volkswagen's Audi rolls out R8 sports car in China

SHANGHAI, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Volkswagen's (VOWG.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) premium brand, Audi, has rolled out the Audi R8 sports car for sale in China after demand for premier models pushed up Audi's 2007 sales by 25 percent.

The model is priced at 1.79 million yuan ($246,900) or above, the top European automaker's venture with China's FAW Group said in a statement on Friday, without providing a sales target.

Audi sold 101,996 Audi cars in China last year, up 25 percent from 81,708 units in 2006.

Its sales and marketing boss Ralph Weyler said last week he expected a further increase in vehicle sales in China this year helped by new models, including the R8, A5 and S5. ($1=7.249 Yuan) (Reporting by Fang Yan; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree)